The Beautiful Intangibles
When you think of the services a pregnancy center ministry offers new moms and dads, you might think of free pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, prenatal and parenting classes, and abundant baby care supplies. You’d hit the nail on the head as far as our tangible services go.
But do you know there’s a whole array of intangible supports that pregnancy centers offer new parents as well? Things like truthful spiritual support. Earnest encouragement. And authentic, wholesome fellowship. Our physical amenities meet the needs of each client’s mind, but it’s our unseen services that meet the needs of their heart.
Take Chelsea and Dalton, for example. They came to Align for help after learning Chelsea was pregnant. They are fairly young, and Dalton told us right away that he felt scared and unprepared. They signed up for our prenatal course and showed up for each class that followed.
During those weekly appointments, we taught them how to prepare for the arrival of their baby. With their permission, we also prayed for Chelsea and Dalton and their baby at the end of each lesson and shared a spiritual application of the information they had just learned. We got to hear about their families and their hopes of moving to another state to build a life together. They looked forward to their appointment each week, and we looked forward to seeing them! Over those months, God built a beautiful friendship between us.
So much so, that when Chelsea and Dalton’s moving day arrived, they stopped by our center on their way out of town! They dropped off cupcakes and gave us hugs for our help. We prayed for their trip, their settling-in to their new surroundings, and their new baby who would be born there. They even sent us a selfie when they reached their destination!
First Peter 3:8 describes the kind of precious community God can build through pregnancy resource centers: Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.
And it’s a glimpse of His kingdom of life, strong and thriving, here on earth.