One of our male counselor volunteers told us why he does what he does, so we asked him to write it down. Keep reading to see why this ministry is important to him!
It’s a fact; men and women are different. And it does seem a bit odd to ask our male
clients, “Are you here for a pregnancy test?”
Yet, the male clients who come to the Pregnancy Care Center (PCC) come for a variety of
reasons, and in most cases it’s because they care, care deeply about their baby
and about their partner. While the women
generally have a circle of friends and/or relatives with whom they can and do
discuss intimate subjects, men generally do not. Society tells men that they are not supposed
to have emotions, are not supposed to cry, are not supposed to mourn the loss
of their child, but they do. And they
worry about providing for their loved ones.
And that’s why the men’s ministry component of the PCC is such an important
and integral part of the services the PCC provides. Each male client has the opportunity to meet individually
with a male counselor and to discuss important social, physical, emotional, and
spiritual aspects of his life.
Each client
is different and has different needs, individual needs which we try to
address. Often the client’s greatest needs
are unknown to him due to a variety of circumstances. Many of our clients have never had a positive
male role model in their lives nor have they had anybody with whom they can
share or discuss their deepest and most intimate concerns. We listen, we counsel, we educate, and we
share the Gospel with each client, assuring him of God’s love, His mercy, and His
grace for him. Like farmers, we sow
seeds with the full knowledge and realization that some of those seeds fall on
rocky or unfertile soil, while others fall on fertile soil, soil rich and
inviting and open to the grace, mercy, and love God has for each and every
person.
It is truly
an honor and a privilege to volunteer and serve as a male counselor at the PCC,
knowing that the impact we have on each male client may ultimately have a
positive impact on the life of his expected child, on his relationships with
others, on his physical and emotional well being, and on his spiritual relationship
with God. This is an abundantly
fulfilling and positive ministry which addresses the needs of a segment of
society too often overlooked or neglected.
Ultimately both the client and the counselor are richly blessed through
the men’s ministry of the PCC. The men’s
ministry richly complements and augments the ministry the PCC provides to the
women of the community and is an integral and vital part of the total program.
It is a blessing to have volunteers such as this working alongside us. We are incredibly thankful for our steadfast volunteers, sincere donors and hard-working staff.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Join us in praying for the men and women who will be attending our summer volunteer training sessions that begins tonight.
We at the Bartholomew County Center are most appreciative to Ray Turner and his son, Richard, who recently installed a door between the waiting room and client service area at the Center. Ray is our volunteer handyman who comes in each week to do various jobs that help with the upkeep of the center.
There are so many yard sales in the community right now and some of our volunteers have been attending to pick up clothing in the sizes we are in desperate need of here at the center. Upon leaving the sale, they hand the owner of the sale our business card, inviting them to bring anything they don't sell to the center. 
