Retooled Life Network stands ready to help
By Barbara Shoun
Contributing Writer
COLUMBIA - She’s Caucasian, between 20 and 24 years of age, with 1-3 years of college, and insurance. She is the national profile of women seeking abortion. She is one of 618 women who had abortions in mid-Missouri in 2008.
Life Network of Central Missouri is making a dent in that number in 2009.
The network of five crisis pregnancy centers has completely overhauled its structure and operation to attract abortion-minded women, to convince them to carry their babies to term, and to support them in parenting their babies or placing them for adoption.
Many of the changes were the result of a grant from Focus on the Family which paid for a consultant to evaluate the entire operation and make recommendations.
“We looked at every area of our ministry,” said Charity Quinn, interim director. “We were looking for ways to more effectively reach abortion-minded women.”
Two major changes were among the actions approved by the network’s board of directors: a name that would appeal to the upcoming generation and a clinic that would operate as a medical model.
Formerly known as Open Arms, the network changed the name of its clinics to My Life, reflecting the introspection of the “Me Generation.” My Life clinics are located in Columbia, Jefferson City, Fulton, Moberly and Mexico.
In addition, the Columbia clinic was designated as a medical facility, which includes the ability to offer ultrasound. Ultrasound technology was put into operation in January under the supervision of Medical Director Brian Green, M.D., and Nurse Manager Beth Wiederanders, R.N.
There were 19 ultrasounds done that first month, and Quinn said they could do many more if they had the funding. The technology has proven to be the most persuasive tool they have for convincing women to carry their babies to term.
The greatest commodity the clinics have to offer, though, is unconditional love for every woman who walks through the door. Clients are greeted in a non-judgmental manner and are given information on how their decisions to abort or not to abort will affect them emotionally, physically, socially and spiritually in the future.
The clinics provide pregnancy testing, ultrasound, and medical consultations free of charge.
If the women choose to have their babies, the clinics provide education for parents who will be keeping their babies and adoption agency referrals for those who choose to give their babies up for adoption.
Only one baby was placed for adoption in 2008 through the help of Life Network. The mother did not feel the timing was right in her life to raise a child. She wanted to give birth to her baby and have it raised in a Christian home with a mother and father. Life Network worked with her and the adoption agency to make it possible.
Educational programs involve classes on how women can take care of themselves during and after their pregnancies, on nutrition, parenting techniques and other subjects. All are based on the Bible.
Clients are given incentive to continue the classes with attendance “bucks” which they can spend in the Bella Boutique, a room full of new and used baby-related items and supplies donated by people in the community.
Finally, the clinics connect their clients with resources that will help them support and parent their children – such as insurance providers, Parents as Teachers, churches, and the Alternatives to Abortion program of the Missouri Department of Health and Human Services.
Quinn said one big reason women contemplate abortion is they don’t think they can afford to have their babies. Timing and marital status are two other factors. “We let them know that God honors them when they make the right choice. He will bring support into their lives,” she said.
She told of one young woman who was seeking abortion because her mother would be disappointed if she gave birth to the baby and missed college. “The father wanted her to carry the baby and get married. Her friends were saying it was no big deal – just have an abortion,” said Quinn. “They get different messages from different people. They don’t know what the truth is.”
Since Life Network is the only organization that offers free pregnancy tests and ultrasounds, the clinics attract women who might otherwise go directly to abortion providers. Some 362 women visited My Life clinics in February, 153 of them in Columbia.
All of the changes have put a strain on Life Network’s budget, but the organization seems to have become more attractive to donors who are open to supporting a non-profit that is effectively saving babies’ lives and offering hope and support to their mothers. The organization’s annual fund-raising banquet had approximately 200 people in attendance in 2008; the March 2009 banquet attracted more than 700.
Speaking at this year’s banquet was nationally-known author Stephen Arterburn, founder and chairman of New Life Ministries and host of the nationally syndicated radio program “New Life Live!”
Arterburn told the gathering that “Sex outside of marriage is wrong, but once there’s a life, it is meant to be.
“Every life matters. God creates life, but He’s also into resurrection and restoration.”
