Summer/Fall 2013 OUR 40th BIRTHDAY Another Successful 10.10.13 at St.Mary’s Cultural Center 18100 Merriman Road, Livonia 48152 Doors open at 6pm On Saturday, May 18th we had another successful Race for Life! CELEBRATION! 16755 Middlebelt Road Livonia, MI 48154-3317 734-425-8060 . w w w.aaaprc.org Celebrating 40 years of providing hope for women and families! Race for Life! We exceeded our goal of $10,000 and raised $13,122! We are looking forward to an evening like none other – and like any good “birthday party,” we have a few surprises in store for you! . Mission statement The AAA Pregnancy Resource Center is a Christ-centered ministry dedicated to the sanctity of human life. We provide resources to promote life, teach God’s design for sexuality, and provide counseling for postabortion healing. . Gianna Jessen will be joining us as our Keynote Speaker! She is the survivor of an attempted saline abortion. The 2012 motion picture, October Baby, was based on her real-life story! Similar to previous banquets, registration will begin with table hosts. If you are interested in hosting and/ or sponsoring a table, please contact Beth Swicker at 734.425.8060 or [email protected]. We expect to be at full capacity, so if you’re interested please contact Beth ASAP. If you do not have a table host and are interested in attending, individual registration will be open Monday, September 26th, through our website at www.aaaprc.org. Tickets will not be sold. If you are not a table sponsor, but would like to cover the cost of your meal, you are welcome to do so. The cost for individual meals is $20. Simply mail a check made out to AAAPRC and indicate “Banquet Meal” on the Memo Line. AAAPRC is committed to integrity and accountability. For more info visit ECFA.org . This is an annual fundraising event. Guests will be given the opportunity to make a donation at the end of the evening. THANK YOU to all of our runners, walkers, volunteers and sponsors!!! This was our second annual chip-timed race – and the finish times were impressive! We were also thankful for the nice, cool day that God blessed us with. 100 runners and 8 teams participated. Here are the Top Three Teams: 1. Livonia Church of Christ – $2,350 2. Sovereign Grace Striders – $1,270 3. Solid Rock Bible Church – $680 Check out the race website! www.aaarace4life.com Checkout the site if… n You would like to see finish times and photos from the race/walk. n You did not attend the race/walk, but are interested in learning more about our annual race/walk event! So far this year… Alternative Answers to Abortion Pregnancy Resource Center Client Corner 52 ultrasounds performed 54 births recorded 208 new clients 474 classroom visits Creative Giving Confidential. Honest. Real. Way to go, Matthew! These are the three things we strive to be for local women and families. We exist because of our donors, for our clients, and with God at the center of it all. Nothing makes us happier than when we hear about how God has blessed our clients. Congratulations to Matthew Kurt for becoming an Eagle Scout – the highest rank attainable under Boy Scouts of America. For Matthew’s Eagle Scout project he decided to organize a diaper drive for AAAPRC. He collected 200 packages of diapers for our baby shop! What a blessing!! One of our clients recently sent us a thank you letter saying “The classes, Bible studies and store have provided me with more than I ever could have imagined!” Dunk Tank Giving! A recent graduate, Gage George humbly thought that celebrating the success of his graduation should be about something more than him. So he decided to have a “dunk tank” at his graduation party and give half of the proceeds to AAAPRC! What a great way to begin life after high school. Gage is the son of one of our dedicated volunteers, Laura. We know where Gage gets his dedication from! Beautiful Blankets Two of our donors recently dropped off some beautiful handmade blankets for our clients. Marcella is 95 years old and has had arthritis for over 55 years. Just goes to show that God doesn’t have an expiration date in using us! Marcella left a note with her blankets which read “Excuse the mistakes. All made with my love.” But we know that because they’re made with love, the blankets are perfect. Ruth makes small blankets specifically for our ultrasound clients. The knitted blankets are neutral colors and always come with a Bible verse attached. Ruth has already made 18 blankets this year. What a blessing to our ultrasound mommies! pg 2 Thank you Marcella and Ruth! Please support Our Local Pro-Life Sponsors! Thank you to the volunteers from Ward Church! Their men’s group came to the center and provided a “fresh” new look for our building, both inside and out! We are blessed by their gracious hearts and hard work. THANK YOU! pg 3 Alternative Answers to Abortion Pregnancy Resource Center Summer/Fall 2013 Thank You to all the churches Other ways to help AAA Pregnancy Resource Center: who participated in the Mother’s Day~ Father’s Day Baby Bottle Campaign! Your support of the Center is making a HUGE difference in the lives of the women and families God brings to AAAPRC – thank you! Calvary Missionary Church | Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church Cross Pointe Community Church | Faith Bible Church Fellowship Evangelical Presbyterian Church | His Church Anglican Mt. Hope Congregational Church | Oakland Church of Christ Parkview Baptist Church | St. Michael Lutheran Church, Canton Sacred Heart Byzantine ~ campaign for Lent It’s almost BACK-TO-SCHOOL time!!! Last year, St. Michael Lutheran School in Wayne did a BBC and Our Lady of Victory and Ladywood High School both did a Baby Shower for us. We would LOVE to partner with your children’s school, too! Has your church or school ever done a “BBC” for AAAPRC? Would you like to? Our Baby Bottle Campaigns are a GREAT FUNdraising opportunity to introduce to your church family. Call Beth at the center for all the details or email her at [email protected]. THANK YOU Arctic Edge! On May 11th, the Arctic Edge in Canton held a fundraising “Mother’s Eve Skate” to benefit the AAAPRC. The event included a silent auction along with the donation of baby items and monetary donations. We appreciate Brook Boggs and all the time and work that went into this day and those that helped with this fundraising event! Thank You! Handyman Ministry Look! Up in the sky! It’s a bird… it’s a plane… it’s Superman! We are looking for some “men of steel” to assist in keeping AAAPRC’s buildings up-to-date. And you don’t have to be from another planet or have the ability to fly. We simply need some handymen who will volunteer to help AAAPRC with their time and talents. Painters, carpenters, handymen, even two extra hands. Please contact Ted Braboy at 734-564-4594 or email [email protected] if you can help out on occasion. AAAPRC has two buildings that sometimes need attention and projects that need to be taken on. Help us and in our eyes you’ll be a Superhero! Do you currently shop at Kroger using a Kroger Plus card? If so, you can automatically earn for AAAPRC with the swipe of your card! Visit www.krogercommunityrewards.com and follow the easy steps to enroll. Last quarter, we raised $79.34! Each time you visit Kroger and use your Kroger Plus card, your receipt will show that you’re supporting AAAPRC – it’s that easy! In our last newsletter, we reported that 11 households were supporting AAAPRC. There are now 37 households supporting us! Many thanks to all those who signed up! Let’s keep the momentum going – will you help us increase this number even more? As always, we’ll keep you updated. (Please note: all participants must re-enroll each year to continue earning awards during the coming year.) Did you know??? And don’t forget… The medical definition of contraception is “A method used to prevent pregnancy.” What this means is that even though the name would make you believe otherwise, contraception does not always prevent conception. At the Coalition Spring Training in April, AAAPRC staff and volunteers learned about the origin of contraception – especially the birth control pill. The speaker was Michelle Schmidt, Director of Client Servies at Problem Pregnancy Center in Southfield. She informed us that birth control pills are technically steroids because they contain the steroidal hormones estrogen and progesterone. When they don’t prevent conception, these pills act as an early abortifacient by thinning the lining of a woman’s uterus and preventing implantation after the baby is conceived. For more information visit http://www.epm.org/resources/2004/Oct/01/growingdebate-about-abortifacient-effect-birth-co/. Shop online using iGive: pg 4 When you shop online, simply go to www.igive.com and purchase your items at any of the 1,276 registered stores. Make sure you select “AAA Pregnancy Resource Center” as your cause. We have raised more than $384 to date. Thank you, shoppers!!! Search online using Good Search: By changing your search engine to www.goodsearch.com, you can benefit AAAPRC. Make sure you choose “AAA Pregnancy Resource Center in Livonia, MI” as your charity. We have raised more than $160 to date. So simple and so helpful . . . thank you! Volunteer Update From the Director’s Heart This is a special year of celebration for all of us here at AAAPRC. May 4th marked the 40th anniversary of this ministry’s incorporation! As I think about all that God has provided over these last 8+ years that I have been here, I stand in awe of all that he has accomplished and provided in 40 years. I was not part of the ministry back then, but I do know through conversations of others that there were MANY times it appeared that this ministry may not stand. Many times that the heart and sacrifice of a few kept the doors open. For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. ~Proverbs 1:6-8 (NIV) It can be challenging to keep partners engaged and interested in their continued support, and to keep volunteers active on a long-term basis. We have the disadvantage of an enemy that is always trying to find ways to dishearten those involved here and limit the resources. I stand in complete awe of our God! He has used many servants over these 40 years to keep pushing on. He used some to give of their time, some to give of their money, some to pray without ceasing, some to fix leaking facets, some to bring in formula just in time for the mother that was in need of it for her infant! He has also used some to sponsor events, some to clean windows, some to wash and fold clothing, some to speak with an anxious client, some to be the voice at the end of the telephone for a scared young mother. God uses us all…when we allow Him. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” “Ah, Sovereign LORD,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am only a child.” But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a child.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the LORD. Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “Now, I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.” ~Jeremiah: 1:5-10 (NIV) Thank you – each of you – for allowing God to use you in whatever way that He chooses. I do not say these words lightly… I truly appreciate each of you and your partnership. As brothers and sisters in Christ, we are in this battle together, with our Lord in the lead. What a wonderful position to be in… following our Father! I look forward to seeing many of you at our Birthday Celebration Banquet …we have MUCH to celebrate! In Christ, Peggy Welcome our new volunteers! We are truly blessed by your willing hearts to give of your time and talents. Receptionists Sue Peeples and Holly Coppiellie Volunteer Opportunities We offer volunteer orientations monthly. Please visit our website at aaaprc.org or call Jan at 734.425.8060 for more information. Current needs include cargo carriers. Got a car? We’ve got a mission! Board News It is with great sadness we say goodbye to Teri Temby. Teri has faithfully served this ministry for the past 6 years. She began as a board director, served as a Vice Chairman and then ended her term serving the last two years as board chairman. Teri has also been gracious to fill in as secretary when needed. We will miss you Teri… thank you for the last 6 years! We are pleased to welcome back 2 new (and past) board members. Jerry Cousino and Kathryn Stelecki both served as members of the board of directors in the past and both have decided to volunteer another 3 year term! Welcome Jerry and Kathy… we are so happy to have you return. It is clear that God is not finished with you here yet! If you are interested in serving as a board member for this ministry, please contact Peggy Roberts. pg 5 Summer/Fall 2013 Important! Annual Fundraising Banquet Information! Alternative Answers to Abortion Pregnancy Resource Center 16755 Middlebelt Road • Livonia, MI 48154-3317 734-425-8060 • www.aaaprc.org NONPROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID Livonia, MI permit #110 Address Service Requested Please see page 1 for important information regarding our next Annual Fundraising Banquet. Also visit www.aaarace4life.com. Material Needs: n Newborn diapers n Size 4 daipers n Wipes National Life Chain | October 6th Annual Fundraising Banquet | October 10th Marathon Mission ~ Detroit Free Press Marathon or ½ Marathon | October 20th (name AAAPRC as your charity ~ visit www.marathonmission.net for details) Peggy Roberts Executive Director Janet Rozenboom Client Services Coordinator Beth Swicker Development Director Paula Campbell Bookkeeper Crystal Squire Administrative Assistant BOARD OF DIRECTORS National Adoption Month Baby Bottle Campaign or make us your Thanksgiving Project | November 2013 Peggy Roberts Executive Director Christmas Giving Project | December 2013 Kurt Gebhard Vice Chairman Charles Threadingham Chairman Donna Perkins Treasurer In order to be wiser stewards of the resources provided by our generous donors, we attempt to communicate electronically when possible. If you are currently receiving our newsletter via mail, and would be willing to receive it via e-mail, please send your name and e-mail address to [email protected] and enter E-mail Newsletter in the Subject Line. Current and archived newsletters are also available to read and/or download from our website at www.aaaprc.org. Thank you! Charlie Richards Board Director Jerry Cousino Board Director Kathryn Strelecki Board Director Design: Copyright © 2012 LifeSupport, Inc. w w w.life-support.org Upcoming 2013 AAAPRC Events: STAFF