I am excited to tell you about a $50,000 opportunity, and to share the story and pictures of one of our clients and her new daughter…but first let me explain my heart.
As I reflect on the 42nd anniversary of Roe v Wade, it can be a struggle to not be overwhelmed by how much work there is yet to do here in Iowa. It is easy to get lost in a “Schindleresque” (as in Oskar Schindler) lament on how much more could have been done in the past and how much more there is to do in the future, and of course what it will cost. It can be easy to look past the hundreds of lives that have been saved, and the thousands of people that have heard and responded to the gospel through Informed Choices when one is focused on the work left undone. But, God is a good God and eventually I am led to reflect on Jesus words in Mark 12.
Love God with all of your heart and love your neighbor as yourself.
These two commands fully express our purpose on earth and they fully express the heart of Informed Choices.
We believe that Loving God and loving our neighbor as ourselves, is the key to eliminate abortion in our state.
Here are a few of the many reasons for this belief…
- If a woman feels abortion is her only option because her financial or circumstantial needs are too great. Loving her by meeting her needs will eliminate abortion in her life.
- If a young woman is looking for love in the wrong places and finds sickness and pain instead, by lovingly sharing the love of God with her she can, maybe for the first time, feel loved and this may eliminate an abortion in her future.
- Loving a young couple by showing them the truth about the development of the life in her womb.
- By giving our Friends for LIFE the opportunity it invest lovingly into the effective lifesaving work of Informed Choices.
For several weeks I have been planning a new campaign I’m calling The First Love Campaign. While we do have an immediate financial need, this campaign was not about raising money. Instead, I wanted to put into practice loving our neighbors in a new way. So much of the time, all of our “love your neighbor energy” at Informed Choices goes into loving our clients. This year I wanted to expand that to include you, our Friends for LIFE (supporters). Over the next month (from the Row vs Wade Anniversary to the end of February in honor of Valentine) we will be calling all of you (if we have a phone numbers for you) to ask how we can pray for you. Informed Choices Staff will take time each day to pray on your behalf. Our Heart is to take some time daily and intentionally put others needs first in prayer.
Just as I was about to launch The First Love Campaign, we received a matching funds pledge for up to $50,000. This is a unique opportunity to help us not only get a head of our immediate financial need, but to push forward into 2015 and the work ahead of us across Iowa.
So now, The First Love Campaign just got a whole lot bigger…it is now a campaign of Matching Gifts AND Prayer, but the intention is the same. Our friends who are giving the matching gift are leading by example. They want to encourage you to continue loving your neighbor and investing in the lives of the helpless by doubling your gift (up to $50,000). Over the next month if you get a phone call from us, we genuinely want to know how we can pray for you this year, but we will also ask you to consider helping us meet our goal of matching this generous gift. If you don’t get a call from us (because we don’t have your number), will you please help us meet our goal? Simply write “matching gift” on the memo of your check or use this link to make a donation online. And of course, whether you can make a matching gift or not, will you please call or email me how we can pray for you this year? 319-337-0575 or Rachel@InformedChoicesClinic.com
Here is just two of the precious lives you have touched by your past support…Thank you!
The morning after breaking off my engagement I took a pregnancy test and it was positive. There I was in shock and feeling alone. I called Planned Parenthood and scheduled and abortion for the following Thursday. For the next week my mind was a crazy realm of mixed emotions. Thursday I couldn’t get myself to go to the abortion appointment so I rescheduled for the following week and I went to Birthright instead. There I met a loving and understanding girl who led me to Informed Choices.
The love, non-judgmental and honest hearts of everyone at Informed Choices made me feel welcomed. I didn’t have to be alone. I got my ultrasound and there was a heartbeat, a 9 and a half week old heartbeat. I was utterly happy and amazed, but, also in shock. Those drastic mixed emotions were still present in me. I just couldn’t believe I was ready for everything that comes with a new child. So without telling anyone, I kept the abortion appointment leaving that option still open in my head. The day before the appointment I went back to Informed Choices and we just talked through it. There was no pushing me towards either way or looking down on me. It was just purely talking through, getting me to my own heart and what was best for me.
I went through with my pregnancy. The day I gave birth to my miracle was the best day of my life and being her mother is the greatest gift that I have ever received, words cannot explain! Finding Informed Choices was a pure act of God. I have never met such a caring group if individuals and they are all still right there with any support or help or love that we need! ~Katisha and McKade
