Recently I hosted a junior high and high school youth group from a church in Colton, full story later in the newsletter. They sacrificed the Saturday after Thanksgiving for a service project here at the Pregnancy & Family Resource Center. We had some time after they finished the projects but before the pizza arrived (key to working with youth – always feed them), so I said let’s have a time of Q & A. I know, I really put myself out there at the mercy of young people, but I’ve got nothing to hide. The first question posed was, “So, what do you do?” I wanted to clarify and see if they wanted to know what I, as the Director, did or what we, the pregnancy center, did. Nope, they wanted to know what I, as the center director did. She went on to say, “Like what is a typical day for you?” Great question and I’m sure my husband and kids would ask the same thing. What do you do all day?
I told them that the most important element of my job is relationships. I must build and maintain our internal relationships, with staff members and volunteers. If we don’t work together cohesively then we are not following God’s plan of loving one another. Then I took it a step further, the relationships that we build with each client that comes in our doors. Relationship in a way that we not only connect with the other person, but that we become part of their foundation. We want our clients to know that they can depend and most importantly trust us here at the pregnancy center. I want to initiate, build and maintain relationships with our partnering churches. If we don’t know each other then how can we trust each other? Trust that our center is faithful and responsible with all gifts given to us. Trust built with the churches in our community because we know they feel the same as we do about the value of all human life.
So, the long answer to a short question, I look to build and maintain relationships all day! Some days that means typing letters and such, some days that means lunch with a partner but sometimes I get to go to a church and speak in person what an amazing opportunity I’m afforded to be the director of such an amazing life-changing ministry.
You may remember that I took over the helm back in August and I didn’t plan or look to make any major changes, but God provided so abundantly that we had to roll with His plan. I just read a brief article on change and I just have to quote this one section, “Will we lean into the change and see what the Lord is up to? Or will we fight the change and bristle at the questions?” Many won’t agree with me, but I love change! I love to shake things up, mix it around and just see how it comes out in the end. I do this with cooking, furniture, clothes in my closet and the best part about change is if doesn’t work out, you can change it again.
I want to take this time to layout some of what I hope and pray 2020 will look like for the pregnancy center. I’m going to list them like David Letterman did way back when with the Top Ten Lists, but we’re only going to do 5.
- NIFLA – National Institute of Family and Life Advocates. We are an affiliate and it may not seem highly important, but it is very important with whom we align ourselves. NIFLA defends pro-life pregnancy centers against unconstitutional laws which attempt to force medical staff, volunteers and even churches to become abortion referral agencies.
- New Client and Donor Privacy – We have moved into a very forward concept of paperless records. Scary for many, but so much more secure for those that come into our center for confidential information and for those that support us financially. Another level to this secure system is being HIPAA compliant with our client’s medical information.
- Limited Diagnostic Ultrasounds – Yes! We have a wonderful Dr that offers his radiological services in reading every sonogram that we perform. We are truly using our medical license to our benefit now, one more tool that we use to show families the beauty of life in utero.
- New Websites – I’m working with our current web designer and he is totally redesigning and revamping both of our current websites. Part of the newness is a new domain name (it’s ok I didn’t know what that meant either). Our current website for clients is SBPFRC.com, doesn’t really tell you who we are or what we do, coming January 2020 is sbpregnancychoices.com.
And finally, coming in at the number 1 spot on my excitement list is (drum roll) ……..
- Saving Saturdays – We are open on Saturday’s from 10am to 2pm. We are only here Saturdays for pregnancy testing and ultrasounds! This is something that we, as a staff/ volunteers as well as our partners, have been praying about for many years. God has provided and He has asked a specific church to lead the way in providing the finances to cover the extra expense that being open on Saturdays will add to our budget. Here’s our budgetary breakdown:
- $12,000 per year
- $1000 a month
- $240 per week
- $60 per hour
Want to be a Saturday Shareholder? Donate today and mark your giving as “Saving Saturday”.
Finally, I want to express my heartfelt appreciation for everyone that is involved in any way with the Pregnancy & Family Resource Center. I’m always just blown away by the number of people, churches and organizations that respond when we call for help. I’m eternally grateful for the hearts of so many that love to give and love to serve. I can’t wait to see Jesus and hear him express his appreciation for all that have had a hand (and foot) in this amazing place.
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity o the Spirit through the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:2-3
In Him,
Kathleen