Saturday, November 21, 2015

THANKS FOR THE CHARIOTS

Thanking God for all his many blessings could take quite a bit of time and space, but just wanted to share a few of the
ones concerning this ministry:

Wonderful volunteers, great board of directors, supporters like you,  support from churches and businesses, opportunities to share the Gospel with every client., opportunities to share God’s word with our Bible Study classes, getting to see the hand of God at work in the lives of the volunteers and clients, all the names written on our "Wall of Life", all the babies whom God brings into this world, and looking to the future and knowing He is in control.

Then there are the times we can hardly find a thank you when a girl or woman leaves our offices determined to follow through with an abortion.  Or the callers who hang up when they realize we are faith based and do not offer or refer for abortion, or the client who continues to live an ungodly life and returns over and over for our services.

Yes these may sound like things we do not want to be thankful for, but let me share with you something from  the book “The Christian’s Secret to a Happy Life” by Hannah Whitehall Smith

“Take each thing that is wrong in your lives as God’s chariot for you.  No matter who the builder of the wrong may be, whether men or devils, by the time it reaches your side it is God’s chariot for you, and is meant to carry you to a heavenly place of triumph.  Shut out all the second causes, and find the Lord in it.  Say “Lord open my eyes that I may see, not the visible enemy, but the unseen chariots of deliverance.”

So we learn to be thankful for even the bad things, for they are chariots that bring us closer to our Heavenly Father.

Please pray with us about the callers looking for abortion, that they will come to us first.
Please pray for wisdom and knowledge in all areas of this ministry.
Please pray for the upcoming events at PRC that each will glorify and magnify our Savior.

Volunteer needs:
Tuesday AM – Receptionist and Client Assistant
Wednesday AM – EWYL class Bible Study teacher
Wednesday and Thursday AM – Receptionist and Client Assistant

Baby Boutique Needs:
As we prepare for the Christmas festivities, we would like to share God’s love through gifts to our clients and their children.  Each client will be given a time of shopping in our Baby Boutique for their babies and children.  We are still needing some very good toys to share with them.  The mothers will be given a time of free shopping for the Christmas items.  We will also be giving our clients gifts like lotion, candles, journals, devotionals etc.  Donations of these items are welcome.

Here is a list of our clients’ children:
Girls:  newborn (1), 3 months (2), 10 month (1), 3 year (5), 4 year (2), 5 year (1), 8 year (1), 9 year (1), 11 year (1), 2 year (1)
Boys:  newborn (1), 5 months (2) 1 year (1), 18 month (1), 2 year (2), 3 year (2), 5 year (1) 8 year (12), 9 year (1), 11 year (1),

We already have many toys donated, but we can use many more.  Our baby boutique ladies will be back the week after next, and we will get a list of what we are still in need of.  So will be getting that out that week.

Grills Gone Wild, Saturday, November 21 (tomorrow).
Panama City Beach Rotary Club event contributes funds to all Bay County charities from the proceeds of this event.  The more volunteers we have to help at the event the more eligible we will be for these funds.  If you can help with this event, come to Gulf State College and offer your help and be sure to let them know you are with The Pregnancy Resource Center.  The times are from 5PM – 9PM and duties will be varied.

Holiday Hours:
Monday, Tuesday of next week will be regular hours for accepting new clients but we will not be having EWYL classes on Tuesday Evening or Wednesday morning.  The week of Christmas we will be open for new clients and EWYL as usual on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.  However the week before New Years, we will not be accepting new clients nor will we have Earn While You Learn classes.

This will most likely be the last email before returning after Thanksgiving.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING


Saturday, November 14, 2015

CAN YOU SEE IT?

Hello everyone,

Hope you are like me, enjoying the little briskness in the air today.  The little change in the weather is nice, but what is nicest is knowing our Lord is coming soon and we are constantly on the look out for Him.  We are also constantly trying to find new ways to share His wonder free gift of eternal life.

There are several methods we use here at the Center. One is our little “Do You Know” booklet that clearly gives the plan of salvation and at the end asks if she wants to pray the sinners prayer and accept Christ as savior and it even has a little Spiritual Birthday Certificate she can sign and keep with her at all times. 


Another method we can use is the always dependable and easy Roman Road.  Then just recently we have learned a new method, which is similar to the Roman Road, but is called “Share Jesus Without Fear.”  With this method we are encouraged to have the person read aloud the scripture.  This is good because there is great power in God’s word and when spoken out loud it resonates with the one reading it.  There are so many ways we can share the Gospel from very simple to somewhat deeper and complex, of course our own personal testimony, like Paul, is often the most effective.  

Regardless  of which one we choose, the best part of sharing the Gospel is knowing we have the Holy Spirit right there helping us.  We are not alone and we are not even responsible for the other person’s acceptance or refusal of this free gift.

So, in case you think,  “I could never attempt to lead another to the Lord.”  Think again.  You are not the one saving them.  Jesus does the calling and He does the saving.  We are only His instruments to share the Good News.

With that said, positions are available right here for those willing to take the plunge and be an instrument of God.  Receptionists, counselors (Client Assistants), Class Facilitators, Bible Study teachers, and Clerical Assistance are areas where more volunteers are needed here at PRC.
 
Can you see it?  Can you see around the corner that bright shining light drawing this ministry forward.  This light is Jesus Christ and He is drawing us toward newer, bigger and greater ways to serve Him in sharing the Gospel and saving babies from destruction. If you feel He is calling you to be a part of the adventure, do not hesitate, take the necessary steps.

Banquet news:
Banquet committee meeting was today.  More discussion and plans on how this is going to be the best one ever.  A marketing professional, Kristi Kirkland is coming on board at PRC and will be helping us with the banquet this year. The job of Banquet Coordinator we have been praying for has been filled.    God is so good and works in such outstanding, amazing and often un-expected or unusual ways.

Sanctity of Human Life – January 17, 2016
Need a speaker for your church?  Call the office and we can get you scheduled with one from our speakers bureau  This is the very  important time of year where we show our appreciation for all life, and enlist many in the army to fight for it.

Christmas Gifts

We are giving our EWYL students a shopping spree before Christmas and we hope to have a toy for every child whose mother comes to classes.  If you want to donate toys, please bring new, or nearly new toys to the Center and we will have them ready for the big event.

New Ultrasound Machine
January is our goal to have a new ultrasound machine.  We need to train 4 nurses in ultrasound and they need their training to be on our new machine.  Please help us meet our goal.

To donate toward our new ultrasound machine, you can go to Go Fund Me (http://www.gofundme.com/yz5tn5z8) or  www.support.anotherheart.org and give online through paypal or easy tithe.  Or mail your donation to:  Pregnancy Resource Center, PO Box 828, Panama City, 32401

When we first moved to Panama City Beach, in June of 2011, we started attending church at First Baptist Church Panama City Beach.  Each week a dear sweet lady would greet us at the door with a bulletin.  She always wore a beautiful hat that matched her Sunday best dress or suite.  Later I learned she was the church secretary, but didn’t get to know her until we were both involved in a Sunday evening Bible Study.  Quickly I learned her knowledge of the Bible and her love for the Lord Jesus was far above the ordinary and I came to respect and love this lady very much.

Later our church moved into the new building and became Woodstock Church PCB.  Every Sunday you can still Miss Betty standing at the sanctuary door handing out smiles and church information.  I remember being thrilled when she asked about information about volunteering at the Pregnancy Resource Center.  So I took her a volunteer application and waited to hear from her.  A few weeks later on a Wednesday morning she came to the Center and asked what she could do to help. I gave her a filing task that she handled quickly and then I introduced her to our database program Ekyros.

I don’t think Miss Betty Dover has missed more than one Wednesday morning entering the client information into our data base program since she began volunteering here in March of 2014.  She attends every training and helps out in any way she is called upon.  She loves working on the computer and entering the client information.  At first she dedicated her time to Wednesday morning, but now she stays until 4 and sometimes asks to stay longer to finish with the files she is working on.  Miss Betty is another one of those kegs in the wheels of this war wagon that keep us turning.  Her faithfulness, dedication to accuracy, and sweet disposition is an invaluable part of this ministry.

If you know her, you know exactly what I’m saying.  If you don’t know her you are missing out on a blessing.  May I take this opportunity to invite YOU to come to PRC and get to know these dear volunteers that God uses to grow His kingdom.

“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”  I Cor 2:9 (KJV)

Friday, November 6, 2015

ANSWERS


Hello everyone,

Many have been praying for more clients to come to PRC.  By the grace of God we have been blessed this past week with a total of nine appointments kept and four no shows.  Some of the no-shows have rescheduled.  . Praise God for the two precious women who wrote their name on our Wall of Life after praying to make Jesus Lord of their life.

Anyone who ever has a doubt that this is God’s work should come sit and read the Client Comments from our Evaluation Forms.  I promise you will be blessed.  The following are from the evaluation forms of two of our clients this past week:

Question:  How do you feel about your total experience at the Center?
Answer:  “I’m delighted to say everyone had an ear for listening and positive feedback.  I’ve been greatly depressed this year and it felt good to have a woman to express myself to.

Question:  What did you find most helpful at the Center?
Answer:  “That I could learn and earn.  It shows new parents responsibility and rewards them for wanting to be a magnificent parent.

Question:  What improvements can we make at the Center?
Answer:  “None that I know of.  Continue to uplift women spiritually, maybe have counseling sessions once a week.”

Question:  What did you like best or least about the services you received?
Answer:  “How comfortable the staff made me feel.”

Question:  Did the ultrasound influence your decision regarding your pregnancy?
Answer:  Yes, Makes me think more about having the baby.”

Attention all volunteers: 
Please check out our video list and check off when you viewed the video.  Some of our videos are required for our volunteers to watch and some are optional.  A list will be available in the office for all volunteers to check off when they watch the video.  We have recently added a couple and it is good to keep up to date on all the evangelistic and pro-life information we have available to us.

On Tuesday, November 10, and Thursday November 12, you are invited to join us at 12 Noon for a time of in-house training called a Learning Lunch.  This week we will be going over some procedures that sometimes get skipped in our intake and counseling process.  If you are not a Tuesday or Thursday volunteer, you are still invited. Bring your lunch and we will eat while we learn.  Our next Saturday training day will be in January.  We will not be having one in December.

SOHL
Please do not forget to speak with your pastor or church representative about having a speaker come to your church in January. Churches are currently being contacted  about Sanctity of Human Life Sunday.  The official Sanctity of Human Life Sunday in January 17th, but we will gladly come any other Sunday.  As soon as you get a commitment, please call the office so we can get your church on our schedule.

Shhhhh  It’s a  Secret
Only to those who are not involved in the Banquet Planning.  Our banquet for 2016 is shaping up to be the most interesting and different banquet we have ever had, and even that I have ever known.  So if you want to know the secret and be a part of this special time of planning, be sure to mark your calendar for December 18, 8:30AM and attend our next Banquet Planning here at the Center.

At the end of every month we begin compiling our stats for the month.  We run reports from our computer data base to gather information for grant applications, yearend taxes, and affiliate membership information, etc.  Keeping our computer database up to date is important to the operations of the Center.  One of the volunteers who diligently works to keep our information updated is who I want to tell you about today.

Teresa Byrnes has a heart to serve God and was a volunteer at the PRC before I came.  She enjoyed entering information into the computers, but did not feel led to do counseling.  Then circumstances led her to try other volunteer opportunities in our area, but none of them gave her the satisfaction she had found at the Pregnancy Resource Center.  After I came on as director, she  heard we were in need of volunteers,  so she came back to the PRC.  And boy are we glad she did.

Teresa is our go to person for all things statistically or data base related.  She knows how to enter the client information and then generate the exact reports needed, and she is also a great receptionist.  Her expertise in these areas has helped many new data entry clerks and receptionists understand the workings of the front office.  Ever since she came back to us, we have not been backed up with client files waiting to be entered.

Teresa is always ready to tackle any new project and knows the ever complicated copy machine like the back of her hand.  When she arrives to her post she quickly goes to check what needs to be done to get ready to welcome our clients of that day.  Last year she dedicated many hours in helping with the banquet.  Logging in every guest, keeping track of table hosts and juggling tables and guests to fit.
 This was a pretty big job.  But she did it with smiles and a joy that can only come from God.

This past Summer Teresa offered her home for a tea to show our appreciation to our volunteers.  This too was a lot of work, but she did it with grace and hospitality that proved her loyalty and love for this ministry.  Oh yea, she is a pretty fast walker too.  She and her husband John came and walked the Run Baby Run and came in with very fast times.  I tried real hard to catch her, but could not.

Words cannot express how we value Teresa around here, but here are a few:  Loyalty, faithfulness, kindness, availability and on and on I could go.  We are so fortunate to have this sweet volunteer at PRC.  Isn’t it amazing how God knows how to send the right people to fill the right spots in His ministry?

Prayer Requests and Praises:
Please be praying for a client who accepted Christ and is earnestly trying to turn her life around.  When she became pregnant she was living a life of drugs, alcohol and partying.  She thought an abortion was the best thing since there may be something wrong with her baby.  But she just couldn’t do it.  Then she came to see us.  She accepted Christ and requested a church contact her about attending.  She is hungry for God and the Bible Studies we gave her along with our Bible Study classes and Earn While You Learn will help, but she also needs a family that will give her support and love during this time.

Praise God for all the wonderful volunteers here at PRC.

Extended  testing and new client hours.  We want to extend our testing and new client hours to include Wednesday mornings from 10-12.  We can only do this after God send us three more wonderful ladies to be Receptionist, Counselor and Nurse.  Please pray about this.

Needs:
Wipes , Newborn diapers , Toys for Christmas (We have a list of our clients children available in the office)

“I want to motivate men to involvement, not awareness….Awareness without action creates apathy.  I desire men to finish this book awakened with passion over the atrocity of abortion and the knowledge of how to personally save at least one life a year.”  From the Book “Awaken the Mighty Men” by Mike Williams

“Thou shalt not kill.”  Exodus 20:13


Wednesday, November 4, 2015

October 30, 2015

Wow as I type the date above, I realize this is the end of October.  Only two months left in this year.  That means January is only two months away.  January the month for our Sanctity of Human Life observance, where we go into our local churches and share what God is doing in the pro-life arena and specifically at the PRC to stop abortion and share the Good news of Jesus with others.

In the coming weeks the churches in our area will be contacted about this special time of year and asked if they would like a speaker from the Center to come and share with their congregations.  So if interested in helping with this project, please call the office. 

This has been a very interesting week at PRC.  On Monday evening  we had two appointments, but neither of them showed.  On Tuesday our day looked packed full with 8 appointments, but none of them showed.  It was even quiet with no phones ringing.  We began to wonder if they even worked.  Must have been the rain.  Then praise God, on Thursday our appointments showed and it was back to normal. 

Run Baby Run was a fun time to enjoy the warm fall weather at Sharron Sheffield Park.  Thank you goes out to Living Word Fellowship for this day.  Seven of us from PRC participated and two came to help man the table. 

Saturday evening Annette and I manned a table at the Gulf Beach Baptist Church harvest festival.  Many came by our table and received information about the Center.

Toys are beginning to come into the Center for our need at Christmas.  Over the next few weeks our EWYL students will be listing their children’s ages and gender and we will begin to sort the items that come in for their needs.  Clients who attend our classes regularly will get a shopping spree, which includes filling their shopping bag to the brim and then choosing one large item or toy.  This year we are hoping to have enough toys for each child on the list they provide.

Today was our first Banquet planning meeting.  There were five of us ladies in attendance, but what we mostly talked about was men.  Oh that’s the way women do sometimes you know.  Oh well, I’ll have to admit this time it was mostly because this year’s banquet will be focused on the men.  We are striving to appeal to the men in our area by having a more masculine banquet and stressing the importance of everyone’s part in this ministry.  The following are some of areas of need for help in this year’s banquet preparation.

Prayer Coordinator, Telephone Callers, Food Servers, Table Hosts, Banquet Coordinator
Everyday  PRC Needs: Wipes, Newborn diapers, New or gently used toys, Volunteers for Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday mornings.

Much prayer for our upcoming Sanctity of Human Life in January and for the Banquet in March.
As we begin planning for this year’s banquet I was reminded of what a valuable part our youth play at our banquet.  They show up early, get their instructions and are available to be a server.  How encouraging it is to see  youth of our area who are willing to sacrifice their time and energies toward such a cause as this.  

With so many youth going astray in today’s world, it is nice to know there are those who love Jesus and want to serve him.  Everyone here at PRC does not have to look hard to find such youth. 
In the past teens have helped us out in many ways.  Sometimes it is a youth group from out of town who wants to serve the Center with cleaning and sprucing up.  It may be a group of young women come to work in our Baby Boutique work room folding baby clothes, or assembling gift bags.  But today I want to tell you about a two of the special young women who have volunteered here at the Center.

Deborah Stormer is now attending Pensacola Christian University studying to become a nurse.  When she first came as volunteer she was only 15.  She quickly became one of the best receptionists we have ever had.  She was present at every training session.   Every Tuesday and Thursday as soon as she arrived, after we had our time of prayer she proceeded to prepare for the day by putting together intake packets, checking the appointments for call reminders, entering the information into our database program or filing.  She was always able to stay busy, and accepted every project with grace, even if it was something new to her, all the while endearing herself to everyone around her.

Everytime Deborah is in town on break she comes and fills in as Receptionist and now a Client Assistant.  We miss her being here every week, but we know she has a beautiful life ahead as she works to serve her Lord.

Claire Zechman also began volunteering here a little over one year ago at age 15.  She is a very busy  high school student who gives every Tuesday evening to help with the clerical work for our Earn While You Learn classes.  She counts out the baby bucks, checks homework, and enters the clients information about classes in our record book. She too is eager to learn new things around the Center and is more than willing to take on a new project even when it is bigger than the time she has for the evening.  She also helps in the store when the clients are shopping.  Last year she wrote an assignment in school about abortion, so impressed we decided to publish it in our newsletter.  She is a special young woman who wants to serve God and I am so blessed to know her. 

Please pray with me for these two precious young women who make us once again optimistic about the future of our youth, and live out I Tim. 4:12 

“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”.


Be sure to check out our new websites:  www.anotherheart.org (for the client) and www.support.anotherheart.org (for the supporter).  On our site is now a place where you can give securely online through easy tithe or paypal.  And please do not forget about the Go Fund Me account to raise funds for our new ultrasound.  More news about that next week.  Check out our facebook page too for more news and information.