Monday, August 31, 2009

Classic Car Show in Ghent to Benefit CPC!

Central Baptist Church in Ghent presents their 1st Annual Charity Classic Car Show, "Classics for the Cause," this fall! All proceeds will benefit the Crisis Pregnancy Center of Tidewater.

If you are a classic car lover or if you have a classic car (1973 and earlier) and would like to participate in the show, please call the church at 627-4571 and ask for Michelle or Rob Newhall. Or send an email to: CBCAnnualCarShow@aol.com. Enter by September 11th for the early registration fee of $20.

Event Details
When: Saturday, October 3, 2009
Time: 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Where: Central Baptist Church (across from CHKD)
701 W. Olney Road, Norfolk, VA 23507


Please come out and enjoy the classic cars while supporting a great cause!

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Real Health Care Respects Life!

American's United for Life has launched a website dedicated to revealing the truth behind the health care reform proposals pending in Congress - http://www.realhealthcarerespectslife.com/. As the website states: "With several competing bills in Congress aiming to reform America’s health care system, it is imperative that those who value life from conception to natural death make their voices heard in Washington." Please visit this site for extensive information on health care reform. We must take action to make our voices heard in Washington on these critical life issues.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Volunteer Spotlight on...

Judy Weibley
Judy has been serving in our Call Center since
September 2006. She has a heart of compassion
that is heard in her calming and reassuring voice as she answers our Helpline.

Judy heard about The Keim Centers when Toby DeBause spoke at Garden Baptist Church. She also saw a notice on her church bulletin board about the critical need for volunteers in CPC’s Call Center. She knew God was leading her to volunteer. Though she was apprehensive, Judy trusted God and answered His call. He has been faithful to use Judy to bring many abortion-minded women to our centers.

If you sense God calling you to minister to women in need or to serve in another capacity at CPC Ministries, please consider registering for our upcoming Volunteer Training.


Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Gardasil Safety in Question

by Sheena McAdoo

Beginning this fall, all young girls entering the 6th grade in Virginia schools are "required" to have been vaccinated with the controversial HPV vaccine, Gardasil. However, there is an "opt-out" provision which allows parents to reject the vaccine for their daughters.

Just last week, two new reports were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) which have set off much debate over the safety of this drug that is supposed to protect young girls.

According to one report, it seems Merck minimized the sexual tranmission of HPV and overemphasized the risk of cervical cancer to adolescents. Merck's marketing scheme issued broad statements warning that all women are at risk of cervical cancer.

However, nearly all cervical cancer is known to be caused by HPV, which is a sexually transmitted disease (i.e., transmission is primarily through sexual contact with an infected person). It includes over 100 viral strains, about 40 of which cause genital infections. Of those 40, there are at least 18 viral strains known to be "high-risk" cancer-causing strains.

Gardasil contains only two of those high-risk cancer-causing strains and two of the low-risk strains that cause genital warts. Unfortunately, the message young women may perceive is that if they are vaccinated they will be protected against all cervical cancer. This is just one of many growing concerns about this vaccine and its misleading advertising.

Another report claims there have been 32 deaths linked to Gardasil. However, the study included only adverse events reported through December 31, 2008. Since then, there have been even more deaths, increasing the known total to 48 Gardasil-linked deaths. Other adverse events linked to Gardasil are blood clots, autoimmune disorders, neurological disorders, Gullaine Barr Syndrome, and 2 reported cases of Lou Gehrig's disease.

While the CDC, FDA and Merck are still affirming Gardasil's safety, many are calling for further investigations looking into the cause of these deaths, as well as the other adverse events and their link to Gardasil.

For more information, see these links:

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Please Pray!

We humbly ask that you pray with us for our Helpline volunteers and Client Advocates that work one-on-one with the women visiting The Keim Centers. Pray that God would grant them a great amount of compassion, wisdom, and strength.

Also, our hope is for every woman in Hampton Roads facing an unplanned pregnancy to know that the CPC’s Keim Centers are there for her and her little one. Please pray that God would bless our outreach efforts and cause them to be effective in reaching these women in need.

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Rethinking Abortion - Two Unexpected Witnesses

In a commentary on his blog, Albert Mohler describes two separate and unexpected sources who spoke out this week about their thoughts on abortion - Sarah Kliff, a reporter for Newsweek magazine, and actress Kourtney Kardashian. Their personal stories serve to highlight the fact that after 36 years of legalized abortion, the debate over the morality of abortion is far from settled. In fact, as Mohler states, "the intensity of the abortion debate in 2009 exceeds that of 1973...To the great consternation of abortion-rights proponents, Americans have not accepted abortion on demand as a permanent reality." Read full article.

Friday, August 21, 2009

Photos from our Volunteer Appreciation Brunch!

Last Saturday, August 15th, the CPC staff was privileged to serve our volunteers at our annual Volunteer Appreciation Brunch, honoring them for their commitment and service to this ministry! Here are a few pictures of our volunteers who give so much to help us minister to mothers and babies!


Pictured from from left to right:

(1) Jenny and Cherry Jenson, and Sherry Budy;
(2) Vann & Alice Dagenhardt, and Karen Davis;


(3) Marcy Oberndorfer, Helen Waldo and Phyllicia Whittingham;
(4) Thea Bohannon, Pamela Tanner (staff), and Joanne Digiovanni;

(5) Joanne Spires and Xana Johnson; (6) Sam & Brenda Wiggs


(7) Jose Moreno; (8) LaTasha Anderson;


(9) Margaret Smith; (10) Susan Woods




Thursday, August 20, 2009

One More Life Saved and Heart Spared from Abortion!

Recently, a client came to us considering abortion. Although she admitted to not wanting the abortion, she felt much pressure to abort after being threatened by her baby’s father, not to mention the added pressure of having no family or financial support. While at the Keim Center, she received much emotional and spiritual support, as well as practical help, and this woman found the strength to face her fears. Against all odds, she has made the very difficult decision to give her baby life rather than have an abortion!

This is a testimony to one more heart being spared and life being saved from the devastation of abortion. Her story is not unlike many women we serve every day at the Keim Centers. Please keep our clients in your prayers as they are facing the most difficult and unbearable circumstances that impact their pregnancy decisions.

CPC's Annual Benefit Banquet Now Online!

Visit our Banquet site and be one of the first to register online. Our Benefit Banquet will be held on October 27, 2009, at the Chesapeake Conference Center. You will not want to miss hearing the remarkable story of Jill Stanek, our keynote speaker this year. Jill will share her powerful, riveting, and unbelievable story with us, challenging us all to continue speaking for those who cannot speak for themselves.

This banquet is our largest fundraiser of the year and we greatly depend on its success to continue helping mothers babies.We need over 100 individuals to be Table Hosts and commit to inviting potential supporters to attend the banquet. A Table Host typically fills one table that seats 10 people. You may host more than one table. There is no cost to you or your guests.

Please also consider sponsoring the banquet to help us cover our expenses, even if you are not able to attend the event. Our goal is to have all expenses completely paid for prior to the banquet. This would allow every dollar donated on the night of the banquet to go directly to the life-saving, heart-sparing ministry of the CPC!

In these challenging times, CPC is not experiencing growth in financial support. However, we are continuing to reach and help minister to a record number of women each month who are in need of our services and support.

You can help make this banquet a great success so that we can continue helping mothers who are facing unplanned pregnancies, and their preborn children whose lives are on the line. Please prayerfully consider how you can help with this year's banquet. Thank you so much for your support!

Serving With You for LIFE,
Toby DeBause
President

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Health Care Reform Mandates Abortion Coverage

The current health care reform proposal being debated in Congress (H.R. 3200) would result in a widespread government sanction of anti-life policies, from the beginning of life to the end. This is the first in a series of posts that will highlight various aspects of the health care reform legislation that will have an impact on this ministry, its mission, and the sanctity of human life.

Because the word "abortion" is not explicitly mentioned in the proposal, it is now commonly understood that abortion will be covered as part of the essential benefits package. Several pro-life amendments have been offered in an attempt to explicity exclude abortion coverage in any health care reform bill. All of these amendments have failed to pass.

Furthermore, Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) offered an amendment to ensure that abortions are mandated. It requires any health insurance provider who wants to participate in government-run insurance networks to include “those essential community providers, where available, that serve predominantly low-income, medically underserved individuals..." An exchange between Sen. Mikulski and Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) confirms that this language would indeed include groups like Planned Parenthood and other "women's health clinics that provide comprehensive services..."

Clearly, taxpayer-funded abortions would greatly increase the abortion rate across the nation. Nationally, we have seen a steady decline in the number of abortions for several years. However, if such legislation passes, we would see a drastic increase in that number almost immediately. This would have a direct impact on the ministry of the Crisis Pregnancy Center as well. Our services, which have always been provided at no cost, will now have to compete with free abortions which may draw many potential clients away from us and directly to the abortion clinics.

As Toby stated in his article, government-provided abortions could mean a possible 20-35% increase in the abortion rate, ushering in the "Second Great Wave of Abortion." The abortion rate here in South Hampton Roads alone could jump as high as 12,000 per year.

Another effect of abortions being provided as part of a basic benefits package in health care reform is that abortion will now be "mainstreamed" into the medical community and will be seen as morally equivalent to an appendectomy or any other legitimate and medically necessary procedure.

For more information on abortion in health care reform:

Congressional Health Care Bills Allow Tax-Funded Abortions

A Planned Parenthood in NY Praises Sen. Mikulski's Amendment for providing coverage for women's "health care" and ensuring "patients’ access to essential community providers, such as ...women’s health centers like Planned Parenthood."

The Cloakroom- the Blog of FRC Action: "Congresswoman: 'Abortion will be covered. . . And it should be'"

H.R. 3200 - "America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009"


Monday, August 17, 2009

Mom Wants Twin Fetuses Recognized as Children

A Vermont woman whose 6-month-old twin fetuses died after a car crashed into the family van wants them to be legally recognized as children, which is not the case under current state law. Read full article.

UPDATE: Should Unborn Babies be Considered Humans in Court?

Thursday, August 13, 2009

The Second Great Wave of Abortion

It is a rare moment, if ever, that you will hear about or see any activity from the Crisis Pregnancy Center of Tidewater in regards to legislation and politics. However, when legislation is proposed that will greatly impact this ministry and its mission, we have an obligation to address it.

The healthcare proposals that are currently floating around our Capitol certainly meet the conditions for a response from CPC. If these proposals are passed in their current form, then government health insurance will cover abortions. This is a very scary prospect, as it could usher in the Second Great Wave of Abortion in America. The first being the infamous Supreme Court decision Roe vs. Wade.

It certainly does not take any elaborate studies to determine that abortions will increase with government-run healthcare. Common sense tells us that more abortions are inevitable when there is no perceived cost involved.

I recently read an article where Representative Chris Smith (R-New Jersey) cited a Guttmacher Institute study that found "20%-35% of Medicaid eligible women who would choose abortion carry their pregnancies to term when public funds are not available."

Currently, 1.2 million children lose their lives to abortion each year in the US. A 20% - 35% increase would mean an additional 240,000 to 420,000 more pre-born children would be aborted each year. In South Hampton Roads alone, almost 9,000 abortions are performed annually. Potentially, over 3,000 more preborn children could lose their lives locally.

It's heartbreaking to think about more lives lost and more women wounded by abortion. All of the progress that has been made nationally and locally could be reversed.

So, in the weeks and months to come, we think it is necessary to shine a light on areas of these proposals that impact the mission of this ministry.

This is a critical moment for America. Let’s pray together that our country moves towards embracing and protecting life, instead of creating legislation that will destroy more precious lives.

I hope you will frequent this blog and please share your thoughts.

For Life with you,







Toby DeBause
President

Plan B One-Step Approved by the FDA

A single-pill version of the Plan B emergency contraception was approved by the FDA in July. It will be available for distribution in August. Previously, Plan B has only been available in a two-pill dose, each pill to be taken 12 hours apart.

The FDA also approved lowering the age requirement to 17 from 18 for over-the-counter access to Plan B. It will be available to girls under 17 by prescription only. According to Planned Parenthood, all a woman (or man) has to do is present a “valid, government issued identification that shows proof of age.” Girls under 17 must be “evaluated by our medical staff before a prescription-version of emergency contraception can be provided.”

So, all a 16-year old (or younger) girl has to do is show up at Planned Parenthood’s offices and receive this “evaluation” and she could leave with Plan B One-Step in hand, without even her parents knowing.

It is claimed that Plan B only prevents pregnancy, and does not terminate an existing pregnancy. However, WebMD.com describes this drug as “a progestin hormone that prevents pregnancy by preventing the release of an egg (ovulation) and changing the womb and cervical mucus to make it more difficult for an egg to meet sperm (fertilization) or attach to the wall of the womb (implantation).” Therefore, Plan B is not only intended to prevent fertilization, but also to prevent implantation if indeed fertilization does occur, thus ending an early pregnancy.

Furthermore, Plan B is also linked to an increased risk of ectopic pregnancy. And women could be taking this drug needlessly if they were not fertile at the time of sex. Many young women don’t understand or track their fertility cycle, and may be unaware that one can only get pregnant a few days out of each month. The patient labeling states that it is “not intended for routine use.” Imagine the potential damage that could be done to a young woman’s fertility over time if she gets into the habit of taking Plan B every time a condom breaks or after each "unprotected" sexual encounter.

Such easy access to these drugs prevents any medical oversight that would otherwise be in place for patient protection against abuse. Allowing unmonitored access to “emergency contraception,” especially among adolescent girls, may also increase risk-taking behavior and promiscuity, increasing exposure to sexually transmitted disease, and further endangering the health of young women.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Reminder: Volunteer Appreciation Brunch this Saturday!

The Crisis Pregnancy Center of Tidewater is a volunteer-driven ministry. We could not do what we do without our loving and committed volunteers who give their time and talents to this ministry every day! Please plan to attend. We look forward to the honor of serving you!

If you are one of our volunteers, you are cordially invited to attend a
Volunteer Appreciation Brunch
in your honor this Saturday, August 15th, at 10am!

Tabernacle Church of Norfolk
7000 Granby Street, Norfolk, VA 23505

Casual dress

Please r.s.v.p. to Yvonne Mackey today at 410-9703 or ymackey@cpcot.org
Given by the staff of the Crisis Pregnancy Center

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

CPC Volunteer Training in September

Volunteers are the heart of this organization. We depend on our faithful and committed volunteers to join us in this work so that we can accomplish all that God has called us to do. We always have a need for more volunteers and there is always something that someone can do, no matter your gifts or skills.

Volunteer opportunities include: client advocate, receptionist, nurse, client programs, administrative help in our business office, counting change from our Life Change Campaign, helping plan and organize our special events, and many more!

If you're looking for a place where you can invest your valuable time and know that you are making a difference for eternity ...then CPC just may be the place for you!

Upcoming Volunteer Training class schedule:
CPC 101: September 15
Basic & Intermediate: September 19, 22, 26 and 29


There is an application process required to attend Volunteer Training. For more information, please contact Yvonne Mackey @ 410-9703 ext 205 or ymackey@cpcot.org
.

Monday, August 10, 2009

Discover the Hidden World of a Baby "In the Womb"

National Geographic's In the Womb video documentary is a two-hour special that uses the latest advances in technology to take viewers on the incredible adventure of a developing new fetus, including a rare in utero operation performed on a 26-week old fetus in the hope of correcting life-threatening complications. National Geographic states, "Before it takes its first breath, a human baby has been through an incredible transformation from a single cell to a complex, self-sustaining organism." Here is a short two-minute segment of the video. Watch this amazing process in real time inside the womb.



Friday, August 7, 2009

Showing Tonight: "The Sanctity of Life"

A multimedia dramatic presentation performed by
The Academy of the Arts Players, a professional
Christian theatre team from Taylors, S.C.

The "Sanctity of Life" drama will tastefully take you through a portion of a life - the life of Carla, a young college student, as she deals with the "problem" of an "unplanned pregnancy." Young, unwed, and abandoned by her boyfriend, Carla begins her search for answers to some very difficult questions. You will see scenes taken from the pages of the lives of doctors, nurses, and women all over the country mirrored in Carla's experiences. The drama uses scientific facts to answer questions, showing clearly what abortionists try to hide.

If you can make it to this incredible dramatic presentation tonight, your heart will be touched by the gripping story of Carla and the life-changing decision she must make.

Free Admission
When: Friday, August 7th, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Victory Baptist Church
4125 Indian River Road
Virginia Beach, VA 23456
Phone: 416-9521 or 721-4174

Sonia Sotomayor Confirmed as Supreme Court Justice

Yesterday, the Senate approved the Supreme Court nomination of Sonia Sotomayor by a vote of 68-31. She will begin her term immediately, replacing the retiring Supreme Court Justice David Souter.

During her confirmation hearings, Sotomayor portrayed herself as a strict constructionist. However, her past opinions as a federal appeals court judge, as well as her writings, speeches and affiliations reveal a very different judicial philosophy.

According to Focus on the Family's judicial analyst, Bruce Hausknecht, perhaps the "most revealing of her view of the Constitution is her twelve-year affiliation with the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund, an advocacy group with such extreme pro-abortion legal views that it argued in the highest courts in the nation that absolutely no legal restrictions whatsoever could be placed upon abortion-on-demand, including such things as a simple parental notice requirement."

It remains to be seen how Sotomayor's vote will impact abortion and life issues, but we continue to pray that God will change the hearts and minds of those who would deny full legal protection to innocent preborn babies.


For more information:
Senate Confirms Sonia Sotomayor for Supreme Court, Expected to Back Abortion

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Volunteer Appreciation Brunch

The Crisis Pregnancy Center of Tidewater is a volunteer-driven ministry. We could not do what we do without our loving and committed volunteers who give their time and talents to this ministry every day! Please plan to attend. We look forward to the honor of serving you!

If you are one of our volunteers, you are cordially invited to attend a
Volunteer Appreciation Brunch
in your honor on August 15th at 10am!

Tabernacle Church of Norfolk
7000 Granby Street, Norfolk, VA 23505

Casual dress


Please r.s.v.p. to Yvonne Mackey by August 12 at 410-9703 or ymackey@cpcot.org


Given by the staff of the Crisis Pregnancy Center

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Fetuses Found to Have Memories

Scientists in the Netherlands have recently released a new study with evidence revealing that the human fetus displays short-term memory at 30 weeks gestation.


http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jul/16/fetuses-found-to-have-memories/

UPDATE: After this study was released, ABC's "Good Morning America" anchor Chris Cuomo expressed his apparent shock that "the more we learn about fetuses, the more confidence we have that they are capable of things earlier and earlier." But the obvious link this information has to the abortion debate was overlooked. It's interesting that so many people seem surprised that a preborn child acts like what it is ...a human being!