“ W h e n E l i z a b e t h h e a r d M a r y ’ s g r e e t i n g , t h e b a b e i n h e r w o m b l e a p t f o r j o y. ” — L u k e 1 : 4 1
Elizabeth’s New Life Center
New Life News
Spring 2013
When Life Comes Full Circle
Recently Elizabeth’s New Life Center
received a card with a handwritten
note and a picture of two adorable
little girls. The writer identified herself
as grandmother to these two children
and expressed her grateful thanks to
Elizabeth’s New Life Center for being
there for her daughter with the help that
our agency specializes in: pregnancy
resources, health information, a loving,
non-judgmental attitude for any woman
facing an unintended pregnancy—no
matter what her circumstances—
parenting classes, and material
assistance.
This was one grateful
grandmother. Flowing out
of the abundance of her
heart was a desire to give
back. Inside the card was a
check large enough to save
the life of one more baby.
There’s an old saying that what goes
around comes around. There’s truth
in that. I know this because there’s
a better saying, found
in the Bible: “Send out
your bread upon the
waters, for after many
days you will get it back” (Ecclesiastes
11:1 RSV). In other words, investing in
life will yield life.
In 2012, 2,257 women who visited one
of our six women’s centers, women who
were considering abortion or whom our
staff deemed vulnerable to abortion,
chose life instead. When 89 percent of
abortion-minded/abortion-vulnerable
women served choose life, we know
we’re onto a good thing. But when a
grateful grandma returns to us years
later with thanks and financial support,
it is a reminder that what goes around,
comes around. When that’s life, our joy
is complete.
Stay close to Him,
Vivian Koob, Executive Director
$500 saves the life of 1 baby!
If you can help, like this grandmother, we gratefully
accept your gift, knowing that God’s grace will come
back to you in abundance.
Mission
Empower individuals and families to make healthy life choices
respecting the value of each person created by God.
Vision
By the grace of God, we humbly labor in the cuture of life
where authentic sexual health is the norm, marriages are
enriched, children are nurtured, and abortion is unthinkable.
A Second Chance at Life
When 19-year-old unmarried,
unemployed college student Amanda
Wade first discovered that she was
pregnant, she thought it was the worst
moment of her life. She cried for three
months straight. “The thought of being
pregnant was so overwhelming to me,
I was paralyzed.”
and an ultrasound. “Because of the
support I received from the women’s
center, family, and friends, my boyfriend
and I began to see that we could make
this work; I started to get excited about
this baby. I decided that I would carry it,
and Anthony and I decided to keep the
baby and raise our child.”
Her friend made her an appointment at
Women’s Center-Lebanon, where she
received confirmation of her pregnancy
At 20 weeks gestation, Amanda’s
pregnancy abruptly ended when she
miscarried her son, whom she named
Da’Sean. “I had thought finding out I
was pregnant was the worst moment
of my life. But the moment that my baby
died, that was the worst moment of
my life.
“Miscarrying a baby that you didn’t want
at first brings a lot of guilt,” Amanda
said. “My boyfriend and I both suffered.
Anthony thought maybe our baby was
Giving Flowers in Baby Showers
Almost 10 years ago a pregnant
Felicia Wheeler utilized the services of
Elizabeth’s New Life Center. In some
ways, she wasn’t a typical client. She
was married and employed. But in
other ways, she was like all of the rest.
She was 20 years old and, in her words,
she and her husband “didn’t have
much.”
Felicia became acquainted with the
services we offer because she worked
next door at Grandview Hospital,
where she saw pamphlets advertising
Women’s Center-Dayton. She rode
a bus back and forth to work and,
because she needed to fill in time
before her ride home, started dropping
in to attend health and parenting
classes, earning baby bucks that she
used to shop in our boutique. Like all
of our clients, however, she eventually
moved on in life. She is now the mother
of three kids, works as a correctional
officer, and leads Girl Scouts. But she
never forgot the help she received here.
When Felicia was expecting her
youngest child, born last January 1
(the second New Year’s baby born in
Dayton), her Scout co-leader Heidi
Clements and their troop of girls hosted
a baby shower for Felicia—with the
option of designating the gifts for
Elizabeth’s New Life Center. The girls
were working towards a Giving Badge,
and Felicia knew that they’d hit upon a
taken from us because he wouldn’t
have been a good dad. I didn’t believe
that, but I did blame myself. “
Marriage Works
Job Training
Program Helps
Kinrea Heal
The experience, however, changed
them in positive ways, too. When they
conceived a second time, Amanda—
and Anthony—returned to Women’s
Center-Lebanon, not just for parenting
education and material assistance,
but for relationship classes that are
encouraging them to see marriage as
a safety net for themselves and their
baby. “We feel so blessed that God
has given us another chance. And
the journey to this moment began at
Women’s Center-Lebanon.”
On December 18, Amanda and
Anthony’s daughter Adrienne was born.
“We love her so much already.”
Please pray for this couple’s
relationship and family to continue
to develop and grow stronger.
way for her to not only personally pay
it forward but to promote giving in their
Girl Scouts, too. “All these girls in our
troop were so excited because it was
for a baby.”
Felicia especially appreciated how
Elizabeth’s New Life Center’s ministry
helped develop her faith. “That made
me want to come back and spread it
to everybody.”
If your organization would like to
host a baby shower, please contact
us at (937) 226-7414.
Don’t Miss Any of Our
Online Activity
Stay Connected!
Say a Prayer…
Please!
For Kinrea King, participating in
Marriage Works! Ohio’s job training
program was about more than just a
job; it’s been part of her healing.
Last year Kinrea was living and working
in Memphis when she discovered she
had cancer. She thought removing
the tumor was going to be a simple
procedure—until she went into renal
failure. It was five long weeks—five
weeks of her mother never leaving her
side and sleeping on a hard couch in
her hospital room—before Kinrea was
able to go home.
Home became Dayton, where her
mother lives and where Kinrea grew
up. “My mother came to Memphis and
snatched me back.”
In Dayton, trying to pick up the pieces
of her health and career, Kinrea
discovered a Marriage Works! Ohio
commercial advertising our PICK Plus
Jobs Skills program. Although she has
a bachelor’s in sociology and a master’s
in human resources management,
Kinrea was interested in learning about
local employment resources and getting
fresh references for a job search in
Dayton. “I wanted to find people here
who could vouch for me.”
The first plank of the PICK Plus
program features relationship
education classes, which Kinrea found
valuable. The job training portion
involved working on her resume and
interview skills as well as hands-on
work at Elizabeth’s New Life Center’s
baby boutique, sorting and preparing
donations of baby clothes.
It was poignant work for the 35-year-old
woman, who has been told by doctors
that she won’t be able to have children,
but Kinrea quickly made peace with it.
“I feel great because I can’t physically
have any children—so they say—but all
the young babies coming up, especially
in my community, I consider them my
babies anyway.”
Armed with new relationship skills, job
training under her belt, chemo and
radiation behind her, and embracing a
good prognosis —doctors can no longer
find the tumor, according to Kinrea—
she’s full of faith and looking forward to
new life. “Who knows what God has
planned for me? God gives you these
tests so you can have a testimony.”
We’re looking for a few good men
and women who will commit
themselves to prayer on behalf of
Elizabeth’s New Life Center. If you
would like to volunteer to pray,
please call Dorothy at (937) 226-7414
or email dmann@elizabethnewlife.
org.You will receive a monthly
prayer intention list either via email
or snail mail. Redemptive sufferers
also invited.
Mom’s the Bomb!
We salute all of our moms, but especially these fabulous women whose
family members made a donation in
their honor:
Amy Anderson
Helen Bowman
Debbie Carroll
Linda DeFosse
Marlene Johnson
Barbara Koob
Geri Landry
Diane E. Meyer
Jennifer Mitchell
Judy O’Day
Dorothy Richard
Mary Ann Schmitymeyer
Marie Vagedes
Because of your prayers and support,
2
2,257
babies at-risk for abortion
were saved in 2012
at Elizabeth’s New Life Center
3
Save These Dates!
Fall Partnership Banquets
In Support of Women’s Centers
Lebanon & Sharonville
Monday, October 7, 2013
In Support of Women’s Center-Sidney
Luncheon: Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Dinner: Thursday, October 10, 2013
Another Way to Catch a Fish
The generosity and creativity of
Elizabeth’s New Life Center’s
volunteers and donors never ceases to
amaze me. Recently I was impressed
again with the patient efforts of some
people to bless our agency and the
moms we serve.
For example, the spouse of a corporate
employee regularly volunteers at
our Dayton boutique—along with her
daughters—which is a valuable and
generous gift in itself. Together they
have logged so many hours that she
is eligible to apply for a matching grant
from her husband’s corporate employer
based upon her volunteerism. What
a double blessing! Not only has our
agency benefited from the family’s
volunteerism, but we hope to qualify for
a cash grant for their service, too.
1
When Life Comes Full Circle
A proud grandmother
credits the help ENLC gave.
I’m so grateful for our volunteers,
especially those who think creatively
to catch every bit of support available
to Elizabeth’s New Life Center.
Just as Jesus urged His disciples to
cast their net on the other side of the
boat (John 21:6 NIV), our volunteers
made their efforts count even more
when they decided to fish from the
other side.
My challenge to you: When the
resources to make a financial gift to
Elizabeth’s New Life Center don’t
appear to be immediately available,
think creatively. Where are you casting
your net?
Blessings,
Debbie Nieport
Development Director
(937) 226-7414
2
In This Issue...
Giving Flowers in Baby Showers
A former ENLC client teaches a
Girl Scout group to give back.
3
Another Way to Catch a Fish
What side of the boat are
you casting your net?