AnuLife Photography. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I N S I D E : H E A R T B E A T VO LU M E 4,

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1 B WINTER Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! from a few of our babies celebrating their first Christmas! -all photos by AnuLife Photography I N S I D E : H E A R T B E A T VO LU M E 4, Walk for LIFE Results Page 3 Special Events Coming Soon! Page 3 The Heartfelt Testimony of a Client Page 6 Volunteer Training Coming Soon! Page 7

2 BRENT LAMBERT, Founder and CEO During a thunderstorm a frightened young boy ran to his parents room and jumped in bed with them. After comforting words, his parents I need someone with skin on them! sent him back to bed, reassuring him that everything would be ok because God was with him. After another loud crack of thunder, though, the young boy called out to his parents, I know God is protecting me, but if it s ok, right now I need someone with skin on them! For Christians, we can take a comfort in knowing that God is with us during the unsettling times of our lives, but there are other times when we need someone with skin on them too. This is when we rely on the people of God to support us through words of encouragement, prayer, and physical or material help. Sadly, those without Christ can take no comfort that God is with them because, although He would desire to be, He is not. For that reason, God wants all Christians to be that someone with skin on them presenting His wonderful gospel to the lost souls of the world. While there are many who come to Birth Choice who claim to be Christians, we know the vast majority are not. The mission field walks through our doors every day and we need Christian women The mission field walks through our doors every day. to volunteer with us; women who are willing to be that someone with skin on them to share the love and compassion of a forgiving God. Would you please pray and ask God if He would have you serve with us. Then call us, we would love to talk with you about becoming a client advocate....women who are willing... I know God is protecting me, but if it s ok, right now I need someone with skin on them! B I R T H C H O I C E STAFF AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS ON TARGET- SAVED 63 BABIES since the banquet! Corporate Staff Brent Lambert-Founder & CEO Kim Mayer, RN, MBA-Nurse Manager Cameron Goetz-Director of Development Debbie Bellinghausen-Assistant to Director of Development Pat McLeary-Financial Secretary Kelly Wall-M.E.R.C.Y. Coordinator Jackson Staff Chris Veteto-Clinic Director Katy Simpson-Office Manager Beverly Lambert-Administrative Assistant Renee Ragon-Part-time Receptionist Sandy Clifford-Part-time Receptionist Juanita Talley-Part-time Receptionist Gibson County Staff Kelly Wall-Clinic Director Renee Ragon-Client Services Director Guinda Flippin, RN-Asst. Nurse Manager Beverly Lambert-Administrative Assistant 2 Board of Directors Mr. Brad Anderson Miss Susan Blankenship Mrs. Cindy Borgognoni Mrs. Jane Campbell Dr. Paul Gray Mrs. Sandy Hathcox Mr. James Parker Mr. Barry Phillips Mr. Marty Phillips Mr. Jody Wysor Medical Advisory Committee Dr. Evanna S. Proctor Dr. David James Dr. Paul Gray Laurie Butler, RDMS Donna Wallis, RNC, WHNP Paul Mayer, MSN, FNP Advisory Board Dr. Dean Currie Mr. Bill Dement Dr. David Dockery Dr. Steve Hammond, Sr. Mr. Donald Holsinger Mrs. Peggy Korn Mr. Chris Richards Mrs. Anne Shaw Dr. Kent Jones

3 CAMERON GOETZ Director of Development WALK FOR LIFE RESULTS ARE IN! In September, we saw God bring together many area churches from all over the community to Walk for Life. Thank you to all who were a part of both the Gibson County and Jackson events. JACKSON WALK 70 Sponsored Walkers 22 Churches Represented $35, Raised to continue ministry! Top Walker - Wayne Webster raised $4, Top Churches: Most Money Raised Woodland Baptist Church $7, Most Sponsored Walkers St Mary s Catholic Church 17 Sponsored Walkers We would like to thank the local businesses who generously donated merchandise and services for our door prizes and for the gift baskets awarded to our Top Walkers. Special thanks goes to Island Tan and Swimwear, McLemore and McLemore, Brown and Williams Chiropractic, Bobbi s Dog Grooming, Ivy Gate, Therapeutic Hands, and To the Last Drop Coffee Shop. Thanks so much for your support of this Ministry! GIBSON COUNTY WALK 25 Sponsored Walkers 11 Churches Represented $3, Raised to continue ministry! Top Walker - George and Betty Pounds raised $ Top Churches: Most Money Raised Mount Pleasant of Bradford $ A two-way tie for Most Sponsored Walkers Smyrna Baptist Church 5 Sponsored Walkers Keely Mills Baptist 5 Sponsored Walkers C O M I N G S O O N! Christmas Meat Sale! All proceeds benefit your local Birth Choice clinic. Just in time to help you out with your holiday cooking, the Holy Smokers Cooking Team will be smoking turkeys, hams, boston butts, and pork tenderloins. There will also be fried turkeys available! We are taking orders now! Please call your local office to place your order. Christmas orders are due no later than Tuesday, December 17th at 12 noon. You may call in your order up until December 17th: Gibson County orders: call or kelly@ birthchoice.us Jackson orders: call or cameron@birthchoice.us. Sanctity of Human Life Sunday, January 19, 2014 Pick up for both Jackson and Gibson County is still being determined. When you call to place your orders, we will give you the details for pick-up. January 22, 2014 will mark the 41st anniversary of the legalization of abortion in our country. Since that time more than 55,000,000 babies have died from abortion. Today, abortion is still the leading cause of death in the United States and around the world. Birth Choice has been defending the sanctity of life for almost 25 years. We are committed to standing in the gap for God s unborn children. Will you stand with us? We have bulletin inserts available for all churches interested. We also have speakers available who can share with your church congregation, Sunday school class, or missions group regarding the abortion issue and the Birth Choice ministry. If your church is interested, please contact us about any of these powerful tools which will challenge God s people to Defend the poor and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy; free them from the hand of the wicked. Psalm 83:3, Fundraising Banquet, Guest Speaker: RAY COMFORT of The Way of the Master SAVE THE DATE - April 10, 2014! MARK YOUR CALENDARS TODAY. THIS YEAR S BANQUET WILL BE ONE NIGHT ONLY! RESERVATIONS ARE FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED! 3

4 CHRIS VETETO Clinic Director, Jackson I love my job, but if I had to choose one of the best things about it, it would have to be the privilege I have to work alongside the most amazing women I ve ever known our volunteer Client Advocates. These women minister directly to our clients, offering them help and hope in the name of Jesus. Most of these ladies don t have degrees or a counseling license. They are simply ordinary women of all ages and backgrounds who have answered God s call to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Do you think I can really do this? A few months back, a woman in her early 70 s attended one of our Client Advocate training seminars. Several times Mary asked me, Do you think I can really do this, Chris? I told her I felt confident that she could, because it would be the Holy Spirit that would enable her to do so. Now, after volunteering for several months she told me she absolutely loves her job! Just last month Mary met with a young woman who was determined to have an abortion. To make a long story short, the girl changed her mind and chose life for her baby. On her exit interview, when asked if her time here was helpful, the client wrote these words, Yes, I had someone to talk to. My Client Advocate was like a mom and helped me make my decision. A baby will live because Mary, who felt so inadequate, did the hard thing, the brave thing. Could the Lord be calling you to do the hard thing, the brave thing? He s not looking for women who will be adequate, He s looking for women who will be obedient. We will train you in how to minister to women experiencing an unplanned pregnancy, but God will equip you to do His work. Our next training seminar is in February I had someone to talk to... (dates and times located on page 7). We would love to have you join us! If you re still not convinced, please hear the heart of another one of our advocates: I am not good in a crisis situation. I don t know how to talk to complete strangers. I am not a counselor. I have no background in social work. I am an introvert. These are all the excuses I would have given you had someone asked me to be a client advocate for Birth Choice. Thankfully, no person asked me. It was the Holy Spirit who prompted me to sign up to volunteer and, well, you just don t argue with the Holy Spirit. And all those things that I wasn t sure I could do - counseling, talking, speaking truth were covered. God s Word says He will equip you with all that is good to do His will, working in us what is pleasing in His sight. Hebrews 13:21. And let me say that I am awfully glad I got that prompting and was obedient because this experience has been amazing, blessing me beyond what I could have ever imagined. To see God move so sweetly yet powerfully in desperate situations is awesome. To feel Him so very close in that counseling room is just about the Best. Thing. Ever. To know that God s hand created a precious newborn face that saw life because of this ministry is simply breathtaking. To give hope. To love. To share Christ. I get to do this every Thursday night and it shines its light on the rest of my week. What a joy! I am so thankful I didn t miss it by making excuses. -Karen Welch, Client Advocate 4 O U R N E E D S! YOU HAVE NOT BECAUSE YOU ASK NOT BABY BOOTIES For many years, wonderful volunteers who are able to knit or crochet have been making baby booties for our clients who receive a positive pregnancy test. As they sew, those ladies pray over the tiny feet that will one day fill those little booties. This is such an important, life-saving part of our ministry for on several occasions we have had clients tell us that it wasn t until they held a pair of those little booties in their hand that they changed their mind from abortion and chose life for their unborn child. Sadly we have been completely out of baby booties for several weeks now. We are desperately in need of individuals or groups to help make small baby booties for our clients. RESOURCE ROOM VOLUNTEERS We always need women who will volunteer to work weekly in our mother/baby Resource Room. We are blessed with many donations that need to be washed, sorted, and sized. This is a wonderful way to perform a valuable behind-the-scenes ministry to our clients and their babies. MATERIAL NEEDS Over the years, God s people have stepped forward and graciously given their money, material, and their services to the Birth Choice ministry. From the bottom of our hearts we want to thank those of you who have given you know who you are, and so does God. For those of you who are looking for tangible ways to support this ministry, below are listed our current needs: A 28 to 32 flat screen television to use during in-services and training sessions for our volunteers. Right now we have an old tube television with poor picture quality. We need two 20 flat screen tvs with built in dvd players to replace old TV/VCR combo units in our client support rooms. We also need a 26 or larger flat screen tv with built in dvd player for our resource room to showcase baby pictures! The average age of our clients is between 18 and 24, however our client support rooms are furnished with old and rather outdated furniture. We would love to get 3 loveseats, 3 chairs, wall décor, and lamps that are more in style with our clients youthful taste. If any individual or group would be able to help us with this, we would be grateful. We struggle to keep several perishable items in stock for our new babies. Currently we are in great need of diapers (sizes newborn, one, four and five), wipes, formula (Gerber Good Start), and baby toiletries (lotion, shampoo, baby wash and oil). If individuals, school or women s groups would like to have a baby shower for Birth Choice we would be happy to send a staff member to come and speak to your group. If you would like to help with one or more of these needs, please call our office for more information Thank you in advance for helping us to honor those women whom God sends to us by providing a warm and inviting environment for them.

5 Gibson County location KELLY WALL Clinic Director, Gibson County When you give to Birth Choice you are helping to save lives. One of our client advocates, Jennifer, shared the following story and we hope it will encourage you: Sometime back, a young lady called our office stating she had taken a home pregnancy test that was positive. Over the phone she sounded very emotional and scared. She made an appointment and when she arrived with her boyfriend, she was once again in tears. Our director, Kelly, greeted her with some tissue and tried to comfort her. When I met with the client she stated that she was a Christian and knew abortion was wrong. However, her parents had spent a lot of money on her college and she didn t want to let them down or embarrass them; they were very well-known in her town. she didn t want to let them down... O U R N E E D S! She wanted an abortion right away. Her boyfriend was very supportive the entire time...she remained undecided... and was leaving the choice up to her. Even after I met with her and shared with her about abortion, she remained undecided about whether or not to get an abortion. On her way out, still upset, she stopped at the restroom to try to pull herself together. As her boyfriend waited for her, he happened to be standing in front of the ultrasound room and asked me what it was. I invited him in to look around. While in the ultrasound room I saw him smile for the first time, as if finally someone had given him a little...she did NOT have the abortion. bit of hope. As they left we set up an ultrasound appointment for them but she never showed up. Though we feared she had gone ahead with the abortion, we continued to pray for them. It was sometime later that we found out she did NOT have the abortion, but had given birth to a beautiful healthy boy! She wanted to thank all of us for being there for her on one of the worst days of her life. Coming to Birth Choice had changed her life and for that she was grateful. Without the support of God s people we couldn t have helped this woman or so many more like her. Thank you for helping to make testimonies like this possible. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED If giving just 4 hours a week of your time could make a life or death difference for an unborn child, would you give it? We will be having our next Client Advocate training seminar in February and we need YOU! See page 7 for the dates and times! BABY SUPPLIES NEEDED We are in need of many things for the resource room: Winter Baby clothes size Newborn 24 months Pacifiers with clips Sippy cups, bottles Baby toiletries: lotions, bath wash, shampoos Baby Wipes Diapers, size newborns, 3 s, and 4 s Thermometers, nail clippers, safety items, baby brushes/combs Formula and baby food Receiving blankets Baby towels, wash cloths, burp cloths High chairs, bassinets, play yards, play mats, swings, bouncy seats Car seats (no older than 5 years old) Hand-made baby booties and diaper bags for our clients WANT TO BE A CLIENT ADVOCATE? SEE PAGE 7 FOR WINTER TRAINING DATES! 5

6 KIM MAYER Nurse Manager My Journey to God The Heartfelt Testimony of a Client To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven. A time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance. Ecclesiastes 3:1 4 Emotion can be defined as a natural instinctive state of mind deriving from one s circumstances. Women in the midst of unplanned or unwanted pregnancies often display a variety of emotions ranging from fear to peace, anger to happiness. We witness and help women navigate this emotional journey each day. It is a rare occasion that we encounter a woman who goes through the full range of emotions in a matter of hours. We were more than blessed to travel this road with her and grateful she was willing to share her story that follows: I sat there with my head in my hands and my heart in my stomach as I cried swallowing a spoonful of reality. I m 34 years old, recently separated from my husband of 15 years, making me a single, jobless, homeless mother of two. However would I be able to provide for a third child? As a mother, my heart pulled me in one direction and reality of the situation pulled me in the opposite direction. I had to consider all options. Do I bring this child in the world and not be able to provide for it? Would things work out with me and the father, my estranged husband? For days, any other thoughts outside of this failed to penetrate the agonizing rationalization I had going on with my head and heart. I ve always believed I had a strong faith and relationship with God. I was just about to find out just how much He loved me and how close He was when I thought He was so far away. I m not proud of the fact that I even entertained the thought of having an abortion. I don t believe in them for myself, though after my experience, I can relate to women who have considered it as I did. There I was, with sweaty hands grasping the phone as if a life saving device. I felt I was drowning. I nervously called what I thought was an abortion clinic in Memphis. I scrambled for words as 6...a single, jobless, homeless mother of two. I explained to this stranger, who felt more a friend, my whole situation. She began to speak of the services she offered and I realized this was not an abortion clinic, it was a pregnancy care clinic. She referred me to a location closer to me, which was Birth Choice. I folded up the paper I had written their phone number on and discarded it, thinking nothing else of it. I thought, I have to do what s best for this baby and bringing him or her into this world without being able to care for it isn t an option. How cruel. I completely tried to detach myself in order to be prepared to make the decision to abort. How cruel. I fought inside myself, as to which was the lesser of two evils for days, but what felt like an eternity. In the meantime I had an appointment set up at the abortion clinic. All I could do was pray. God, I said, you know I can t do this to my child. Please help me. Three days before my appointment, I stumbled across the number I had long forgotten about. To this day, I don t know what I thought I would accomplish by calling, but I felt an urgency to do so. I arrived to Birth Choice and immediately felt like I was in the right place at the right time. What was my purpose in being here? I spoke with a lady about all that I was feeling, considering, confused about, and everything in between. She was so compassionate and concerned. This total stranger completely embraced me. I still wasn t ready to admit that I no longer wanted to consider abortion. But I couldn t and wouldn t do it after that meeting. I guess I needed confirmation, which I totally embraced; relief. I was then taken across the hall for an ultrasound. Something that was so exciting with my other two children seemed very sad with this one. I had been telling my friend who had accompanied me that day that something didn t feel right, but almost brushed it off as guilt or detachment. Kim, my ultrasound tech, and I had an instant connection. I have never been so comfortable with a stranger. I don t open up without prodding, but with her, it with her, it flowed as naturally as a river... this was not an abortion clinic, it was Birth Choice. flowed as naturally as a river; a river of tears at times. I studied her face, almost angelic, as she measured and typed in some numbers. I knew this ultrasound wasn t looking like the others I ve had. I could tell, she had something on her mind and I sympathized with her, because she knew what I already felt. At 8 weeks pregnant, there s no heartbeat or cardiac activity. I m not surprised or shocked, because this is what I had already felt. The emotions that I thought I had long pushed down, surfaced with full force. As I spoke with Kim, I saw the tears in her eyes as her compassion for me was evident. She has been a Godsend in my life. A comforter that I know I was destined to meet, was reserved just for me at this appointed time in my life as I went through a variety of emotions ranging from denial, guilt, shame, anger, relief, and grief. To some, even to me momentarily, this may seem like a sad story with a sad ending. I struggled with the questions of why? God revealed Himself in my life, restoring my faith, and putting my focus where it should be. Perception is reality and in my world, the reality I accepted during that time was that abortion was my only option for the betterment of this baby. The devil was working overtime to keep blinders on me. But the prayers of help weren t unheard. God is the only giver and taker of life. My baby was His child and it s home with Jesus. I the prayers of help weren t unheard. was allowed to say my apologies and goodbyes by miscarrying at home and not taking my baby s life in some cold, complacent clinic. God directed me to Birth Choice to show me that He s always in control if we let Him be. I honestly couldn t have made it through this without the enormous outpouring of genuine concern and compassion from the ladies at Birth Choice. I m so blessed to have met each one of them. I can never express my gratitude enough for all of them being such a blessing to me. I wanted to share my story to honor the ministry and all praises to God for never leaving or forsaking me, and for loving me even when I felt so unworthy of being loved. These ladies have definitely earned some stars in their crowns. I love and appreciate each of you.

7 Speak Into the Lives of our Clients... Be a Client Advocate W I N T E R T R A I N I N G! JACKSON AND GIBSON COUNTY CLINICS! February 4th, 6th, 11th, 13th, 18th, 20th, 25th, 27th Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:00 p.m. 9:00 p.m. It s important that you attend all 8 sessions of the training seminar. Call or come by the clinic nearest you to pick up an application now through January! You can share the love of Christ with moms and babies like Sayeona! Jackson Volunteers photo by AnuLife Photography Medical Personnel PERFORMING ULTRASOUND Kim Mayer, RN, MBA (staff) Kim Cupples, RN, Julie Hutchison, RN Lorraine Kail, RN Sherry Parkhurst, RDMS Beverly Wheeler, RN Stephanie Winter, RT(R) CHILDBIRTH EDUCATION Barbara Acred, RN SUPPORT NURSE Mary Ann Baskin, RN Kristen Hunt, RN Office Aides Doris McKenzie Joanne Reed Resource Room Cookie Collump Wendy David MENtor T.C. Talley Mary Ann Price Pat Rock Client Advocates & Teachers Olivia Abernathy Sylvia Amejko Mary Ann Baskin Jennifer Beebe Danielle Brown Jane Campbell Margie Clement Deborah Eubanks Tiffany Finney Kristen Hunt Susan Hunt Teresa Johnston Judy Koonce Patsy King Trish Kronk Beverly Lambert Kimberly Nelson Tina Norwick Hether Pflasterer Norma Rea Judy Rose Karen Rushing Juanita Talley Donna Tosh Karen Welch Joyce Wyatt Gibson County Volunteers Medical Personnel PERFORMING ULTRASOUND Guinda Flippin, RN (staff) CHILDBIRTH EDUCATION Christy Skelton, RN SUPPORT NURSE Christy Skelton, RN Receptionist Beverly Lambert Sheilah Peevyhouse Client Advocates & Teachers Sonya Acuff Kay Elliot Beverly Lambert Roxanne Malin Kay Nolan Renee Ragon Sherry Ridge Christy Skelton OFFICE HOURS: Jackson- M,T,TH: 9am-8pm; W,F: 9am-4pm Trenton- M,TH: 9am-6:30pm; T: 9am-4:30pm Resource Room Hollie Gore Dottie White Jennifer Williams MENtor Denny Wall 7

8 Please visit our updated Donor and Client Websites: Birth Choice Quarterly Publication Volume 4, Wallace Road Jackson, TN Hwy. 45 By-pass Trenton, TN NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID JACKSON, TN PERMIT #1012 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED The Heartfelt Testimony of a Client See Page 7 Many other stories and updates inside! IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE THIS NEWSLETTER VIA OR IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE TAKEN OFF THE MAILING LIST, PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE AT OR beverly@birthchoice.us Hark the herald angels sing 'Glory to the newborn King! -Ivionna, born March 2013 AnuLife Photography