A Journey Through Banquet Season

It all starts just after the first of the year. Planning, preparations, prayer…the entire office takes on a different look…its Banquet Season. Knowing that hard work, diligence and extreme organization is needed we start the season off with Prayer! Praying for sponsors, table hosts, the Banquet speaker, volunteers, staff and those that will ultimately attend each event. We pray for the Holy Spirit to work through the keynote speaker as they prepare the important message thousands in support of the PCC will hear. We pray for sponsors to generously partner with us so every dollar earned at the banquets goes straight to the ministry. We pray for table hosts to join us in filling tables of supporters and those that might become supporters. We pray for health and endurance of the many volunteers and staff that will pour countless hours into making sure the banquets run smoothly and successfully. And we pray for those who will attend each night. We pray they will give, pray, volunteer. We pray they will become a partner in this fight for life.

Next comes the planning and preparations, which is an exciting job to say the least. Working with talented and creative staff, volunteers and outside organizations to make sure every aspect is thought through and finished well. From the color of the napkins to the sponsors getting correct acknowledgement, everything has to be ready to go by that first night and remain ready to go by the fifth and last banquet. Things can get a little busy and crazy but what a thrill to see it all come together!

Although there are always glitches and things that don’t necessarily go as planned each evening is such a reward! Meeting new people, hearing how they have enjoyed the evening and love supporting such a great ministry. It gives just the motivation and energy needed to do it all over again (four more times)!

Staying up late, organizing, reorganizing, packing, repacking…ahh, banquet season…how I love you but am glad you are only a few months! So today as I am in the process of wrapping everything up and putting everything away I wonder what ever will I do next? Golf Challenge perhaps? I’m sure I will figure something out.

Abby Glasser
Events Coordinator

Speaking Truth to Thousands!

From 6th through 12th grade, the Choose to Wait program is speaking truth to thousands of students each semester. Not only are these presentations packed with important and factual information but they have proven to be very effective in challenging students to make healthier decisions when it comes to their sexuality. Below are just a few comments received from recent Choose to Wait presentations.

• Jennings Co. H.S. student: “She really helped me understand. Thank you for doing this…we need it.”
• Jennings Co. M.S. student: “(The most helpful was) learning that having sex is a beautiful thing as long as you wait, learning what real love is, and learning how far to go- setting boundaries.”
• Jennings Co. M.S. student: “This person drew us a picture in our mind about how to protect our health.”
• Jenn. Co. M.S. student: “If you don’t want your grandma to know; don’t say it or put it on the Internet.”
• Seymour H.S. student: “I am choosing to wait!!”
• Do you think this person presenting this program was relatable…”yes, because she changed my mind.” - Northside female
• “I learned what a “go to” person is.” 6th Grader at Southwestern
• “I learned to wait and make good choices.” – 6th Grader at Southwestern
• “I liked learning about keeping my body safe and waiting until marriage to have sex.” – 6th Grader at Southwestern
• “I learned abstinence is healthy.” – 6th Grader at North Vernon Elementary
• “I learned to save sex for marriage because I want to have healthy relationships.” – 6th Grader at North Vernon Elementary
• “So happy with the content and presentation.” – 6th Grade Teacher , North Vernon Elementary
• “Well-presented, made students feel comfortable in participating and asking questions. Good content, Good message.” – 6th Grade Teacher, North Vernon

Using Video to Catch an Audience

Pregnancy Care Center staff and volunteers have been presenting the Transformed and My Best For You programs for years. But recently, we created a video promotion for each program to continue catching an audience. Simply click the logo's above to watch the video's. For more information about these programs, please contact Lisa Newton, Abstinence Education Director at lisan@pregcarecenter.org.

October Baby-Every Life is Beautiful

Mark your calendars for a new movie coming out in March called October Baby with a message that every life is beautiful. Read a summary below or watch a preview at www.octoberbaby.net.

As the curtain rises, Hannah hesitantly steps onto the stage for her theatrical debut in college. Yet before she can utter her first lines, Hannah—unscripted—collapses in front of the stunned audience. After countless medical tests, all signs point to one underlying factor: Hannah’s difficult birth. This revelation is nothing compared to what she then learns from her parents: she was actually adopted … after a failed abortion attempt. Bewildered, angered, and confused, Hannah turns for support to Jason, her oldest friend. Encouraged by his adventurous spirit, Hannah joins his group of friends on a Spring Break road trip, embarking on a journey to discover her hidden past … and find hope for her unknown future. In the midst of her incredible journey, Hannah finds that life can be so much more than what you have planned.

A Prayer for Marriage

I opened Scotty Smith's Everyday Prayers to find the November 29th "Prayer for Marriages." I love how Scotty reminds us not only of our own brokenness and bent, but for our need to seek protection from the evil one, as his plan is to undo Shalom in every area of life, including the high and holy covenant of marriage. We know this to be the case because cheating is not only prevalent in marriages outside the church, but also within. That's something we need to hear and receive as a somber warning.

Scotty Smith's "Prayer for Marriages" is one worth sharing and praying today. Perhaps it echoes the yearnings and realities of your own heart, as well as the concerns you have for your friends. It does both for me. . .

"No one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church-for we are members of his body. “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” This is a profound mystery-but I am talking about Christ and the church." (Ephesians 5:29-32)

Lord Jesus, I’ve been greatly saddened lately over the growing number of my friends who are disconnected from, despairing of, or dying in their marriages. I’m saddened, but not shocked, for two reasons. It makes all the sense in the world to me that the one relationship meant to mirror your love for your Bride would be under constant assault by the powers of darkness.

Why wouldn’t Satan want to do everything in his power to keep us from showing and telling the stunning story of your great affection for your Bride-how you have sought and bought a most ill-deserving people, like us, to cherish, nourish and cause to flourish… forever? Of course marriage is going to be a war zone-the front lines of spiritual warfare until the Day you return, Jesus. Of course, Satan doesn’t want the gospel to take root and offer the fruit of your redemption and restoration in our marriages. He hates you, he hates the gospel and therefore he hates your Bride.

But I’m also not shocked over the great percentage of marriages that are struggling, because I know my own heart, Jesus. Like most of us, I came into marriage, as you well know, with little gospel and big naiveté. I had no clue about the depths of my brokenness, the degree of my selfishness, or the devices of my sinfulness. I had no clue about what it would mean to love one person well the rest of my life, someone who needs the gospel just as much as I do.

And I certainly had no clue that your love alone is better than life… that your love alone can slake the deepest thirst of my heart… that your love alone can provides the depths of intimacy I crave and for which I have been made… that your love alone can free me to love another sinner-spouse the way your love me as your spouse-for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish… forgiving and forbearing… accepting without acquiescing… doing the hard and heart work of the gospel.

So, Lord Jesus, I pray for my friends, as I pray for myself, protect us from the evil one, and restore us to gospel sanity and gospel reality. Give hope to the hopeless, conviction to the foolish, nourishment to the famished… grace-filled wisdom to the betrayed and godly sorrow to the betrayers. So very Amen, I pray, in the loving and restoring name of Jesus."

Excerpt taken from Walt Mueller’s blog.