Cherish Kids

"When I was about 16 years old, I started bringing home neighborhood kids to help them in any way I could.  I could just tell they were hurting in some sort of desperate situation.  My parents were concerned at first, but I would tell them not to worry, I would take care of them." 

I recently had the privilege of meeting with Marla Robison, the Assistant Director of Cherish Kids, and cherishing kids is exactly what she does.  Helping children find a safe, loving, and nurturing environment has been her passion since she was in high school.  She volunteered for 1 1/2 years at Cherish Kids before becoming their first and only employee. Cherish Kids
is a non-profit organization ran almost entirely by dedicated volunteers who are committed to a threefold mission:

RAISE AWARENESS of the needs of children in crisis locally, statewide and around the world.

OFFER RESOURCES by providing credible information and guidance to families and individuals who desire to help.

PROVIDE SUPPORT by assisting children in crisis with essential needs and providing financial, emotional and spiritual support to families and individuals in their effort to foster and adopt.

The vision of Cherish Kids is:

"... founded on the belief that every child is a gift from God and deserves to be cared for and cherished. Cherish Kids endeavors to improve the quality of life for children who find themselves displaced or orphaned. The vision of Cherish Kids is to make a difference in the lives of children in crisis by collaborating with state, counties, churches and adoption agency leaders."

Unfortunately, there are nearly 2,000 orphans and 11,000 children in foster care in the state of Missouri, 100,000 orphans and over a half million in foster care in the U.S.  While discussing these astounding statistics with Marla, she noted that there are far more churches than there are orphans and if only one family from each church took in a child, every orphan in America would have a home.  The state is overflowing with children who need families, and Marla believes that foster care should have always come from the church.   I have to agree that one of the reasons there are so many children in state custody is because we as the church have placed our calling of caring for the displaced onto the shoulders of the state.  After all,  Jesus himself was adopted by his father Joseph, and we are all orphans adopted by our Father.  We are sought after, sons and daughters of Christ, welcomed as His children.

The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.  Romans 8:16

I am reminded of an article I once read by Kinsey Thurlow, titled Is the Church ready for the abortion law to change?  I encourage you to read it in its entirety but she concludes with these impactful paragraphs,

God has defined pure and undefiled religion as caring for orphans and widows (James 1:27). But why? Why did He define it this way? Because it is imitating Him. It is the emulation of the very expression of love that the Father has bestowed upon us. When we were alone, orphaned and without hope, He ordained our adoption through Jesus Christ to Himself.

As a Father to the fatherless who sets the lonely into families, God desires to display His heart through His people.  He commands us to vindicate the weak and fatherless, to do justice to the afflicted and destitute, and to rescue the weak and needy (Psalm 82).

Unless the nation is revived, and God’s people turn toward a fatherless generation of children, we are not prepared for a change in abortion law. Yes, we should keep contending for the law to change, but also for God to raise up a people who are not just against abortion, but are truly Pro-LIFE.  O God, restore the value of life in this nation, and teach us to love and pursue the unwanted.

There are five different ways you can help CherishKids rescue orphans locally and around the world. 

1.  You can donate!

2.  You can volunteer!

3.  You can provide respite care!

4.  You can provide foster care!

5.  You can adopt!

One month after Marla started working with Cherish Kids, she attended her first Adoption Exchange, in which they film a short interview with a child up for adoption so prospective parents can view it.  A 12 year-old boy sat nervously in front of the camera.  Hoping to provide comfort and reassurance, she sat down to talk with him before the interview.  His last comment of their brief conversation was, "I wore my best shorts, do you like them?"  She told him they were the best looking shorts she had ever seen and slipped out of the room so they could begin.  She smiled and waved goodbye to him from afar so he couldn't see the mascara stains and tears streaking down her cheeks.  Marla promised me during our meeting that she will find a spot for anyone willing to help, regardless of their calling, whether it be support through donation, volunteering, or providing a loving home.  I loved how heartfelt she expressed, "There's a place for everyone!"  Truly, there IS a place for EVERYONE! 

Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.  Matthew 19:14

Check out Cherish Kids and all of their fun gatherings and events including their annual 5K/10K run by visiting their website or facebook page! 

Pregnancy Care Center

Pregnancy Care Center

 

 

Love life.  It really is that simple. 

I recently had the privilege of speaking with Kimberly Costello, Development Director of the Pregnancy Care Center.  I think she wore a smile the entire two hours that we spoke, a joyous grin that couldn't be pried off with a crowbar. We discussed the history, services, and events of the PCC and nestled in each was a very lively story.  Oh, how I love a good life story!  As I listened to each one, the corners of my mouth began to creep upward, and when she stepped out of the room to grab some literature, I caught myself stretching out my jaw with OHH's and AHH's. Those smile-inducing stories are reflected in the name of their most recent campaign, NOW: Hope.Help.Life.   

 

In fact, the Pregnancy Care Center is full of people with hearts to help, to give hope, and cherish life.   The PCC's mission is to provide health, wellness, and relationship education for young people facing an unplanned pregnancy, and presenting healthy relationship education in local schools to equip teens to make positive choices.   They do this through their many services free of charge:

Pregnancy Testing Program Mentoring & Enrichment Programs Ultrasound Program Healthy Relationship Programs Healthy Pregnancy Classes Parents and the Law Fatherhood Program Community/Medical Referral	Family Support Program Labor and Birth Courses Adoption Education Lactation Consulting Baby and Maternity Resources Smoke-free Babies Community Presentations Choices Project

The complete scope of these all-encompassing services are quite impressive.  Pregnancy Care Center partners with more than 50 community organizations, universities, schools, social service organizations, and foundations to meet the needs of every young woman and her family members that walk through their door.  They have served over 231,617 young people since 2000, delivered crisis intervention and medical services to 12,863 new clients, and volunteers have invested more than 440,716 service hours.  With the help of their wonderful staff, volunteers, and supporters, the PCC has been able to make a notable community impact.  Teen pregnancies have declined over 24% since 2000, and 100% of those that participated in PCC's Nutrition Education Program, have avoided low birth-weight and pre-term babies.  Over 95% of clients make a positive pregnancy choice following an ultrasound, and more than 6,100 lives have been saved.  PCC has been working passionately to reduce Community Red Flags which include:

v  Child Abuse and Neglect

v  Communicable Diseases

v  Domestic Violence

v  Homeless Children and Adolescents

v  Access to Health Care

v  Childhood Nutrition

v  Smoking During Pregnancy

v  Single Parents in Financial Distress

v  Children in Poverty

v  Illegal Drug Use

Pregnancy Care Center is definitely making a difference in our community, the proof is in the numbers.  Yet, the numbers are just a side effect, the real difference is in the lives of those that need a hand to hold, a friend to cry with and confide in, someone to reassure them that everything will be o.k.  PCC's goal is to save lives by respecting, honoring, and valuing each young woman they come in contact with.  In order to reach out to those in need, the Pregnancy Care Center has acquired a Mobile Medical Unit to connect with all those that are unable to get to the center or those that are unacquainted with the services the center offers.  The Mobile Medical Unit provides professional medical staff, pregnancy testing and ultrasounds.  The mobile unit's wheels roll through the Ozarks various days of the week, offering a direct, easily accessible center to those who need it  most.

You can help Pregnancy Care Center to continue to reach out to those that need hope, help, and life!  Find out how you can volunteer in any one of the many different positions PCC needs to fill at their Volunteer page or give financially at their Donate page.  PCC holds several events each year, find out more about their Annual Banquet coming up on April 13th. You can listen to Abby Johnson, former Planned Parenthood Director, share her story at last year's banquet by clicking here. Thanks to the Pregnancy Care Center for searching out the heartbeats that bring a smile to the soul.  You can keep up with PCC and hear about all their amazing stories on facebook.  

Find a way to get involved and love life!  Yep, it really is that simple.