Hope & Care, September 2017 edition

September 2017

& Family Ministries providing hope & care

hope & care

Quarterly Newsletter

“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’” - Matthew 25:40 highlights through July 2017

60

decisions for Christ

37,505

food boxes distributed through resource centers

16

abortionminded women chose life for their unborn children

three

transitional program graduates worked with

1,276

DCS families

MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

UPCOMING EVENTS

ABCS has been eligible for the Arizona Tax Credit program for a few years, allowing you to redirect your tax dollars to local ministry. A couple of years ago we became a Qualifying Foster Care Organization. During this time we have been blessed to see the new supporters God has brought, as well as current supporters receiving this great benefit.

Turkey Day Feed 1,600 families at the Rio Vista Center’s annual Turkey Day on November 18 and send families home with a Thanksgiving turkey.

Give $20 for a turkey and sign up to volunteer at azresourcenters.com/ turkeyday.

Last year the deadline was extended from the end of the year until tax day in April. We were blown away with the additional resources the Lord provided in the first quarter of this year. Funds raised through the tax credit program support all seven of our ministries. With the additional funds, together we provided hope and care to children and families through 35,086 food boxes, and 15,238 material assistance distributions from our pregnancy centers. Sixty individuals made decisions for Christ through July of this year and you are a part of their story. Additionally, your support has impacted approximately 4,000 children in the care of the department of child safety through our parent aide and foster care ministries.

We are grateful for the tax credit program which allows individual donors to give up to $500 and couples to give up to $1,000 to receive a dollar for dollar credit. This year we have the opportunity to participate in the Impact AZ grant program again as New Life Pregnancy Center.

Through this program we have the chance New Life Pregnancy to qualify for one of six grants totaling Centers $100,000. Wow! God is good.

As the season of giving approaches we pray God will put it on people’s hearts to support hurting families in Mission their community through the ministries Encounter 360 of ABCS. In Him,

six

Travel with a Purpose mission project participants

Steve Hanna Executive Director

New Life Counseling

Impact AZ Your tax dollars can go even further this year when you redirect them to New Life Pregnancy Center.

Learn more on Page 2.

Jingle Bell Jog Join us on November 25 for the 4th annual Jingle Bell Jog in Wickenburg.

Funds will support New Life Pregnancy Center.

Pursue Life Adult Ministry

& Family Ministries 7 Ministries | 1 Mission Providing hope and care to hurting children and families through Christ-centered ministries.

Foster Care & Parent Aide

New Life Transitional Program

Community Resource Centers

PURSUE LIFE ADULT MINISTRY Travel with a Purpose Steve and Beth Shook had never been on a cruise before. They were both nervous about sea travel on such a large ship, but they knew it was only their mode of transportation to do mission work. They were on Pursue Life’s December 2016 cruise to the Caribbean.

“The trip was amazing and left us wanting to do it again,” Steve said. “Since each island’s ministry and people were different, it was kind of like having four missions in one. Actually, it was more like five.” Steve and Beth ministered to people on the ship as well. You can make a positive impact in communities around the world in the name of Jesus. Upcoming trips give you the opportunity to travel, fellowship with other believers and serve. Visit pursuelifeaz.com/travel for more information.

Ciudad Morelos, Mexico | October 12 - 15, 2017 Serve the community of Ciudad Morales, Mexico, through the ministries of New Life Pregnancy Center & Mission Bautista Iglesia Fe y Esperanza. Activities will include clinic construction and ministry to local families.

Travel with a Purpose Cruise | April 14 - 22, 2018 Blend the luxuries of a cruise vacation with opportunities to “get your hands dirty.” Get more information and fill out an interest form at pursuelifeaz.com/travel. pursuelifeaz.com | (602) 346-2300

ARMS OF LOVE FOSTER CARE & PARENT AIDE A Light at Home During the first few weeks in their new foster home, Mariah* and Kristen* noticed their foster parents talking about the Bible a lot. Every night their foster mom would talk to them about God and salvation, and pray with them. One night before the girls were going off to camp, their foster mom was praying for their time there. Mariah prayed that if someone was not sure about being saved, God would help them figure it out.

A few days later, Mariah’s foster mom received a text from the pastor’s wife at camp letting her know both girls had come forward during chapel time and accepted Christ. When they got home the girls’ foster family noticed a big change in their attitude and behaviors, especially in the older sister, Mariah. Both girls seemed very excited talking about their decisions for Christ.

The girls are now scheduled to transition back home. Their mother has not seemed very receptive to the Gospel and was not happy with the foster family’s desire to continue contact with Mariah and Kristen after their return home. The foster family invited the girls’ entire family to a goodbye dinner at their home, but their mother declined.

It is understandably difficult for a biological family to connect with a foster family and see them in a positive light given the circumstances of the family being separated. However, each Arms of Love foster family knows that foster care ministry extends beyond the children to their families. Our hope and prayer is that Mariah and Kristen will be a light to their family. Thank you for praying with us for children in foster care, that God’s love would have an impact on their lives and their families. abcsfostercare.com | (800) 678-0648

*Names have been changed to protect children’s privacy

NEW LIFE LIFE NEW PREGNANCY CENTER COUNSELING Zona Youth Camp New Life Pregnancy Center was invited to return to Zona Youth Camp for the second year to provide two breakout sessions for students. One session, “Purity…the Struggle is Real,” was offered as two separate sessions – one for boys and one for girls. Over 100 junior high and high school students attended and actively participated in asking questions and responding to discussion. NLPC staff Tricianne Spacht and Raquel Williams led the girls’ session and Nate Shook, ministry support specialist, and David Trenbeath, assistant director of finance, led the boys, sharing personal testimonies and insight from the Bible.

Many of the guys came up and shook David and Nate’s hands as they left the class, thanking them for what they talked about. One high school boy let David know how well everything resonated with him. He told David he sent his girlfriend a text during the session letting her know he wanted them to make changes moving forward in their relationship to seek purity. “It was an awesome opportunity for both Nate and I to grow in our relationships with God, and all the praise goes to Him for the success of the class,” said David.

The other breakout session offered was “Pregnancy & Abortion – How to Help a Friend in Crisis” led by Raquel Williams and Tricianne Spacht. This session focused on the truth about fetal development and the humanity of the unborn child in the womb. This session also presented students with information on how to encourage and support a friend who finds herself in a crisis pregnancy to choose life.

The allotted time was an hour and a half, but when the session was dismissed the majority of the group stayed for extra time to continue asking questions and to talk individually with Raquel and Tricianne. These students shared personal stories about family members who had experienced abortions or miscarriages and they were eager to learn how to offer hope and care in the midst of pain.

Others asked about how to help friends find a pregnancy center close to their house in order to receive a free pregnancy test and peer counseling. Over 60 students, boys and girls, attended this session and left with great information to be a voice for life to their friends and family.

Thank you Zona Youth Camp for this opportunity to talk to these young people about such important issues! Pray that each student who was impacted by the breakout sessions would continue to grow in their understanding of purity, pregnancy and abortion so that they can be a light to their friends and schools. God moved in BIG ways and we’re excited to see how He continues to use these sessions to impact students’ lives.

Impact AZ Grant Opportunity Arizona Baptist Children’s Services is a Qualifying Foster Care Charitable Organization, meaning gifts to any of our seven ministries qualify for a dollar-for-dollar state tax credit of up to $1,000 for couples and $500 for individuals. Additionally, New Life Pregnancy Center has been chosen for the second year to participate in the Impact AZ grant program. Your tax credit gift can help New Life Pregnancy Center qualify for a $25,000, $15,000 or $10,000 grant. The grant money totals $100,000, and there are 20 eligible organizations participating. Grants are awarded based on the number of tax credit gifts between September 2017 and April 2018. Redirect your state taxes to provide hope and care to children and families in your community. newlifepregnancy.com | (800) 678-0648 |

M N nlpcAZ

D Reduce your state taxes by up to $1000!

NEW NEWLIFE LIFE Transitional TRANSITIONAL COUNSELING PROGRAM Morgan & Faye When Morgan came to the New Life Transitional Program, she was pregnant with her second child. She had left an abusive relationship and was committed to sober living.

Morgan had already made the decision to place her baby for adoption so she could focus on putting her life back together and being the best mom she could be to her two-year-old daughter, Faye.

Morgan came from a loving family but had gotten off track when she became a young mother and fell in with the wrong crowd. When she grew frustrated with the dead-end road she was on, she was able to return to her family. They have supported her in her efforts to make positive changes. Joining the New Life Transitional Program was just one of the many positive changes Morgan was making. Nine months into her pregnancy, Morgan moved into the transitional program apartments.

Everything changed for Morgan in February when she and Faye were involved in a horrible car accident. The baby sustained a skull fracture and had to be delivered by emergency c-section. Faye had a huge gash across her cheek. Morgan’s injuries were life threatening.

She underwent multiple surgeries to stop internal bleeding and rebuild her broken leg with metal implants.

God’s timing in bringing Morgan to the transitional program was, of course, perfect. Morgan and her family were covered in prayer by staff, volunteers, program participants and supporters like you. Without such a strong support system, including supporters of the program, this kind of event in a client’s life can hinder or completely halt progress toward their goals.

The transitional program director kept in touch with Morgan’s mother to offer support and to stay updated on Morgan’s condition and recovery. There were many ups and downs for Morgan. She was moved back and forth between the hospital and rehab as her condition improved and deteriorated. Every week Morgan’s classmates would ask for updates. Morgan enjoyed the cards from her friends and got a laugh from one participant’s offer to carry her up the stairs so she could join them for class. Morgan’s strength and determination have become even more evident as she works toward physical recovery.

Even in the hospital she was asking for her transitional program mentor to bring her class work so she could stay caught up.

Morgan is back in her apartment now with help from her family. She has implemented an exercise routine for regaining strength and mobility and is faithful to stick to it. The baby also recovered and has been adopted to a loving family that cared for him and Morgan in the hospital.

All of us in the transitional program and at ABCS are in awe of the way God has taken care of Morgan through this hard time. Her journey isn’t over, and we are honored to walk with her through this next season. We are sure God has big plans for Morgan, and we look forward to watching them unfold. Thank you for continuing to pray with us for Morgan, her family and each client in the program striving toward positive life changes. View updated prayer requests at abcs.org/pray. newlifetransitional.com | (800) 678-0648

1779 N. Alvernon Way | Tucson, AZ 85712 | (800) 678-0648 | abcs.org |

M N P V ABCSministries