CTLC would like to introduce Melanie and Zoey. These two little darlings are sure to keep their mommas busy in the upcoming days and years ahead. Please pray they will know immeasurable love and come to know Christ in their lifetime.
CTLC Baby Bottle Campaign
by Mary Dunn, Vice President of CTLC Board and Volunteer
As we approach Mother’s Day it is natural to think about the marvelous blessings of Motherhood. For some, however, motherhood was not their plan but rather a consequence and few consequences are as truly life changing as an unplanned pregnancy.
On February 6th of this year, a client we’ll call Lyndsey came to CTLC for a pregnancy test. She told me that this baby would be the fifth child for she and her common law husband. She shared that he was unhappy about the pregnancy and strongly suggested she have an abortion. He was concerned about finances and health issues as one of their sons had recently been diagnosed with autism.
She told me she had been raised in a Christian home and did not believe in abortion but felt pressure from her husband didn’t want to lose him. We provided an ultrasound that day and saw a 7-week old baby with a strong heartbeat. We offered Lyndsey another ultrasound suggesting she bring her husband in prior to making any final decisions. We attempted to contact her several times with no response and suspected she had chosen abortion.
Then in the first week of March, she called and asked for a second ultrasound. She arrived without her husband but with 2 of her children. Seeing the baby with arms and legs moving within her, she told us she knew she could not abort this child. She thanked us for our persistent follow-up and gave us credit for saving this baby. We quickly gave credit to the author and creator of every life, God our Father!
More recently a young couple came in to find out if they were pregnant. The test was positive and while they professed to be Christians, they said there was pressure from their parents to abort. When the ultrasound showed a healthy baby, the boyfriend was physically overcome and needed help getting to a chair.
Despite their conflicted feelings that day, they chose abortion. Just days after the abortion, they experienced extreme regret and came back to CTLC for help.
Like motherhood, abortion is a lifelong and life changing decision.
At Central Texas LifeCare, each client is given “Given Care. True Help. Real Hope.” In a non-judgmental environment, we earn the trust that allows us to share the love and hope of Jesus Christ.
As a donor funded ministry we rely on two fundraisers each year. The Baby Bottle campaign is one of them. Your contributions provide the material required for testing, ultrasounds, and Bible based programs.
So far this year:
- 12 abortion minded women have chosen life for their babies.
- 14 clients come weekly for LifeWalk Bible study.
- 3 clients are the in the PACE (post-abortion counseling and education) program.
- 7 clients requested STD testing and received LifeStyle counseling and supporting resources.
- 60 clients heard the gospel and 3 have accepted Jesus as their Savior.
All services at CTLC are free to our clients.
- Pregnancy testing
- Ultrasound
- STD testing
- Material assistance program (MAP)
- Bible studies
- Post-abortion counseling and education (PACE)
Please accept our humble thank you for choosing to stand for life by participating this year.
Your choice to give transforms hearts and save lives.
Beyond Awesome
Welcome baby Josue. We believe your shirt accurately describes you. You are “beyond awesome.”
Welcome Little Ones
“I have called you by name, you are mine.” Isaiah 43:1b
Welcome New Baby
Dear Baby
Preparing to have your first baby is a time filled with much anticipation, fear, excitement, nervousness, determination, and uncertainty. Couples and single parents experience these emotions each week as they attend classes at CTLC to learn about their pregnancy and how to care for their newborns. We’ve seen mothers and fathers break into tears as they connect with their babies and understand the incredible intricacy that God has formed in the womb.
One particular lesson that we go through with parents is to have them write a letter to their baby, describing how they feel and what they are looking forward to. Expectant parents Alexandra and Sergio shared the letters they wrote to their little one with us and agreed to let us share with all of you. I had a chance to speak with the pair yesterday. They revealed to me that they have not read each other’s letter to the baby. Their baby is due in early July.
Letter from Mother
Hello Son,
You are 12 weeks and 3 days as I am writing this letter for you. Me and your father are extremely excited and we are anxious for your arrival. We have been waiting for you for months. I spent nights praying that we can soon have you. You are a true blessing for us and we will do our best to show you how we feel.
Everyday is different for me. I can feel how you are growing through my body changes. As I am doing now, I will do all your life. I will make sure I do my best to keep you safe.
It has been a few days since we told both families about you. I would love for you to know that your grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins are excited to know you will be with us soon. I was beyond happy to see everyone’s reaction, and I am positive that you will grow up with a very loving family. I had not had a connection with your grandfather like the one I have now in a long time. I am more than ever understanding how important family is and that makes me feel I will be completely ready for your arrival.
Since we know you are going to be a baby boy, we are trying to find the perfect name for you. I pray that you are developing as healthy as possible, be sure that I am doing the best in my part. As a first time mother to be, I have no expectations, I only pray to have a healthy happy baby.
Your father and I have been building our love for over 8 years and once you are born, we will share it with you. You are completely blessed to have loving parents who are anxious to raise you the best we can together.
Love,
Mommy
Letter from Father
Dear Son,
I know that right now you are only three months old in your mom’s stomach, but I just can not wait to see you. Right now I have been thinking over and over what I will name you, but I’m having difficulty finding the prefect name for you. I have very high hopes, and I am very eager to hold you in my hands. I know that once you are born, I will love you with all my heart, as I am already loving you now. I am already very curious to know if you will look more like me, more like your mother, or like both of us. I do not mind what you look like as long as you are born at your time and as healthy as possible.
Right now, I have been on vacation for about two weeks, and have been notifying everyone in our family of your birthday-to-be. Everyone has been so ecstatic and can not wait to see you either. Once I get back to work, I plan on doing everything within my capability in order to provide you and your mother with everything that you will need. I hope that I am able to be blessed with as much extra work I need to do in order to provide you with all your necessary items.
You will be my first child and even though I do not know what to do, I know that I will try my hardest to keep you and your mom safe. I will try my best to take care of you, and raise you the way that I think is best for you. I believe that I will be ready for you when you are finally born. If I am not fit to raise you perfectly, please forgive me, for I am only your father and am not trained on how to perfectly raise a child.
I love you my dear future son.
Would you please join us as we pray for Alexandra and Sergio as they continue to prepare to receive their precious bundle of joy. We are looking forward to his arrival this summer.
Welcome New Babies
Welcome Little One
God at Work
*Names have been withheld.
“C” and “L” first came to Central Texas LifeCare a few years ago when L was pregnant with their fourth child. At the time they were seeking help with material resources, like diapers and baby food. Their counselor told them about our services and that one of the ways to earn Mommy Money in our Baby Shop was through our LifeWalk program, where the couple could meet weekly for Bible Study. The couple was eager to participate in Bible Study, more so than even receiving the material assistance.
They faithfully met every week. I had the great privilege of going through the Bible studies with them. They were new believers then, and I saw firsthand the desire they had to grow in their walk with the Lord. Each week, they would share with me what was happening in their lives and I could see very clearly that the Holy Spirit was moving in them and had given them the gift of discernment.
Before becoming a Christian, C had been an alcoholic and drug user. His relationships were strained and his decisions were wreaking havoc on his health, way of living, and his relationship with L. L was lacking the support from C financially and emotionally, and often felt more like a single parent. C was hospitalized at one point from his excessive substance abuse, and it was in this moment that he turned to the Lord. He wanted to be a better parent to his children, as they had lost respect for him. He wanted to be more supportive to L.
They began attending a local church who referred them to our center. They had a new zeal in life. They wanted to learn everything they could about God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, creation, Christ’s second coming, how church works, how to share their own faith, and so much more. The conversations were often deep, and I assure you as their counselor, I was far more blessed in watching them grow than they were in anything I could share.
I must admit that I had made an assumption about C and L being married. One day in Bible study, they shared with me that they were in fact, not married at all. This began a gentle prodding in honoring God because of our love for Him. C was more than willing to marry L, but over time I saw that L had become resistant to the idea. Knowing that when couples cohabitate, there is usually hesitation on the part of one to commit, I explored this concern with L. She truly loved C with all her heart, and certainly had no plans to leave. However, she was uncertain about marriage as their relationship had been so unsteady before becoming Christians. She knew C had certainly changed his ways, but still wanted a deeper commitment from him in parenting their children.
C became our first client to go through the Father Curriculum. He realized areas that he needed to address in being a supportive partner and parent. As C became more comfortable in his role as a father, L became more and more confident in their relationship.
C found a steady job and L became more active in the community and in her church. When their youngest reached 2 years old, they left the program. One year later, L stopped in to visit me and told me precious news. She shared with me that she had decided she would marry C, and that for the first time in her life, she was actually excited about getting married. C and L faced a great challenge, however, in obtaining their marriage license.
Today, C came in to personally tell us they have finally obtained that license and are getting married on Sunday! C shared with me that because of the encouragement he received both from his pastor and from CTLC that they are finally going to be able to have their life in order and honor God with their commitment to one another!
Please pray for C and L as they embark on this new journey as husband and wife!
Thank you for your continued support, both through prayer and financial giving, that indeed make news like C and L’s marriage and growth in the Lord a possibility. If you’d like to learn more about volunteering as a counselor, please contact us today. We have a new volunteer training coming up very soon, and would love to meet with you.
Call or text (512) 396-3020 or email LeticiaCerda@txlifecare.org to learn more about volunteer opportunities.
Dear Faithful Supporters
We pray that as you head into 2017, that you will be filled with hope and confidence of all that God has in store for you. We believe that God has equipped and continues to work in the lives of His children to minister to and bless others with the truth of God’s love and grace. We have seen how He has used you to provide free services to women who need truth and compassion as they face challenges in their life. Your support and prayer has given them hope as they choose life for their baby, learn how to care for their child, and receive support and genuine care.
We wanted to make you aware of several upcoming events. Please contact us with any questions.
Upcoming:
Sunday, January 22 – Sanctity of Human Life Sunday
Each year on the Sunday closest to the anniversary of Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton, the two court decisions that made abortion legal in the US and legal through all nine months of pregnancy, we hold a Sanctity of Human Life Day. We ask that you use this Sunday (as well as all Sundays) to emphasize that God is the author of all life, that human life is precious and worthy of protection. This is a great Sunday to consider asking someone to come and speak briefly at your church about the ministry at CTLC and how your congregation can personally become involved in protecting innocent lives and extending a hand of grace, love, and support to the women facing an unplanned pregnancy.
Saturday, January 28 – Texas Rally for Life
The 2017 Texas Rally for Life will be held on January 28, 2017 on the south steps of the Capitol in Austin. The Texas Rally for Life will commemorate the 44th anniversary of the tragic Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision in 1973, which made abortion legal throughout all nine months of pregnancy. In the wake of Roe, legal abortion in our nation has claimed the lives of more than 57 million unborn children and has hurt countless women and men.
Our staff and volunteers meet together to march to the Capitol at 12pm. We would love for you to join us and thousands of men and women from across the state. For more information, please visit http://www.texasrallyforlife.org/.
Tuesday, February 7 – Wednesday, February 8 – New Volunteer Training
It is essential for a Christian to serve the Lord by using his/her God given talents. If God has put it on your heart to use these gifts her at CTLC, we are both blessed.
We invite individuals with a heart for this ministry, no matter their previous level of knowledge or experience, to learn more about CTLC and prayerfully consider joining us. There are many different opportunities available within the CTLC ministry.
Please call Cheri Martin, Executive Director, or Leticia Cerda, Client Services Director, Monday – Thursday during regular business hours at (512) 396-3020 for more information.
February – begin prepping for Baby Bottle Fundraiser
We will begin calling in February with details about the Baby Bottle Fundraiser which is held Mother’s Day (May 14) through Father’s Day (June 18).
If you have any questions or would like to provide feedback or suggestions to improve this fundraiser, please contact Sara Dull, Development Director, Wednesdays 9-2, Thursdays or Fridays 8-1 at (512) 396-3020, or via email anytime at sara@txlifecare.org.
February / March (TBD) – New Donation Drive: Formula Fountain
One of our biggest needs for our clients right now is formula. Many of our mothers cannot afford their baby’s formula on their own and turn to us for help. We are asking for any churches that may be interested in holding a donation drive to please let us know. We understand that you have a lot going on within your own church, so we want to be flexible in scheduling how this drive may work for you. As you plan your calendar, please consider a time frame that works best. This could work as a one-time event for your church, or even throughout the year.
We are suggesting putting out a box or tote to collect cans of formula or other items your members may wish to donate, as well as a small box for cash donations or gift cards that will be designated for the purchase of formula. Other items needed are new baby bottles, diaper wipes, and diapers size 4-6.
For information or to schedule a donation drive, please contact Sara Dull, Development Director, Wednesdays 9-2, Thursdays or Fridays 8-1 at (512) 396-3020, or via email anytime at sara@txlifecare.org.
One final need we would like to express is our need for a nurse (RN or higher) who would be in charge of our medical program. This would be a paid, part-time position. If you are a nurse, or know of a nurse who may be a good candidate, please contact Cheri Martin, Executive Director, Monday – Thursday during regular business hours at (512)396-3020 or email cherimartin@txlifecare.org.
Thank you again for your faithfulness to the Lord and in supporting this ministry.
Central Texas Life Care 