March 2018
& Family Ministries providing hope & care
hope & care
Quarterly Newsletter
“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’” - Matthew 25:40
94
2017 highlights
decisions for Christ
522,532 diapers given out
102
adoptions
73,700
over food boxes distributed
1,574
MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR We are rejoicing over all God did in 2017 through ABCS and our seven ministries. We are continually blessed by your generosity. Charitable gifts have been increasing over the past few years making some rough seasons a little smoother. Partnering with the state to provide foster care and parent aide services means that we are periodically subject to contract negotiations and changes. We have weathered many such seasons, but with recent changes to parent aide we are praising God for your faithful support, which allows us to continue our other ministries. The ministry impact last year was amazing. Together we helped to distribute 73,700 food boxes, 522,532 diapers and 39,582 clothing bags or materials assistance bags through the Community Resource Centers and New Life Pregnancy Centers across the state. At ABCS, we not only meet physical and emotional needs of hurting children and families, but we always hope to meet spiritual needs as well by sharing the Gospel and praying with clients. Across our seven ministries, 94 people chose to make Jesus their Lord. Additionally, there were 102 adoptions through Arms of Love Foster Care in 2017, a new record, and 1,574 volunteers served 51,591 hours at ABCS. Volunteers serving this incredible number of hours help make all New Life the statistics above possible. You will find Pregnancy wonderful stories about ABCS volunteers Centers and donors inside this edition of Hope and Care. We can’t wait to see what 2018 brings! Thank you for serving with us. The one who calls you is faithful, and Mission Encounter he will do it. - 1 Thessalonians 5:24 360 In Him,
volunteers
Steve Hanna Executive Director
served
51,591
hours
UPCOMING EVENTS
hours
New Life Counseling
5K Foam Festival on March 24 at 9 AM to benefit the Yuma New Life Pregnancy Center. Register at abcs.org/ foam5K or call (928) 726-5568. Getting to Know Your ABCS Tour in Tucson on Saturday, April 14. Interested in learning more about ABCS? Email sgleason@abcs.org or call (520) 795-7541 to sign up. Estate Planning Workshops are taking place in Phoenix on April 7 and in Tucson on April 28. Call (800) 678-0648 to sign up or learn more.
Pursue Life Adult Ministry
& Family Ministries 7 Ministries | 1 Mission Providing hope and care to hurting children and families through Christ-centered ministries.
Foster Care & Parent Aide
New Life Transitional Program
Community Resource Centers
MISSION ENCOUNTER 360 Volunteer Spotlight Ami “Kay” Brunenkant has been volunteering with ABCS since the fall of 2016 after she attended a Getting to Know Your ABCS event. As one of our key volunteers in Tucson, she is the embodiment of the servant heart with a willingness to jump in wherever needed. Initially, Kay started working at both the New Life Pregnancy Center and ABCS resource center. At the pregnancy center she began by helping with material assistance (bundles of clothes, diapers and wipes), and was subsequently trained to do peer counseling for clients seeking pregnancy tests. At the resource center, Kay devoted herself to handing out food, hygiene, diapers and clothing resources to struggling families. However, helping women pick out clothes has become the most special time for Kay. She takes the opportunity to ask for prayer requests and then records them in a prayer book, which allows her to follow up at future visits to see how God is answering those prayers. Over time, Kay expanded her role to help the New Life Transitional Program by teaching classes and mentoring clients. One of her favorite volunteer experiences is to see the same clients utilize multiple ABCS ministries, which gives them more opportunities to be exposed to the Gospel. Kay is a vital part of our team and illustrates how God uses each one of us to make a difference in His unique and purposeful way. We are very grateful for her service. Kay and her husband Garry continue to attend and invite friends to our quarterly Getting to Know Your ABCS events as a way to recruit new helpers. The next event in Tucson is April 14. Contact us to signup to attend this event or learn more about volunteering with ABCS. abcs.org/me | (800) 678-0648
NEW LIFE Transitional TRANSITIONAL PROGRAM A Christmas Story The director of the transitional program received a phone call from a mom who shared, “My daughter is seven and she wants to give all of her Christmas presents to someone in need. Can you think of anyone?” In awe of the generous heart of this young lady, the director told the mother she would pray about it and get back to her. A young mom named Tamara, with severe health issues, who attends parenting classes quickly came to mind. She has a daughter who is also seven years old, plus two other children. The director called the mother back and told her that she had a young family in mind, particularly a little girl the same age as her daughter, and shared that they would be able to help all of the children because of another donation offered that day. The mother was thrilled and when it was time to deliver the presents, she brought her entire family along with her generous daughter, who was commended for her beautiful sacrifice. When the director called Tamara to let her know that her family was adopted for Christmas, she broke down crying and asked, “Why would anyone do this?” She was overwhelmed with gratefulness. Tamara had just been discussing with her children’s father how they would break it to their kids that they could not do Christmas this year. This is just one example of how your giving helps a hurting family in need. Thank you for partnering with ABCS to provide hope and care. newlifetransitional.com | (800) 678-0648
NEW LIFE LIFE NEW life new PREGNANCY CENTER COUNSELING pregnancy center
The Sanctity of Human Life New Life Pregnancy Center (NLPC) collaborated with churches to highlight the sanctity of human life in January. NLPC was one of many sponsors of the Arizona for Life March and Rally on Saturday, January 20, and reached out to churches and individuals via social media, live videos and personal connection to encourage them to participate. Pregnancy center directors and other leadership staff spoke at churches across the state the following day for Sanctity of Human Life Sunday on January 21. The Arizona for Life March and Rally had 4,500 attendees from all nationalities and faith backgrounds celebrating and advocating for the beauty and dignity of every human life. Speakers included Governor Ducey and Pam Tebow, mother of former NFL player Tim Tebow. The governor announced that Arizona is the “most pro-life state in the nation” according to Americans United for Life. Mrs. Tebow shared her personal testimony of how she was advised to terminate her pregnancy with Tim, and how their story influences so many lives. NLPC team members had a table at the event and were able to speak with many people. Several children were interested in learning about the development of babies in the womb. Mark your calendars for the next event in January 2020. Both the March and Sanctity of Human Life Sunday mark the date, 45 years ago, when the Supreme Court’s decision in Roe v. Wade made abortion legal in all 50 states. In Arizona, 13,170 lives were lost to abortion in 2016. NLPC partners with churches, pastors and individuals to share the life-affirming message that every person is created in the image of God, including preborn babies, people with disabilities and the elderly.
New Ultrasound Machines God has blessed New Life Pregnancy Center (NLPC) with three ultrasound machines! A machine was donated in February 2017 for use in our mobile ultrasound van that services the Phoenix and Casa Grande centers. NLPC recently also received machines for our Yuma and Wickenburg centers. While NLPC already had ultrasound machines in these areas, the gently used machines are newer and smaller than the ones previously used. Life Options, a pregnancy center in Washington, donated the machine to the Yuma pregnancy center through a new connection with Nancy Hultberg and her husband Lloyd, who are winter residents in Yuma. Nancy is a volunteer ultrasound technician at Life Options and Lloyd is a driver for their mobile unit. After the Hultbergs visited the Yuma center they wanted to help. They communicated the need for a new ultrasound machine in Yuma to their friends at Life Options. The machine came in January. NLPC hopes to donate the existing machine in Yuma for ministry in Mexico.
D You can still reduce your 2017 taxes by up to $1,000
The Wickenburg Hospital will be donating an ultrasound machine to the pregnancy center in the spring. Peter Stachowicz, a volunteer sonographer at the center, works at the hospital and facilitated the donation. Volunteers like Peter are a critical to this ministry. Currently, NLPC does not have sonographers in Phoenix or Yuma. Part-time and volunteer positions are available for Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (RDMS), or Registered Nurses (RN) who are willing to be trained. Please contact Raquel Williams at rwilliams@abcs.org or (602) 346-2300 for more information. Supporters like you make this ministry possible. It is not too late to help NLPC qualify for one of six Impact AZ grants totaling $100,000 by making a donation of up to $1,000 to New Life Pregnancy Center by April 16. Your gift qualifies you for a dollarfor-dollar state tax credit on your 2017 taxes. Learn more at newlifepregnancy.com/impact. newlifepregnancy.com | (800) 678-0648 |
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ARMS OF LOVE FOSTER CARE & PARENT AIDE Support Needed for Adoptive Families Recently an Arms of Love Foster Care leader reconnected with a family who fostered, adopted and closed their license through our agency. They had the privilege of adopting an adorable five-year-old boy and six-yearold girl. The children had few known issues and the family was ecstatic. Life seemed like it would move forward smoothly.
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At the event where the family reconnected with our team, the ministry leader saw these sweet and beautiful children smiling and playing like the other children. However, the mother began to share how hard it had been parenting these children, and the many challenges that have affected their family and marriage. The angelic-looking little boy has temper tantrums, rages and is in trouble at school most of the time. Their little princess is doing better, but has some major heart issues. They would all benefit from family counseling. She further explained that she has reached out to the children’s therapist, subsidy worker and school counselor and they have offered little to no hope or help for their children. Her last question was, “Do you have any advice?”
Fostering A LeGACY
Fortunately, this is a strong family who loves each other deeply and will not give up on their marriage or their children. This does not change the reality that they have some really hard and unexpected things to deal with, and feel very much alone. Sadly, this type of story occurs all too often for families who adopt children in the state’s care. They continue to see the effects of their children’s trauma. A sense of loneliness and helplessness can sometimes lead to dissolution of the adoption, resulting in the child re-entering state care. The cycle of trauma then continues. This family would have benefited from a variety of continued services such as an assigned licensing specialist contacting them and advocating for services regularly, family counseling and possibly respite care. Unfortunately, there is no state funding for services benefiting adoptive parents. Many are left feeling alone to navigate the murky waters of life after adoption. Arms of Love Foster Care is launching an endowment campaign this month to ensure ministry will continue for years to come. We are praying that 100 donors will give $1,000 in March. We praise God that $27,000 has already been raised. Contributions to the endowment fund will enable staff to continue to offer support to families who adopt, helping them to feel encouraged and know they are not alone. This will ensure positive permanency in the life of a child. Please visit abcsfostercare.com/ endowment to learn more.
Honoring Mothers
Honoring Moms
Join ABCS in honoring all types of moms this Mother’s Day. As part of our ministry serving hurting children and families, ABCS recognizes the special role moms and mother figures play in their families. Posters and bulletin inserts are available to make it easy for your church to honor moms. There is also a special video which may be shown at church, or shared on social media. Order free materials at abcs.org/MDO by May 1, and consider collecting gifts at your church on Mother’s Day. Contributions will support the Christ-centered ministries of ABCS, including Arms of Love Foster Care in honor of National Foster Care Month. ABCS staff or our foster care team are available for speaking engagements or to host an information table.
this Mother’s Day & Family Ministries providing hope & care
Birth Moms • Foster Moms • Stepmoms • SInGLE Moms • Grandmas • all Moms
abcsfostercare.com | (800) 678-0648
1779 N. Alvernon Way | Tucson, AZ 85712 | (800) 678-0648 | abcs.org |
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