2023 Winter Newsletter

MAIN OFFICE 133 Ganttown Rd. Turnersville, NJ

856-374-2833

Choicesoftheheart.com CHOICES THRIFT BOUTIQUE 132 Ganttown Rd. Turnersville NJ 08012 856-256-1234

MISSION STATEMENT To protect the unborn by empowering individuals in the Delaware Valley to make healthy life choices.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

2 0 2 3

Year-End Review Choices of the Heart

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.....

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Winter New physicians added to our team!

In February we welcomed Dr. Gerard Ventrella and Dr. Kenneth Irvis. Dr. Ventrella will be taking the position of our Medical Director and Dr. Irvis an OBGYN is coming out of retirement and he will be reading our ultrasound scans. We are blessed to have both on our team!

Dr. Gerard Ventrella

Dr. Kenneth Irvis

Spring An effort to mobilize church & community

Summer

It was an exciting night on March 30th, when we hosted our first annual Mobilize event. The event had over 50 churches represented with 268 people present, many were senior pastors or church staff and their families.

Seth Gruber was our keynote speaker, and he delivered a fantastic message about making sure that our pulpits make the unborn a priority. We were also able to update the pastors on the current proposed legislation in NJ impacting pregnancy centers and their advertising.

Unify, Partner, Collaborate Choices of the Heart in partnership with First Choice Women’s Resource Centers created the N.J.A.P.C, the first ever coalition of pregnancy centers in NJ. “NJ pregnancy centers provided over $3 million in free medical and material services to over 35,138 women, men and families.”* *www.lozierinstitute.org/pcr2020

Aimee Huber

Executive Director First Choice Women's Resource Centers aimee@1stchoice.org

Rita Reyes

Executive Director Choices of the Heart rita@choicesoftheheart.com

Fall

New staff making us stronger!

In addition to our new doctors, we also added several new staff members. Maria Diodonet, our new Client Advocate created a partnership between us and St. Christopher’s hospital who will be providing new car seats to the clients who complete a child safety class. Also, joining our family is Christy Brewster our new Operations Administrator.

Relaunch at a key location Destination Choice has finally relaunched! Thanks to Calvary Chapel Gloucester County, we can now park our mobile unit right off the Black Horse Pike next to Starbucks!

Thanks CCGC!

Gala Thank You! Keynote Speaker : Kayleigh McEnany Oct. 19th 2023

What an amazing turn out and celebration we had for our 28th Annual Event! We are forever thankful for the 400+ who attended on October 19th. If you are interested in a video presentation of the gala. Please email outreach@choicesoftheheart.com.

We reached 80% of our financial goal!

Go to choicesoftheheart.com to make your year-end gift.

“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!

Psalm 107:1

From the Director As I look back on 2023, I can only describe it as a year of highs and lows. God helped us find a way to see Him through all of it. The year began with an unforeseen challenge waged by the state of New Jersey, who took action against pregnancy centers through a consumer alert. God in his sovereignty used this trial to unite centers from around the state. We became more unified, and even mobilized our efforts strategically with church leadership. The formation of the NJAPC along with development of stronger relationships among our church base was exactly where God wanted us. I am forever grateful to our donors and friends who have prayed, given and supported our work through it all. As we enter 2024, we look forward to providing even more comprehensive services to the community through things like STD testing, relaunching the mobile unit, and adding more medical personnel, who will staff our new extended hours of service. None of this would be possible without the gracious giving of our donors and participation in our events like the gala and the baby bottle campaign. We ask that your continued prayers remain for the clients who need us, for the unborn for whom we speak and for the forgotten fathers and mothers, who have suffered a loss because of abortion. Choices of the Heart is and always will be God's story and we are so thankful that we get to partner with you to see it accomplished!

Rita Reyes

Executive Director

Did you know?

To date we have had a total of 442 client visits!

Since the passing of the NJ Reproductive Freedom Act that allows abortion to birth we have seen a 30% increase in clients in their 3rd trimester Over 25% of our clients have had at least one abortion prior to visiting us.

46% of abortion determined clients who came to us chose life after their first visit.

33% of our clients who were unchurched took referrals to a local church after their final visit.

2024 Looking Ahead STD testing services Child safety classes

New car seat program Expanded hours to include Saturdays

Response Form My Year-end Gift Name:_______________________________ Address:_____________________________ City:__________________________________ State:________________________________ Zip: __________________________________ Phone:_______________________________ Email:________________________________ I am interested in making a year-end

Life Saving Reversal

gift of $_______ toward our banquet goal.

It is not uncommon for many of our clients to express to us their regret from a past abortion.

Usually, that regret comes because outside pressures push them into a decision they don't want to make. That's exactly what happened with Ally. She was pressured by her boyfriend and his family to have an abortion when she got pregnant unexpectedly. She knew it was a toxic relationship, but to keep the peace, she went ahead and had her first abortion. It wasn't long before Ally became pregnant again, once again being pushed into a decision to take the abortion pill. Ally began to remember the pain and horror of her first experience, and not wanting to put herself through that again or her unborn baby, she decided to reverse the procedure. Ally called the Abortion Pill Rescue Network, and they prescribed medication that would stop the abortion process. She was referred to Choices of the Heart to have an ultrasound done to see if her baby had survived. We were all thrilled, and in a state of awe when we saw the baby clearly. The baby was actively moving and thriving in her womb. The reversal was a success! God had rescued both her and her child. Ally left Choices eager to become a new mom and begin a life away from the relationships that had taken her to very dark places. Choices of the Heart is happy to be a part of the Abortion Pill Rescue (APR) Network of providers, who never give up even when it looks impossible!

I would like to make a 90 day pledge of

I would like to become a monthly partner for $__________. $__________.

I would like to schedule Rita for my church or small group.

Interested in volunteering.

COMMENTS:_____________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ Choicesoftheheart.com

Work Heart

Of Feel called to volunteer?

We would love to have you!

Please fill out the response form above and we would be happy to reach out to you.

Your year-end gift helps rescue babies like Dakota!

Dakota Born 3/11/23

Saved from abortion at 36 weeks!

133 Ganttown Rd Turnersville NJ 08012