Wholistic Missions: Pregnancy Center
Wholistic missions is defined as “your active love for God translated into an active love for people. This love notices, emphasizes and acts on the behalf of others”. It is “moving toward a problem, need or broken thing in our path, in Jesus’ name”.
When I started serving at The Pregnancy Clinic in 2007, I was primarily involved in the Walk/Run for Life event each fall. I would set up a fundraising page and share my story online, sending emails to family and friends asking for donations. I knew the clinic was ministering to mothers, fathers and families in ways that were lifesaving and life changing and I wanted to be part of it. I also participated in the baby bottle campaign a few times, collecting change to help the clinic continue to offer free services.
For 7 years, that seemed like enough.
But God began to tug at my heart and whisper to me that I needed to serve in a deeper way. That even though my fundraising efforts were helpful, I needed to be equipped to serve the hurting and confused mothers that came into the clinic needing to talk to someone and have someone listen and share their story of hope.
Every time I saw a post on Facebook about volunteer training for the clinic, it seemed to be at an inopportune time. I would tuck the information away, but never think about it any further. Until February 2014. I didn’t have a reason not to register for the training other than my own insecurities. So, I registered and showed up the first night and knew I was in the right place at the right time. God was showing me that I needed to use my story and my giftings to be a counselor to women that came to the clinic seeking truth and needing love.
The training was intense and tedious and I still had doubts, but am so thankful for the patient staff and trainers who guided me through and allowed me to see not only the need to meet women in crisis right where they are, but to be equipped to do it well.
Counseling at the clinic for two years led me to begin sharing my story when I hosted a baby shower at church to collect items needed to fill baby shower bags for expectant mothers who attended the free pregnancy and infant care classes. After I spoke, one of the staff members asked me if I would be willing to share my story at Sanctity of Life events and other ministry events and I humbly said yes. By sharing my story, I have been able to meet women who had been through a crisis pregnancy, had an abortion or knew someone that had experienced similar situations. I began seeing God move in people’s lives to bring about healing and wholeness. It has been amazing to see women being freed from past hurts and brokenness.
When my church started to serve and live a wholistic lifestyle as believers I was asked by the missions’ leader to lead a missional group at church in connection with The Pregnancy Clinic. It has been a honor to serve alongside men and women and serve the clinic by bi-monthly helping with office and clerical needs such as mailings, unpacking and wrapping volunteer gifts at Christmas, emptying baby bottles and filling bank bags with monetary donations and cleaning at two of the locations. Our group also organized a team of 23 people to raise money and participate in The Walk/Run for Life event in September 2019. We raised over $2,000 and had one of our runners place first in his age group.
Being able to serve women in crisis through this ministry has been rewarding and life changing not only for the women I have helped, but also for me. It has reminded me how important it is to meet people where they are – in their brokenness – and allow God to use me to offer hope and love.
MH