3 minute read
Birthright: Faithfully Serving as Stewards of the Gift of Life
From time to time, the staff members of Birthright receive feedback that warms their hearts, keeps their chins up, and gives them the strength they need to carry on.
“I just talked to a woman who came to us about nine months ago because she was having struggles with the father of the baby and was considering having an abortion,” says Birthright Outreach Coordinator Joyce Pool. “It was not our job to hound her out of it, but we supported her. When she left, I still didn’t know what her decision was going to be. I was so happy when she let me know she had a healthy baby girl, and that she and the father are now engaged to be married. Hearing stories like these keep us going.”
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Birthright is a crisis pregnancy center for life that provides free, confidential services including pregnancy tests, emotional support, baby clothes, diaper assistance, and non-judgmental assistance. Birthright also makes referrals for prenatal support, financial resources, employment, housing, legal/social assistance, parenting classes, and adoption.
“We believe in caring for both the mother and baby every step of the way,” Joyce says. “That is our vision. We try to support new moms all the way through delivery and afterward. Ultimately, we want each mom to feel that she can keep her child peacefully.”
Time and time again, Joyce has seen how paramount the friendship and emotional support they give to the families really is.
Birthright is entirely funded by generous donors who are willing to stand up for the cause of life.
This playroom of toys is a place where moms can do paperwork while their children have toys to play with or cartoons/ movies to watch.
“A lot of mothers come into our office, feeling so lost and alone,” Joyce says. “Their situations can be very dire, and they can get confused and depressed. We just want to love them where they are at and help them in any way we can. We are not here to judge anyone who has had an abortion, but we do want to give emotional support and friendship to them.”
This quiet and peaceful room is a place to provide counseling for women going through tough emotions.
Birthright is entirely funded by generous donors who are willing to stand up for the cause of life. With their help, this beautiful ministry serves as a powerful means of evangelization in our community. Our parish deacons, Deacon Bart Brashears and Deacon Glenn Collum, are both on the board of Birthright as well. Birthright also provides a wonderful way for people to be faithful stewards of the gift of life and use the experience God has given to them.
“I have always had a passionate desire to help single mothers,” Joyce says. “I am a single mom and I know it can be rough. It is not the easiest journey and I can relate to the women that come into our office. I want them to know that they are doing a good job and that they really can be there for their kids.”
(From left) Jeanne Campbell, Executive Director; Joyce Pool,
The volunteer station is where volunteers greet clients and answer phones.
Financial donations or that of baby items are needed, such as diapers, pull-ups, wipes, baby or toddler shoes, blankets, bottles, or pacifiers. Birthright is interested in putting together a Prayer Chain to pray for the families with whom they work, and would appreciate having parishioners join. There are volunteer positions open, as well.
A generous donation from Orthodox Christians for Life is brought in by Joshua Hawkins. They chose Birthright of Stillwater to honor with a baby shower.
