Alex,
a young Christian who felt trapped by her pregnancy, thought
abortion was her only choice. She found the bondage of the abortion
experience far more severe than she had imagined or been told
it would be. Her trip to the abortion clinic was anything but
the simple procedure described to her. But, although her Christian
upbringing had taught her that abortion was murder, she went
through with it—no one was there to give her an alternative.
Six years of guilt and anguish passed before Alex was able to
recommit her life to the Lord and find peace.
A pregnancy
care center could have made all the difference in Alex’s
decision to have an abortion.
WHO NEEDS A
PREGNANCY CARE CENTER?
This ministry
is for any woman who believes she is pregnant and wants a free
pregnancy test, handled with confidentiality. It is also for
anyone involved in a crisis pregnancy at any time. Young people
who need counseling about abstinence can benefit from the ministry.
(Some pregnancy care centers even provide abstinence counseling
for the community through local schools.) Women and men who are
suffering from the trauma of the abortion experience also need
the counseling a center provides.
WHAT IS A PREGNANCY
CARE CENTER?
A pregnancy
care center is a place of ministry in a separate location from
the church. It is a place of nonjudgmental and unconditional
love offered to people who are hurting and fearful because of
a crisis pregnancy or post-abortion trauma. A pregnancy care
center is equipped with personnel trained to meet the physical,
spiritual, and emotional needs of those who come for help. It
is a place to provide educational materials and awareness for
abstinence counseling to the community through working with local
schools.
An important
point to remember is that in a pregnancy care center, the gospel
is presented in a nonthreatening environment with receptive participants.
While many
denominations and ecumenical groups operate crisis pregnancy
ministries, you have many benefits available to you as a Southern
Baptist pregnancy care center. These benefits include:
- Assistance
from the Alternatives for Life office of the North American Mission
Board (NAMB). This assistance includes free training, low-cost
manuals, consultations and referrals, and counseling support
for new directors.
- As a certified
NAMB trained pregnancy care center, you are included in the Church
and Community Ministry’s umbrella.
- You may work
through associations and state conventions for budget assistance.
- You may request
hunger funds for baby formula or food for hungry families.
- You have the
cooperative efforts of Southern Baptists at your disposal.
HOW DO WE PLAN
A PREGNANCY CARE CENTER?
1) Pray.
Ask for God’s wisdom and timing. It may take a year or more
to adequately organize such a ministry. Prayer will be needed
as you plan your ministry, and as you begin ministering to others.
2) Hold
an interest meeting. Invite concerned people. Inform friends,
pastors, and other church members of the meeting. Decide whether
the center volunteers will only be from your church (or churches)
or from the larger Christian community. You may choose to show
a video on pregnancy care centers.
3) Form
a steering committee. Choose members from the interest meeting
described in step 2. Assign tasks and set deadlines for each
to be completed.
4) Survey
the community. Chapter four outlines in detail how to conduct
a community needs survey. You will want specific information
such as:
- Statistics
on abortions, teen pregnancies, and illegitimate births. You
can obtain these from your state and county health departments.
The figures will indicate the degree of need for a center.
- Number and
type of abortions performed. Survey medical personnel and facilities
for this information. You will use this data in choosing a center
location.
- Types of other
community pro-life efforts and Christian ministries to pregnant
women. This information will indicate if another ministry to
pregnant women is needed.
5) Structure
the ministry. Once you have determined the need for a center,
decide whether the center should incorporate. (See Chapter eight
for an in-depth look at the pros and cons of incorporation.)
If you choose to incorporate, enlist an attorney. Then choose
a name. A neutral name, such as Pregnancy Help Center and Women’s
Resource Center, will attract the general public. A name like
Christian Crisis Pregnancy Center most likely will not attract
non-Christians who also need the services offered at a Pregnancy
Care Center. After the center is named, write a purpose statement
and doctrinal statement. (See the manual How to Establish
a Crisis Pregnancy Center, listed in “What Sources of
Help are Available?” for samples of both statements.)
6) Choose
center facilities. When choosing where to put the center,
consider the following questions.
- Who is your
target group? What location would most likely attract this group?
A neutral setting, away from the church, is more likely to attract
the general public.
- Can women
reach your facility using public transportation?
- Is it visible?
Depending on the town or city, you might opt for a storefront
or a busy shopping area. In a city, it is usually a good idea
to have visibility. In a small town, however, visibility may
not ensure client confidentiality.
- Does the facility
have enough space? It should have at least one private bathroom,
space for an office and two counseling rooms, a reception area,
and a separate testing area, if possible. A large training room
and storage space would be useful, as would a children’s
play area.
7) Determine
operational needs. Such needs may include furniture in the
counseling rooms; office equipment such as desks, tables, photocopier,
file cabinets, typewriter; forms for registration, scheduling,
and records; toys for a children’s play area; literature
for clients; and pregnancy tests, cups, and disposable latex
gloves. The center should have a telephone answering machine
and at least two phone lines, one to serve as a hotline and one
for the director’s use.
8) Establish
a list of resources for clients. A pregnancy care center cannot
provide everything a client needs. Become knowledgeable about
the following:
- Medicaid and
public assistance
- Clinics and
hospitals with free or reduced rates
- Children’s
services
- Programs for
unwed mothers
- Childbirth
classes, midwives, and birthing facilities
- Public and
private housing
- Ministries
for youth, college students, and single adults
- Adoption agencies,
Christian counseling centers, drug and alcohol treatment centers,
and day care centers
- Obstetricians
and family practitioners who will accept patients on Medicaid,
create a payment plan, and/or offer free services to one or two
patients a year
- Information
on sexually transmitted disease, psychiatric and legal services,
and education for pregnant schoolgirls
WHAT SOURCES
OF HELP ARE AVAILABLE?
The North American
Mission Board’s Alternatives for Life Ministries office
will assign a trainer to conduct a 16-hour training seminar for
volunteers two weeks before the center opens. To schedule training,
call 1-800-962-0851 at least six months before the center is
scheduled to open. Be prepared to give three possible dates for
training.
The Alternatives
for Life Ministries office can provide additional information
and materials on establishing a ministry. Also, if your church
decides it is not able to offer a pregnancy care center, you
can request the sheet titled “What Can I Do?” It describes
other ways your church can minister to people experiencing crisis
pregnancies. This sheet is also available on the internet at
http://www.namb.net/Alternatives/default.asp.
LifeWay Christian
Resources carries How to Establish a Crisis Pregnancy Center
and the video “The Heart of the Matter.” These may
be ordered by calling 1-800-448-8032.
HOW DO WE BEGIN
OUR MINISTRY?
1) Choose
a board of directors. Nominate and elect a board of directors,
men and women who represent a range of ages and occupations,
including retirees and people who work at home, plus at least
one minority in your community, if possible. All board members
must be committed, active Christians; must believe that life
begins at conception; and must be willing to be involved actively
in the center. Some churches place this ministry under the supervision
of a staff minister who is dedicated to the center’s cause
and is supportive of its director.
2) Set policies
and procedures. These should be in accordance with the purpose
and doctrinal statements (see “Structure the Ministry”
above).
3) Choose
the director. Hire someone who will execute the policies
of the board of directors and its administration.
4) Enlist
volunteers. The most valuable resource your center will have
are volunteers. Enlist at least 25. Request that each area pastor
ask for two to four mature Christian women of any age to consider
volunteering as counselors. Also, advertise for volunteers in
area church newsletters and/or your state Baptist paper. The
center director should interview prospective volunteers.
5) Train
volunteers. After a director has been hired and volunteers
have been interviewed and enlisted, follow up the NAMB training
course with your own in-house training. For two weeks, role-play
center operations: opening each day, practicing procedures volunteers
learned, running tests, and filling out client forms. This practice
will help eliminate and correct any potential problems in the
center’s operation.
6) Publicize
the ministry. Rent a post office box for the center. If you
plan to advertise in the Yellow Pages, inquire early in your
planning about the deadline for submitting an ad. The day before
the center opens, hold an open house (announce the open house
and the ministry in your state Baptist paper beforehand). Keep
in mind that part of publicizing the ministry is letting churches
know about the needs of the center. Here is a partial list of
needs that area churches and individuals can help fill.
- Volunteer
counselors (training from Alternatives for Life Ministries office)
- Advocates
for the mothers
- Advisors with
expertise in related fields
- Physicians
and attorneys
- Services:
maintenance, printers, advertisers, public relations
- Office space,
equipment, supplies
- Maternity
clothes: new and good used clothes
- Baby furniture
- Prenatal vitamins
- Childbirth
coaches
- Breastfeeding
information
- Financial
assistance with groceries and housing
- Job training
for clients
- Resources
such as books, films, and brochures
- Information
on finishing high school/GED
- Opportunities
for further training
- Facilities
for meetings, banquets, support groups
HOW DO WE EVALUATE
OUR MINISTRY?
If the center
has clients, it is effective, However, you should still conduct
monthly meetings to discuss problems volunteers detect. The director
should always be accessible to volunteers so that problems can
be addressed quickly.
If the center
has no or few clients, re-evaluate your operation. Determine
what is preventing potential clients from using the center. Is
it your location? Your name? Do your volunteers need more training?
As a final
evaluation, tally the number of clients served, babies born,
and people who have come to know Jesus Christ as their personal
Savior, NAMB can provide forms for this purpose.
For more information:
Gary S. Floyd, Mission Ministries Strategist, Northwest Baptist
Convention, 3200 NE 109th Avenue, Vancouver, WA 98682-7749, 360-882-2110.
Email:
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Every Church has the Opportunity
Every family
does it. No matter how rich or poor, how small or large, people
find time to play. There is no better place for a church to reach
people than when they are at play. The attitudes of people at
play are almost always open to new ideas. We often fuss about
our members who go on vacation or who take personal time to play.
Instead of fussing, we should get them excited about sharing
Christ wherever they go!
The love of
Christ may be shared by youth or adults at festivals, golf courses,
beaches, or any other vacation area. The people of Davis, N.C.,
developed a ministry directed to the thousands of fishermen who
come to the community each year. The youth at Spring Garden Baptist
Church in New Bern, N.C., share Christ at a festival with families
walking by, and the people of Shoreline Baptist share Christ
with families on vacation at the Brunswick County beaches. Christians
who travel away from home carry with them opportunities to share
their faith while they are at play.
Every town
and community has leisure events, such as street fairs, little
league games, social events, golf tournaments, fishing tournaments,
campgrounds, beaches, and mountains. There are people who will
be willing and in need of some special touch from the Savior
at these events. Your willingness to reach out to them at such
events may be the only opportunity they have to meet Christ.
Understanding
the Resort/Leisure Setting
People in resort
settings are at rest and play. They have saved their money for
the trip or event and they plan to enjoy it to the max. We often
forget that people in resort/vacation settings have every minute
planned out so that they get the most out of their time away
from the regular schedules of life. However, they are always
looking for new and interesting opportunities for fun. What an
opportunity for us to bring the exciting message of Christ to
them. You would not minister to a camper in the same way that
you would a golfer. Hunters have down time at night. Beach goers
want peace and quiet when the sun is shining and excitement and
activity at night. Snow skiers are focused on hitting the slopes,
but they have a lot of down time as they wait to board lifts.
Festival/fair goers enjoy roaming around, and they love to take
free stuff away with them. As you begin your resort ministry,
consider the type of people you will be sharing the gospel with
and focus your energies into finding a method that best communicates
God’s message to them.
Never forget
the dynamics of a resort setting. You have people who live in
the setting. They have special needs that should not be overlooked
by all the “visitors.” This is their community, so
don’t forget them. Activities geared toward residents will
make them supportive of your ministry and it will also involve
them in your work with tourists.
Seasonal workers
come and go depending on the need and employment trends of the
resort setting. These people make their living in the setting,
and many work on Sundays and other times when church relationships
are built. These workers need pastoral care and Christian relationships
just like “regular” church members. Expand your church
to meet their needs. It will be a blessing to them, your church,
and to you.
What can
My Church do to Reach People at Leisure?
Every church
should be aware of the activities occurring in their area. Anywhere
there are beaches, mountains, resort complexes, golf courses,
parades, festivals, campgrounds, or parks; there is an opportunity
for ministry. The goal is to reach people “where they are,
when they are there.” You should reach out to not only the
people on vacation, but also to the employees of the resort and
local area residents.
In beach, mountain,
or campground areas, you might offer a first aid booth. Stock
it with sunscreen, bandages, first aid ointment, and drinking
water. When someone approaches you for help, offer gospel tracts,
Bibles, or other information about the ministries of your church
and area.
At a parade,
your church could sponsor a float that carries an encouraging
message to the community. At most parades, vendors have booths
with food and drink for sale. If your church sells refreshments
at a parade, serve drinks in cups imprinted with a biblical message
and serve food in imprinted bags that spread the message of Christ.
Your church could offer a first aid booth in conjunction with
a rescue unit. If the festival in your area rents booths, secure
one for your church. These offer wonderful opportunities for
children’s ministry. You could have a puppet show, a sing-along,
or any number of ideas that would provide opportunities to share
Christ with families.
More people
are engaged in sports activities, such as golf, hunting, tennis,
bowling, and horseback riding, than ever before. Take advantage
of these activities! There are many national ministry groups
with planned programs to share Christ when you are involved with
these activities, such as: Christian Golfers Ministry, Legacy
Outdoor Ministries, and Equestrian Ministries International.
Each of these groups offers directed tools to share Christ while
participating in activities you enjoy. Anywhere you have a gathering
of people, you have an opportunity to witness and minister.
Every leisure
setting lends itself to a simple worship setting, whether it
is on the beach, snow skiing on the slopes, campground services,
golf course vespers, vespers for festival and fair workers, and/or
chaplains for events. Don’t try to take a formal worship
experience to the beach. Make the service casual. Plan the service
with consideration to your setting, and dress like those you
will be ministering to.
What Scriptural
Basis is there for Resort/Leisure Ministry?
Jesus performed
His first miracle at a social function: the wedding at Cana (see
John 2:1-11). Jesus spent much of His time ministering to the
crowds everywhere He went, from the cities to the seaside –
wherever people gathered, not just in the church house, but on
the streets and the byways, where people lived! Jesus’ disciples
were ordinary people working and playing in the areas He traveled.
Acts 1:8 (NIV) says, “But you will receive power when the
Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem,
and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
This verse teaches us that we should take the message of Christ
to people everywhere – even on vacation and at play –
and not sit and wait for people to come to us.
What Benefit
will Resort/Leisure Ministry Bring to Our Congregation?
We never know
what God has in store for us. Renewed, purpose driven individuals
have risen up to do things they never volunteered to do before
after helping with a resort ministry. Churches, Sunday school
classes, youth groups, and adult groups get excited and begin
looking for additional ways to reach people after they have a
positive experience at a campground, fair, festival, or beach
worship. New churches have been started in places where special
ministries were needed, from resort beach worship to fellowship
groups at a golf course. How can you measure the benefits of
doing what God called you as a Christian to do? He has called
you to reach people, “Wherever they are, when they are there.”
Developing
a Ministry Plan
- Determine
priorities for the ministry. What do you hope to accomplish;
whom do you want to reach?
- Calculate
resources needed to conduct the ministry. What resources are
needed (i.e., money, manpower, tools, materials, etc.)?
- Plan the actual
ministry design. In order to design the ministry, you must know
whom you are trying to reach and what you hope to accomplish.
Prepare
for Ministry Activities
- Enlist personnel
and volunteers. Involve people who believe in resort ministry.
They will be supportive.
- Train personnel
and volunteers. Most people are nervous about new experiences.
Some simple training and prayer time with your volunteers will
make them more comfortable and effective in ministering. If you
teach them what to expect and how to react, they will teach others.
- Secure resources
and provide for the logistics needed for the ministry activity.
A good leader will never allow people to go into the field without
what is needed to accomplish the goal. Be sure that all your
materials are in place, that people are in place, and that all
the bases are covered with where you are going. Be sure to contact
those who control the area you hope to minister at (i.e., campground
owners, golf pro’s, etc), and that they are well informed
and supportive of the effort. These steps must be taken ahead
of time. However, even with careful planning, things may not
go as you planned. Remember, “Blessed are the flexible,
for they shall not be bent out of shape.” Be prepared for
change! It will happen!
Carry out
the Ministry Activity Plan
- Pray with
you team of volunteers. Maintain an attitude of dependence on
God. He will lead you and honor your efforts to reach others
with His love.
- Be sensitive
to people. Always be aware of people’s needs. As they relax,
you may discover special ministry needs and opportunities.
- Be sensitive
to your helpers and volunteers. Your helpers may find themselves
in situations where they need your help. Be aware of what they
are doing, be sure that you are at the ministry location before
they need you, and remember, “Blessed are the flexible.”
How can
My Church Implement a Resort/Leisure Ministry?
- Find out who
is interested in doing what. If your church has an On-Mission
Team, they can head the search for mission/ministry evangelism
opportunities. Your church could also conduct a commitment survey
to determine where the interests of the members are. At this
event/fellowship, you could have people share what they enjoy
doing, as well as tell about events that take place (or are going
to take place) in your community. Write these activities down.
Find people who are interested in each area and put them to work.
Have people minister at the activities they most enjoy (i.e.,
campers at campgrounds, golfers on golf courses, boaters on the
water way, and hunters with hunters, etc.). Recruit volunteers
who are “people persons.” Anyone who is not enthusiastic
about the place or activity of service could have a negative
effect of the mission/ministry.
- Have each
group develop a mission statement. Who do you wish to reach and
what do you hope to accomplish? A mission statement will give
the ministry team focus in planning and implementing the ministry.
- Have the team
brainstorm about ways to reach people. This will build spirit
and excitement for the work to come.
- Inform your
church leaders and congregation about what you are planning.
Promote the event and enlist prayer support from your fellowship.
- Obtain permission,
if permission is needed. While you can witness anywhere, some
places, both private and public, have rules about what can be
done or distributed on the property. Find out who makes decisions
for the ministry location and deal with that person. Speaking
to this person before you proceed with your ministry will save
you a lot of time and effort. Be sure that you and your group
obeys the rules at the ministry location.
- Plant the
seed. Remember, people in resort/leisure settings are there to
relax. Therefore, they need to be approached in a relaxed manner.
Simple things work best. Give them things they can take away
and think about. If you plant the seed, God will water it!
When to
Begin
If you have
at least one person willing to minister in a setting they love,
you are ready to begin. Christ didn’t wait until the crowd
was large or until his disciples felt the time was right. He
ministered when and where the people were, and so should our
churches!
Resort Ministry
Links
Christian Ministry in the National Parks
LowCountry Ministries
Charleston Outreach
Smokey Mountain Resort Ministries
Yosemite Christian Ministries
For more information
on Resort/Leisure Ministries: Gary S. Floyd, Mission Ministries
Strategist, Northwest Baptist Convention, 3200 NE 109th Avenue,
Vancouver, WA 98682-7749, 360-882-2110. Email:
Special Ministries
Unit, North American Mission Board, 4200 North Point Pkwy., Alpharetta,
GA 30022-4176, (770) 410-6351. Information is also available
at www.namb.net.
Written by
Dr. Billy Hutchinson, Oak Island, N.C., pastor, Shoreline Baptist
Church; executive director, Christian Golfers Ministry and Billy
Hutchinson Intentional Ministries; Resort and Leisure director
for N.C. Baptist Men; vice president, Publications Association
of Resort and Leisure Ministries (ARLM).
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