fpc newsletter volume 2, issue 1

I was a couple months pregnant and very confused as to what to do... go through with the pregnancy or terminate my pregnancy? I was terrified to go through with my pregnancy due to a past delivery experience. I gave birth to twins in 2005 and was diagnosed with Severe Toxemia during my emergency C-section. I nearly lost my life and was too traumatized to go through another delivery ever again. I contacted an abortion clinic; they advised me that I needed an ultra-sound before consulting with them. Still undecided on my decision, I looked up facilities in the Fredericksburg area since I was in that location for the weekend. When I called Fredericksburg Pregnancy Center, they told me they would take me in

VOLUME 2 ISSUE 1 2014

F R E D E R I C K S B U R G P R E G N A N C Y C E N T E R

STORIES FROM THE CENTER

2014 GALA

DIRECTOR’S CORNER

VOLUNTEERING NEWS

HEALING: POST ABORTION

NURSE’S NOTES

PRAYER CORNER

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Newsletter

In celebration of what God has done through the ministry in the last year, please join us for our “Second Annual Empowering Life Gala” with keynote speaker

David Bereit, National Director of 40 Days for Life, on April 10th at the Hospitality House.

Registration 6:00 PM • Dinner and Program begin at 6:30 PM

Come as a Guest or join our Table Host Team! As a Table Host you have the opportunity to invite your friends and family to a wonderful evening of fellowship, good food, and inspiration!

For more information or to register, please go to FredericksburgPregnancyCenter.org or contact Laura Rodziwicz at [email protected]

There is no cost required to attend or to be a tablehost, but there will be an opportunity to give financially at this event.

Empowering Life Gala

What’s Inside:

FredericksburgPregnancy Center

Vision...A community

where all human life

is valued from

the moment

of conception

PREGNANCY CENTERFREDERICKSBURG

OFFERING HOPE & EMPOWERING CHOICES

right away. A couple of other places I called could not schedule me for another week or so. As soon as I stepped foot in this office, I felt the warmth and care. The whole staff was extremely nice. I told them of my past

experience and my fear of going through with this delivery. They sat me down and shared some of their delivery experiences with me. They gave me great comforting advice with no pressure at all. That day as I left their building, my decision was made. That day after I left their building, I knew for certain that there would be an addition to my family. My son was born on October 28, 2013. I gave

birth to a very healthy baby boy who weighed in at 8lbs. My delivery was smooth with no complications. I cannot express how grateful I am that the Lord led me to this office.

A M O T H E R ’ S S T O R Y

HEALING: Post-AbortionI believe that the core of the Gospel message is reconciliation. No matter what our condition is when we kneel at the cross; God says, “Welcome home my child.” We are reconciled to God, and now we can be reconciled in our earthly relationships. This is especially important for women who have had an abortion.

One of our clients participated in the Post-Abortion Bible Study shortly after becoming a Christian. She had had her first abortion at age 18 and 3 more by the time she was age 24. By digging into the Word of God she more fully understood His forgiveness. When our client was confronted with the principle of forgiving the people involved in her abortion experiences she chose to obey Matthew 5:23-24 and release them to God’s care. It took time, like all healing processes do, but our client stated that she finally felt free and at peace.

The shame that held her back from fully relating to God and others was replaced by empathy for the broken-hearted. Our client now has new coping skills that allow her memories to be put back in their place rather than crippling her. She can now move forward in life and use her gifts and experiences to minister to others.

I can’t say enough about the benefits of sharing one’s story with other women who’ve walked the same road. There can be healing, rest, and peace if you’ll take the first step and make a confidential call to FPC. One of our caring consultants would love to help you begin a life-changing journey. How can I be so sure of this? I am the client in this article. – Melinda

VOLUNTEERING NEWS

In 2013 it was our privilege and honor at FPC to conduct 334 ultrasounds for our clients.The ultrasounds we provide are done to evaluate the viability and gestational age of the baby and give the women the opportunity to see the ultrasound on the screen. One of the foundational principles for us as we minister to our clients is that we always endeavor to “speak the truth with love.” Our hope is to reflect the Lord’s deep love and compassion for those we serve as we offer them truth and knowledge about pregnancy, fetal development, and abortion. Most of our clients present life situations that render them vulnerable to a legal abortion - lack of support financially or emotionally, grief issues, educational and/or career track interruption, etc. More than 90 percent of our vulnerable clients will choose life when they see the reality of their unborn babies’ heart beat and begin the bonding process. At 4 weeks gestational age, the heart beat can be viewed and at 6 weeks movement can be seen. Often the family or baby’s father’s positive reaction encourages her resolve to overcome her life’s difficult situation. Recently a father’s positive statement of, “I would do a happy cartwheel if I had enough room,” and accompanying tears made a very positive impact on her overwhelming situation.

Medical Services Update: NURSE’S NOTES BY GLORIA WHITLEY The ultrasound is also a tool to rule out a possible miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy. A recent scan led us to make a 911 call for an ambulance to rule out a life-threatening ectopic pregnancy. A follow up call did indeed confirm that it was an ectopic, and her health and possibly life was spared.

We are so grateful for the dedicated volunteer nurses and our sonographer who provide the “window to the womb” experience for our clients. And we are most grateful for your support that enables this medical ministry to continue to save lives.

“FORGIVEN AND SET FREE”We invite you to attend our next 12-week post abortion and recovery Bible Study. 540.370.1800 • FredericksburgChoices.com

Recently, I had the privilege of attending an FPC Volunteer Training, led by an exuberant, Spirit-filled pastor named Bob, and based on a resource entitled Serving with Care

and Integrity. What an awesome adventure! The (4) two-and-a-half-hour sessions, spread over four days, provided the perfect opportunity to experience radical Christian fellowship, as we prepared ourselves to serve clients in crisis. Imagine the joy I felt as a

member of this caring community, surrounded by smiling faces! This training served to:• Solidify my awareness of the Biblical basis for the sanctity of human life.• Refresh my knowledge of fetal development, pregnancy concerns, and abortion issues.• Equip me to assist the client in crisis, and to share the abundant comfort and joy of our Heavenly Father’s love. Thank you FPC, for this wonderful opportunity! Blessings to all. – Joanne

CARE NET TRAINING BLESSES MANY… The date was set months before. The call went out for Volunteer Training participants…via email, phone, postings to our website, Facebook pages, and blog. Then, the last week in January, we had more than 37 volunteers, staff and board members join us for four days of intense, Spirit-filled training led by trainer and retired Pastor Bob Faust of our Affiliate Partner, Care Net. Even a patch of bad weather did not delay or deter those that God would have there.

As a direct result of the week’s efforts and through the Lord’s provision, we have seen more than a dozen individuals step forward to seek regular volunteering opportunities at the Center and continue on in more advanced training. We praise God and give Him the Honor and Glory.

• A free weekly tutoring-style program to help our clients prepare for parenting (fathers are always welcome to attend). • Clients receive information on pregnancy, childbirth, and early parenting skills. • With each lesson, our clients earn points for baby items which can be redeemed at one of our baby boutiques. • The boutiques offer a variety of donated baby items: cribs, strollers, diapers, gently used maternity and baby clothes, and more!

"Every week it makes me feel better to come here and learn about things, that's the highlight of my week because it makes me feel so good when I leave." – EWYL student Alexandria

PRAYER CORNER

Please Be Praying For These Upcoming Events and Programs:Empowering Life Gala - April 10th

Post Abortion Bible Study - Spring 2014 Baby Bottle Campaign - Spring 2014Earn While You Learn (EWYL) Program

University of Mary Washington Outreach: • Effective ads in the Bullet newspaper• Prayer warriors for UMW campus• Revival on the UMW campus• Partnering with “Students for Life”

Each Monday at noon you are welcome to join us at the center for our “Prayer Power Hour!” We are privileged to cover our clients and their families, our partners, our staff, and volunteers in sweet prayer. Those who cannot be with us in body commit faithfully to pray alongside us in spirit. It is an awesome thing to be a part of.

Earn While You Learn

“ H e g i v e s p o w e r t o t h e f a i n t , a n d t o h i m w h o h a s n o m i g h t h e i n c r e a s e s s t r e n g t h . ” I s a i a h 4 0 : 2 9

DIRECTOR’SCORNERThe vision of Fredericksburg Pregnancy Center

is to promote a community where all human life is valued from the moment of conception. In 2013, we had 580 client visits, prayed or shared the Gospel with 516 clients, provided 334 ultrasounds, and held five post-abortion Bible studies. It is a privilege to see God moving through our dedicated staff and volunteers. We give glory to God and thanks to our dedicated partners who enable us to reach our community with the message of life and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Our clients come to us from all walks of life, cultures, and beliefs. It is our prayer, our heart toward Heaven believing for those who come to FPC to hear God’s heart of love for them. In Zephaniah 3:16-17, Zephaniah prophesies to Jerusalem to not fear, he speaks to the hands that are sinking down and those that are slow and listless. Many of our clients are sinking down and listless wondering “how will I make it through this crisis?” Zephaniah continues on to share with the people of Jerusalem how mighty God is, how He is their Savior, how He rejoices over them with joy.

Our staff and volunteers are here to encourage and provide life-affirming resources while respectfully showing the love of Jesus Christ and God’s truths to all who come to us for help. Over the past months, there have been a growing number of opportunities for truth to be shared. I pray you will be encouraged in your faith and strengthened in your pro-life convictions as you read the client testimonies and life-affirming activities represented in this newsletter.

Please join me on April 10th at our Empowering Life Gala Dinner with keynote speaker David Bereit, National Director of 40 Days for Life. You will not want to miss this evening of inspirational client testimonies, speakers, and fellowship. See you there!– Denise Swett, Executive Director

JOANNE’S JOY

Interested in volunteering? Email us at: [email protected] or call us at 540.370.1800

Hear more of Alexandria’s story at our April 10th Gala!