A big thank you to all participants, volunteers and ambassadors who made the 2010 Walk for Life a huge success. What a great day we had and so far we have raised nearly $44,000. Take a look at all the smiling faces!
Monday, September 27, 2010
Walk for Life 2010
A big thank you to all participants, volunteers and ambassadors who made the 2010 Walk for Life a huge success. What a great day we had and so far we have raised nearly $44,000. Take a look at all the smiling faces!
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
One Care Net Conference Experience
Wow! Where do I begin? The opening session was a powerful speech presented by Melinda Delahoyde, president of Care Net. She encouraged us: YES, we are on the front lines of the pro-life movement! YES, we are being heard! YES, we are making an impact. Public opinion is changing. Many would then be asking—OK, what do I do now? Melinda challenged us to ask another question first—who am I going to be? How can I further surrender myself to Christ to be changed and become more like HIM? Then, I can better serve where He has called me.
We participated in daily praise and worship led by the Oak Mountain Praise and Worship Team from North Carolina. Sharing in worship with folks from across the U.S. was an awesome, joy-filled experience! We also praised God together for three new urban centers that are currently being launched in Detroit, Washington D. C. and Richmond, Virginia. The leaders of these new centers were introduced and shared their heart for the work. Another powerful testimony we had the privilege of hearing was that of Chet McDoniel who was born with no arms and shortened legs. Chet and his father shared their journey and God’s sufficiency all along the way. Chet is married and has a daughter and is filled with love for the Lord. Powerful pro-life testimony!
The workshops were very equipping for us! I took the workshops in the Client Issues Tract. The three I especially appreciated were about 1) dealing with the millennial clients— 2) helping women address childhood sexual abuse and—3) working with the negative test clients. Others in our group attended tracts for client marketing, post abortion healing, fund raising, and governing. The trip was inspirational and as I review all of my notes and handouts, I am again reminded how very blessed I am to be a part of this organization and the work that God is doing through the Pregnancy Care Centers across this country and in our community.
Judy Snow
Columbus Center Director
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
I Just Don't Understand
“I just don’t understand how anyone could ever do that”. I winced as I heard this statement voiced by an acquaintance. The person who made the statement was talking about abortion. Specifically, how could someone ever do that, have an abortion? I realized how a comment like this could cause tremendous harm and damage if said to a post abortive person who had not received healing. The person who made this comment was not trying to inflict guilt or pain, but words can cause much pain and suffering even without malicious intent. The old childhood ditty, “Sticks and stones can break my bones but words can never hurt me”, is untrue.
The second thing I thought about is, how do I answer that question? How do I explain why people have abortions? I tried to explain that abortion is a desperate act and that most people do not want to have an abortion, but I felt like I was trying to justify it and that frustrated me even more. The decision is never morally acceptable, no matter how much a person agonizes over the decision. Yet the more I tried to explain the more inadequate I felt in helping her understand. Even though I did not feel bruised by her comment, I was very concerned that her lack of understanding and her lack of knowledge could cause other post abortive people to feel shame and self-condemnation. These feelings could keep them from ever getting the help they needed to face their past and heal.
The comment was a few years ago and since that time I have had many instances to talk about abortion and why people choose abortion. Simply put, abortion is sin. I retyped the comment made above and instead of the word “that” I put the word “sin” in its place, “I just don’t understand how anyone could sin.” Now, how does the statement sound? Hurtful, condemning, self-righteous? I believe the comment was made with no intent to wound but no matter the intent, we hear condemnation.
As lovers of Christ, we strive to be very careful with our words. We do not want to say anything that would cause anyone to feel judgment or condemnation. We are here to offer hope and restoration. The world is a place of unforgiveness and pain but when our clients walk into our Centers; they have entered a safe place, a place where the light of Christ shines. You’ve heard the following cliché’ many times, but it’s true,” you are the light of the world”. Christ is in us and we share Him with those we meet.
We choose our words carefully. We build up, not tear down. We love unconditionally. We don’t question why someone sins; we simply open our arms and show them the way to sin no more. That way is through God’s Son, Jesus.
By Chris Bullock
Abortion Recovery Coordinator
The second thing I thought about is, how do I answer that question? How do I explain why people have abortions? I tried to explain that abortion is a desperate act and that most people do not want to have an abortion, but I felt like I was trying to justify it and that frustrated me even more. The decision is never morally acceptable, no matter how much a person agonizes over the decision. Yet the more I tried to explain the more inadequate I felt in helping her understand. Even though I did not feel bruised by her comment, I was very concerned that her lack of understanding and her lack of knowledge could cause other post abortive people to feel shame and self-condemnation. These feelings could keep them from ever getting the help they needed to face their past and heal.
The comment was a few years ago and since that time I have had many instances to talk about abortion and why people choose abortion. Simply put, abortion is sin. I retyped the comment made above and instead of the word “that” I put the word “sin” in its place, “I just don’t understand how anyone could sin.” Now, how does the statement sound? Hurtful, condemning, self-righteous? I believe the comment was made with no intent to wound but no matter the intent, we hear condemnation.
As lovers of Christ, we strive to be very careful with our words. We do not want to say anything that would cause anyone to feel judgment or condemnation. We are here to offer hope and restoration. The world is a place of unforgiveness and pain but when our clients walk into our Centers; they have entered a safe place, a place where the light of Christ shines. You’ve heard the following cliché’ many times, but it’s true,” you are the light of the world”. Christ is in us and we share Him with those we meet.
We choose our words carefully. We build up, not tear down. We love unconditionally. We don’t question why someone sins; we simply open our arms and show them the way to sin no more. That way is through God’s Son, Jesus.
By Chris Bullock
Abortion Recovery Coordinator
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Real Life...Real Answers
When asked what was most helpful from the Transformed workshop in which he and his family had just participated, a teen male wrote on his evaluation, “The honesty about sexual thoughts and temptations and about how difficult a struggle it is.”
What a privilege to be a part of a ministry that strives to provide open, honest dialogue about real life with real answers. Families are incredibly vulnerable to our culture’s ability to shape their values, attitudes and behaviors—especially in the area of sexuality. Unfortunately, the public image of sex in America bears virtually no relationship to the truth. That is one of the reasons we at the PCC find it so important to support churches in their efforts to equip families to have effective, age appropriate conversations about sex in loving and spiritually mature ways.
Information alone seldom changes behavior—but truth in the context of relationships (within both families and church families) is powerful. 9 out of 10 teens surveyed said it would be much easier to postpone sex if they could have real conversations with their parents. The PCC is committed to providing opportunities for these conversations to happen.
“We know that the Son of God came so we could recognize and understand the truth of God—what a Gift!...This Jesus is both True God and Real Life.” 1 John 5:20 (The Message)
Lisa Newton
Director of Christian Education
What a privilege to be a part of a ministry that strives to provide open, honest dialogue about real life with real answers. Families are incredibly vulnerable to our culture’s ability to shape their values, attitudes and behaviors—especially in the area of sexuality. Unfortunately, the public image of sex in America bears virtually no relationship to the truth. That is one of the reasons we at the PCC find it so important to support churches in their efforts to equip families to have effective, age appropriate conversations about sex in loving and spiritually mature ways.
Information alone seldom changes behavior—but truth in the context of relationships (within both families and church families) is powerful. 9 out of 10 teens surveyed said it would be much easier to postpone sex if they could have real conversations with their parents. The PCC is committed to providing opportunities for these conversations to happen.
“We know that the Son of God came so we could recognize and understand the truth of God—what a Gift!...This Jesus is both True God and Real Life.” 1 John 5:20 (The Message)
Lisa Newton
Director of Christian Education
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