"If You Paint It They Will Come..."

"That's what it sounds like to me!", came the words of encouragement from a local pastor.

Indeed, it seems that the new coat of paint is more than just a change of color.  I was just following an "urge" to "neutralize" the Center.  Instead it seems that God is preparing a place and people for a ministry to men here at Another Way Pregnancy Center.

I never would have THOUGHT of it - but God obviously did!

With the new coats of paint - going from pink and mauve to beige and white - the phone started ringing. Men calling to volunteer - speaking of "a burden on (their) heart to work with men at the pregnancy center!"

Men coming to the door asking for pregnancy information.  Is their wife experiencing "normal" symptoms?  "What happened to her?"  Checking out books and videos...  Returning days or weeks later, with or without her, and sometimes more questions!

More men coming with partners for pregnancy tests. Questions.  Fears.  Hopes.

Teen guys coming to the door asking for a pregnancy test.  NO KIDDING! (To take to their girlfriends... Instead we invite him (them) in and talk about healthy sexuality...)

A regional training session planned for volunteers - a cancelled presenter - a substitute with a specialized topic...

The topic: Men and Abortion  (And I am surprized!)

I expect to hear a man talk about how to talk to men (clients?) about NOT pushing abortion on their pregnant partners.  Instead I hear a man's grief over an abortion decision made decades earlier - the impact on their relationship, later their marriage, and then their young children.  My heart grieves with him - and turns to delight in hearing how he and his wife found healing in Jesus Christ.

An entire population we have missed.  49+ Million abortions.  Lost children.  Hurting women.  And yes, hurting men.  Then there are the dads who want to be dads - good Dads - but don't know how because their own father was absent.  Men with questions. Men needing encouragement and mentoring.

How JUST LIKE our GOD to direct men to Pregnancy Centers - where often the question of Life or Death is addressed.

We now have two men in the house on a weekly basis, and we're starting a support group for Dads on Wednesdays from 2 - 4 p.m. starting Feb 24th. Another gentleman went through our training program and is available on a call-in basis.

We're looking for a generous donor (or group of donors) to provide the funds needed to purchase "Men's Fraternity: The Quest for Authentic Manhood" - a curriculum designed for men.  (Thank you Farmington Hills Baptist Church!)

Here's what one participant wrote about the program:

"I was 21 years old, a new husband and expecting our first baby.  I came out of drugs and other problems. This program was just what I needed.  I wanted to be the best husband and father I could but didn't know what that looked like.  Men's Fraternity answered my questions and helped me create a plan of action for my life.  It was cool meeting with other guys and talking about what we learned.  This is an awesome program." 

- Tory