Fall 2014 - Angelorum

Angelorum/Next Step
Pregnancy Services
www.angelorum.org
www.nextstepnw.com
(425) 329-4569
FALL 2014 NEWSLETTER
Marilyn Thornton
President
Angela Crabtree
Vice President
Chris Haag
Secretary
Denise Mullins
Treasurer
Michael Lounsbery
Board Member
Bill Kessler
Board Member/
Legal Counsel
Kathy Dizard
Executive Director
Nancy Tribble
Center Director
Mary Mullins
Nurse Manager
Office Volunteers
Mary Ann Smith, RN
Christie Beback, RN
Sherry Prescott, RN
Kris Andrews, RN
Joyce Egan
Mary Beth Herold
Deborah Marcel
Andrea Reed
Alisha Steich
Rosa Fernandes
Marisela Ortiz Abraham
Theresa Santos
Vivian Stanton
Gabrielle Cordman
Jessica Jordan
A Change of Seasons
The golden sun of summer 2014 seems
to be hidden among some rather thick
and misty clouds. The sky is no longer
bright and clear but is instead somewhat
dark and gloomy. On the other hand, the
colors and the textures this time of year
are outstanding! It is definitely a new
season ~ unique in its own right.
We are very thankful to the following
for their support & prayers:
Our Monthly Commitment Donors
Our Angel of the Day Supporters
The Vitae Foundation
The Lynnwood Food Bank
Brighton School in Lynnwood
The Biella Foundation in Redmond
Microsoft Matching Gifts Program
2nd Chance Thrift Store in Lynnwood
Bank of America Matching Gifts
St. Pius X in Mountlake Terrace
The Just Between Friends Sale
SPIRIT Radio KCIS/KCMS
Merrill Gardens in Mountlake Terrace
St. Alphonsus Parish in Ballard
Blessed Sacrament Parish in Seattle
St. Luke Parish in Shoreline
St. Jude Parish in Redmond
Holy Family Parish in Kirkland
St. Brendan Parish in Bothell
The Vine Baptist Church in Seattle
Kaufers’s Religious Supplies in Seattle
Alleluia Catholic Store in Bothell
Just as the colors of Fall were gently
altering the summer greenery, we were
experiencing a “change of seasons” of
our own the end of August when we
said goodbye to five office volunteers ~
Ella Gunderson, Andra Amador, Sarah
Fernandes, Marie Gavaghan and Virginia
Cettolin (aka Sister Cabrini.) Our ministry
was deeply touched by all five of these
beautiful souls and we will miss them
like we miss the warmth of the sun!
As with the new season, we are also
experiencing changes and growth. We
recently welcomed Vivian Stanton and
Theresa Santos to our Next Step Family
and we are thrilled to have them here!
A Prayer About Changes
Heavenly Father, You are the creator and
source of life and we praise You always
and for all things. Thank you for the
beauty and individuality of Autumn.
Guide and protect us as we embrace
seasonal changes in our lives. Give us
courage when facing adversity, direction
when we feel lost and stability when we
are weak. Help us to live our lives in
honor of You that we may be a blessing to
everyone we meet. Change our hearts that
we may always choose to love. Amen.
We just received a huge blessing from SPIRIT 105.3
Pictured are Sarah Taylor and Madeline Jacob
from SPIRIT 105.3 Radio.
SPIRIT 105.3 Radio is a constant source of encouragement
and hope for thousands of people every week around the greater
Puget Sound. In September, SPIRIT hosted a biannual pledge
drive inviting listeners to partner with them to help spread the
encouragement throughout the community. For each listener
who pledged $30 a month, SPIRIT promised to give back to
the community by giving a portion of the proceeds to pregnancy
resource centers around the greater Seattle area—Next Step was
one of them and we were blessed with 4038 diapers and a $250
Walmart gift card! Because of these donations, we are able to
increase the amount of diapers we give to our clients by 20%!
Naturally, if we live life with dignity, we will die with dignity, naturally.
We do what we do because
Abortion Changes Everyone
On August 6, Nancy, our Next Step Center Director and I had the opportunity to attend a seminar hosted
by The Vitae Foundation and Carenet. The seminar featured Michaelene Fredenburg, founder of the
Abortion Changes You outreach. Among other things, Michaelene has written numerous articles about
reproductive grief and loss due to abortion, authored the book Changed: Making Sense of Y our Own or A
Loved One’s Abortion Experience, and created the abortionchangesyou.com website.
Michaelene shared her abortion experience with us and it was pretty typical to the stories we hear in
the clinic—18, single, furious boyfriend threatening to kick her out, parents in another state, etc. Then
afterwards, guilt, self-destructive behavior, intense anger, profound sadness and suicidal thoughts. After
suffering alone for a couple of years, and with the help of counselors and supportive friends, Michaelene
was able to enter into a healthy grieving process where she found hope.
Michaelene has, as they say, been there, done that—but thanks be to God, she journeyed through.
I would encourage anyone who has had an abortion, aided in an abortion, or been affected by an abortion
to go to the abortionchangesyou.com website and discern if this is something you would find beneficial
either for yourself or someone you know. I was so inspired by Michaelene and all she has done to help
others with their grieving process that I have begun additional training in learning how to help men and
women find forgiveness ~ and know forgiveness. Although this is not a faith-based program, like Project
Rachel or Healing Hearts, I believe it is a way for many of the millions of people that are still feeling
guilty, angry and suicidal to begin a healing process.
Thank you, Vitae Foundation and Carenet for sponsoring Michaelene to come and give her testimony and
share her experiences in the Seattle area last August ~ it is so valuable for Nancy and I to gather together
with others in life ministry work as a means of support and camaraderie!
Joy & Peace, Kathy
Be a Messenger of Life by becoming an
Angel of the Day
For a continuous donation of $35 a month you can
sponsor a day in our clinic and know that our doors
were open to serve women and families in need with
truth, love and kindness because of you!
What does a typical day at Next Step look like?
Just like people, no two days are exactly alike, and we never know what to expect when we turn our open sign on.
We believe that the people who are meant to come in will come in. Here are three typical days:
June 4—20 clients for material goods, 6 pregnancy test (5 positive / 1 negative), 3 ultrasounds, 2 new clients.
July 23—27 clients for material goods, 1 pregnancy test (negative), 2 ultrasounds, 4 new clients.
September 12—23 clients for material goods, 3 pregnancy tests (2 positive, 1 negative), 0 ultrasounds, 3 new clients.
It would be impossible for us to put a monetary value on the work we do and the way we help—only God knows that.
What we do know is that we are making a difference in the lives of everyone we serve and that our office is a beacon
of hope to thousands of people. As much as we love helping clients in need of diapers and baby clothes, our main
purpose is to help women choose life for their unborn children, and for many of our clients, an unplanned, unwanted
pregnancy is seen as a life-changing and life-ending event. The idea of carrying to term means their own lives—their
dreams, their plans, their future, are over. Having a baby is too difficult and giving a baby up for adoption is even
worse. Thus, unfortunately, in their eyes, abortion becomes the lesser of the three evils and their option of choice—
and then, in many cases, the self-destructive cycle of abuse and depression begins. Believe it or not, these are the
women we hope will come to Next Step. Saving these women’s lives—their dreams, their plans, their future and their
children, is why Next Step Pregnancy Services is open. Changing lives and saving lives is our mission, and the value
of doing this is priceless.
We do know what our operating expenses are, however, and that total is $420 per day—or $35 a month. We currently have 40 Angels of the Day, so there are 325 Angels needed. Please consider supporting our life-affirming ministry in
this fashion. You can become an Angel by going to www.angelorum.org and clicking on the Angel of the Day Program
link, or by calling Kathy at 425-329-4569. We have Angels choose a day for a variety of reasons— in honor of a loved
one who has passed away, to celebrate a birthday, or for the intentions of their family. It costs our nurses approximately $50 to do one pregnancy test, $150 to do one ultrasound, and we presently give away about 5000 diapers a
month to parents in need of a little extra help to make ends meet—and we need your help so our ends will meet!
Christmas is quickly approaching and we have a suggestion for the hard-to-shop-for people in your lives ~ sponsor a
day in their honor! This is a wonderful way to show your appreciation to a parent or grandparent for the legacy they
will leave behind. Or to give meaning to a family member or friend that may actually be a victim of the abortion
industry.
This is a great way to tell your loved ones that you are glad they are here and their life has value!
We have a beautiful Christmas ornament and personalized Christmas card to announce your Angel of the Day
sponsorship gift. Please call or email [email protected] for more information on becoming an Angel of the Day
yourself, or sponsoring a day on behalf of another.
TIME TO FALL-BACK ~ DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME ENDS AT 2AM ~ SUNDAY ~ NOVEMBER 2!
To discontinue delivery of this newsletter, please call 425-329-4569
Thank You,
Dr. Philip Buenvenida
& Couples for Christ
Foundation for Family
and Life
for sponsoring our
2014 Auction
of the Angels!
THE VITAE FOUNDATION IS HOSTING AN EVENING WITH DINESH D’SOUZA IN THE SEATTLE AREA!
JOIN US ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4TH AT THE SEATTLE MARRIOTT WATERFRONT, 2100 ALASKAN WAY.
DINNER BEGINS AT 7PM, AND NON-REFUNDABLE TICKETS ARE $100 PER PERSON ($50 IS TAX DEDUCTABLE.)
REGISTER ONLINE AT WWW.VITAEFOUNDATION.ORG/EVENTS OR BY CALLING 800-393-5791. THE VITAE FOUNDATION
IS VITAL TO MEDICAL PREGNANCY CENTERS ACROSS THE NATION AS THEY BECOME A VOICE TO THOSE WHO DON’T
HAVE ONE, THROUGH THE TOOLS OF THE MEDIA. OUR NEXT STEP WEBSITE IS CURRENTLY RECEIVING A MUCH NEEDED
UPDATE THANKS TO A GRANT WE RECEIVED FROM THE VITAE FOUNDATION!