April 2010 Newsletter
Posted By cmbuuck on April 8, 2010
“A Hope Center” 25th Anniversary—Twenty-five years of caring for those with a very special need does not just happen. It is a process of building that all began with the solid foundation that was laid back in 1984 by a group of believers who were committed to making a difference in the lives of women and men facing an unplanned pregnancy. Starting out as the Crisis Pregnancy Center, the name was changed in recent years to A Hope Center. Caring counselors help women and couples to evaluate their choices, and a very persuasive consideration is the use of the ultrasound. Ultrasound brings love to light when the mother sees her baby. One such story, Amy and her mother came to the center together the day of the ultrasound, and both were adamant that abortion was the only option they were considering. How was a teenager going to support a little one, much less exhibit the patience and energy to be a mother? As the ultrasound began, the nurse’s spirit was deep in prayer, for the task at hand felt humanly impossible. Amy’s mother stood back from the table, admitting that she “did not really want to see” the picture on the ultrasound monitor. However, God had another plan! There before our eyes, He placed the unmistakable image of a precious little baby moving about…waving its arms…dancing. As the ultrasound progressed, the nurse’s heart soared as she watched Amy’s mother begin to inch closer to the monitor, and after a few minutes, take her daughter’s hand. With tears in their eyes, they rejoiced as Amy’s mother leaned over her daughter on the table and, pointing to the tiny baby on the screen, exclaimed: “Honey! That’s MY GRANDCHILD!”
Healing My Broken Heart (Another story from “A Hope Center)—“I was just 18 years old when I found myself pregnant. I had just completed high school and was working full-time in order to get out of my abusive childhood home. I was alone and scared. The young man who told me he was falling in love with me had quickly changed his mind. The only support he offered was helping me pay to take care of it. He didn’t mean child support. The guilt of the abortion haunted me for well over fifteen years. I suffered with depression and felt ashamed to even approach God in prayer. My life had fallen apart. I had convinced myself that I had come full-circle; I was a loving, Christian mother and wife and active in my church, but the shame of the abortion had never gone away. God knew my broken heart and wanted me to heal. He offered that healing through the post abortive counseling offered at A Hope Center.”
Celebrate With Us at the “A Hope Center Banquet” and hear more stories and programs that are being offered at A Hope Center, Tuesday, April 20th beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum.
Wrong Number? Or the Holy Spirit?—A young woman in Indianapolis, Indiana — we’ll call her Erin — woke up, saw her kids off to school, dropped her preschoolers at a friend’s house and noticed that she was late for an appointment at Planned Parenthood for an abortion. So Erin picked up her phone and called to see if she could still come in. She thought she was calling Planned Parenthood. In her haste, she dialed a wrong number. Instead of Planned Parenthood, she got Joseph who was answering the cell phone that’s being used by, get ready for this “40 Days for Life” in Indianapolis! Joseph took a deep breath and tried to be as calm as possible. He took Erin’s name and number and simply said that a counselor would call her back. Elizabeth, the counselor, called Erin and begged her not to hang up. She explained to Erin that she had not reached Planned Parenthood and asked her if she was a Christian, and Erin said “yes.” Elizabeth told her God’s grace was at work in this “wrong number” situation and then asked Erin what led her to the abortion center? Simply put…desperation. She has four children, their father is in jail, she had lost her job, her electricity was about to be shut off, and she doesn’t have enough money to pay the rent. Later, Erin arrived at Planned Parenthood with her aunt. The aunt told the counselors she opposed the abortion, but Erin’s mother and sister insist it’s the best answer. They say Erin just can’t handle another child. In the meantime, Elizabeth had spread the word about Erin’s situation. A volunteer offered to pay her electric bill. Ten others pooled their cash to pay her rent. Eileen in Indianapolis says a local group is now working with Erin to help her find a job. “She has a lot of potential,” Eileen said, “but needs support since her mother and sister are still encouraging her to abort the baby.” Erin has reacted with both joy and disbelief that strangers were helping her. She has called Planned Parenthood to cancel her appointment and request a refund. Please keep Erin and her family and all those helping her in your prayers. So, you see? God DOES work in mysterious ways. There are no coincidences and in this case, no wrong numbers!