November Prayer Focus

PLEASE PRAY   CPC humbly requests your intentional prayer for:

NEW LIFE   We praise our Creator – He is the giver of all life! We recognize that He wove us together (Psalm 139:13), and we praise God for the work He has done and continues to do inside the womb. As we work with mothers and fathers in our centers, please pray that He will work in their hearts and reveal that He is using them in this intricate process.

ELECTED OFFICIALS   We boldly pray that God would influence the hearts of all current and newly elected officials to care and advocate for the pre-born, the least of the least of these in our community.

PRAY FOR CPC’S EXPECTANT MOTHERS AND THEIR LITTLE ONES.   Their names* and due dates are listed below.
*Some of the names have been changed to protect the identities of our clients.

Megan 1

Jasmine 1

Jenele 1

Brittany 2

Misha 2

Sara 2

Brittney 2

Stephanie 2

Danielle 3

Bridgitt 3

Susan 3

Shakia 3

Tamesha 3

Daniela 4

Victoria 4

Arielle 4

Zakia 4

Michelle 5

Patricia 5

Elaine 6

Tina 6

Christina 7

Caroline 7

Jade 7

India 7

Erica 7

Courtney 8

Brooke 9

Lida 10

Arielle 11

Tiffany 11

Shameaka 11

Latoi 11

Andrea 11

Kiana 11

Vonda 12

Amy 13

Chantel 13

Samantha 13

Sara 14

Dominique 14

Nicole 14

Shannon 14

Krystal 14

Katelyn 15

Meesha 16

Erika 16

Karen 16

Kristin 16

Roslyn 17

Dominique 17

Pamela 17

Sheeta 17

Brandi 17

Autumn 17

Kristen 17

Candice 17

Briana 18

Marketta 18

Zia 18

Dimond 19

Nina 19

Rebecca 19

Roshawna 19

Krista 20

Tiarra 20

Heather 20

Tiara 20

Jordan 21

Shuana 21

Rebecca 21

Shelly 21

Chelsea 22

Kyeasha 22

Jasmin 23

Sherra 23

Dashielle 23

Michelle 23

Camilla 24

Kimberly 24

Charisse 24

Katie 24

Sylvia 25

Chauncey 25

Shalyn 25

Kimberly 26

Karla 26

Courtney 26

Tennille 27

Hollie 27

Monique 27

Lashaunda 28

Kelly 29

Erin 29

Christine 30

Lainy 30

Volunteer Spotlight: Debbie Mehaffey

• Volunteer since 2008
• Serves in Norfolk as a Level III Advocate in Training
• Attends Tabernacle Church of Norfolk

Debbie Mehaffey has a sweet heart, a great sense of humor, and a deep commitment to the clinic and the women that it serves. She is compassionate and gifted at identifying clients’ long-term needs, not just an immediate crisis with which they are struggling. Debbie is a mighty prayer warrior and cherishes each opportunity to share the Gospel with our clients. She is a very diligent worker and demonstrates great love for those around her. She regularly blesses our staff by willingly accepting additional shifts when needed. Debbie, it is our pleasure to work with you and witness the love you share for our Lord!

If you are interested in serving as a volunteer, connect with our volunteer coordinator today!

Thank You!

Thank you for your generosity in hosting baby showers for our Great Expectations parenting classes in June and September!

40 Days for Life

Burrows Baptist Church

Deep Creek Baptist Church

First Baptist Church of Norfolk

First Baptist Church of Suffolk

First Presbyterian Church of Norfolk

London Bridge Baptist Church

Parkway Christian Center

Princess Anne Plaza Baptist Church

Southside Baptist Church

Sovereign Grace Church

West Park Church of Christ

Western Branch Community Church

 

If you are interested in hosting a baby shower, connect with Yvonne by email or call our main office at 757.410.9703.

Faith Like A Child

by Sangita Seaburg

It was a cold January morning in 2009, my friend Valerie was delivering her third child, her first girl. This was a bittersweet moment for Valerie because her sweet baby, Bethany, had Trisomy 18. Though she knew she would only have a precious few minutes with her daughter, Valerie valued her life enough to carry her baby to term. That spring, Valerie spoke in front of our congregation at Virginia Beach Community Chapel. She reminded us how important life is and that we should be promoting life. My youth group girls, my daughter, Julia, and I joined Team Bethany and Walked for LIFE – we loved the cause.

On a cold January day in 2011, we learned how precious life is ourselves. My husband, who had been battling a non-aggressive form of bladder cancer for 20 years, was now dealing with a more aggressive version of this cancer. On March 1, I was informed we had anywhere from 1 week to 1 month to spend with my husband. Life is precious. On March 18, two weeks before the Walk for Life, my husband went home to be with our Lord.

We went to church the following Sunday and my daughter Julia saw the signs for the Walk. She really wanted to do it again. I told her two weeks was not enough time to raise money and we should just wait and go next year. Valerie offered to take Julia to the Walk at the Zoo. Julia was determined to do this. Julia saw levels of incentives and decided she liked the prizes. She set her goal at $500. Then she decided she really wanted a polo shirt and decided her new goal was $1,500. She raised a little over $1,700 in two weeks time. In Matthew Jesus says,

“Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3 NIV

Wow! The faith of my daughter was bigger than my faith. She didn’t put time limits on God like I did. She knows He has no limits. It’s been a year since my husband died and Julia continues her desire to support life and help babies. She raised $1,500 again for the 2012 Walk for Life.

Just recently we found out one of the youth at our church is pregnant. She told me she needed help with prenatal care for her baby. Julia, being the problem solver she is, asked me if she was going to go to CPC for help. Why didn’t I think of that?

If we all become like little children and value all God has told us is good, if we let God show us He has no limit, we can do so much more for the good of His Kingdom. Thank you, Julia, for teaching me such an awesome lesson.

Meet Lori

Lori Perron, CPC’s new Volunteer Coordinator

As a young teen, Lori Perron’s heart was stirred to defend life. Just a few years later, her convictions were tested as she experienced an unplanned pregnancy of her own. Lori choose life for her son and married his father.

In 1990, Lori sought CPC to help a family member. After that, she began her season as a volunteer. Before joining our team on staff, Lori most recently served in Virginia Beach as an advocate.

“This is one of the most rewarding experiences –  to have the privilege of leading someone to the Lord and change lives forever,” Lori shares.

Lori is looking forward to encouraging and connecting with the hundreds of individuals who donate countless hours of service to CPC’s ministry. Thank you for joining us in welcoming her to her new role!

If you are interested in connecting with CPC as a volunteer, email Lori or visit www.cpcfriends.org/volunteer.

Deliberate Ministry

by Pastor Stacy Potts, Cornerstone Bible Church

Every few years, a new buzzword comes across the scene of American church culture. In the past, we’ve had contemporary this and purpose-driven that. Today, one of the more popular buzzwords in ministry is the word deliberate. Now, generally speaking, I’m not a big fan of these kinds of buzzwords, but after visiting the Virginia Beach clinic recently, there’s no better word I can think of to describe it than deliberate. From the moment I walked in, I was blown away by how every single detail had been thought through and planned out with deliberateness and ministry in mind.

First, it is situated in one of the most vibrant and heavily trafficked areas in Virginia Beach. By being located in the Town Center area, the clinic is within easy access to, literally, thousands of high-risk women. Second, God led CPC to what has to be the most perfect office space in that bustling area. In God’s providence, CPC was able to find an office surrounded by lush greenery and a gently flowing stream, all within sight of the Virginia Beach skyline. The natural tranquility surrounding the clinic is the perfect setting for CPC’s ministry. Third, the office was laid out and decorated with women in mind. Being a man, I’m not overly qualified to speak about such things, but if I had to use one word to describe it, I would call it chic. It was the kind of place my wife would love. Each room had been carefully decorated and furnished so as to make the young women CPC is trying to reach feel at ease. This was nowhere more visible than in the ultrasound room. Between the soft lights, warm decor, and flowing stream just outside the window, I can’t think of a more tranquil place to see the sight of life for the first time. In all, there is no other way to describe this space other than by saying that it was deliberately designed with ministry in mind.

And yet, ultimately, we know that neither location, natural beauty, nor decor will change the heart of anyone. The only thing that can change hearts is the Word of God applied by the Spirit of God. And thankfully, even in this, CPC is deliberate. The beautiful rooms I saw were never intended to draw attention to the decor, but were intended to provide a comfortable place where faithful volunteers could speak God’s truth into the lives of hurting people. The location wasn’t chosen for convenience, but out of desire to spread the life-affirming message of the gospel to as many people as possible. And to me, this is the deliberateness that matters most.

Cornerstone Bible Church in Virginia Beach is a JMZ 1:27 church.

Has your church taken the JMZ challenge? See the list at www.cpcfriends.org/jmz127!

Real Life: Angela's Story



"The advocate ... she told me that if
anybody could do it, I could do it."

Angela was an honor student in nursing and primary caregiver to her daughter and brother – another baby was not part of her plan. She took the morning after pill within the time prescribed, but she was still pregnant. So, she began researching her options.

“It seemed like everyone in my circle was leaning toward abortion, because they had done it,” Angela shared. “When I called The Keim Center, I’d already made an appointment for an abortion for the following day. They told me to come right away. The nurse at The Keim Center explained to me how the abortion actually worked. The different things it would actually do – I started crying and hyperventilating thinking about how awful that really was. That’s what I had scheduled.”

“Even after that initial appointment, I still wrestled with what to do. The child’s father seemed angry and wasn’t supportive at all. I kept thinking I will have to do this all by myself forever. I thought I would have to change all my plans, and I didn’t want to do all of those things. I knew everything the advocate told me about conception – I knew all of that to be true – but I still was wrestling if I could do it. The whole stigma with being a single parent, I just really didn’t want that. But I just felt that it was really selfish.”



Angela chose the name Jasiah for her son, Dylan, in part
because it means "the Lord will save."

 “At the abortion clinic they do an ultrasound right before the procedure, but I didn’t want to be in the abortion clinic making the decision. When I [came back to The Keim Center and] saw the heartbeat, I thought wow, I’m pregnant. I’m not that far along and there’s a heartbeat. It was kind of overwhelming. The depression and fear didn’t go away in one day, but when I did see [my son] on the ultrasound, I think that helped me – the picture helped me realize this is a life. He’s here for a reason. When I was so depressed and I would cry and I would pray, I would always go back to when I first saw him. The first trimester, I was really emotional about my decision. But I couldn’t do abortion or adoption. I felt like I would be the best mommy to him.”

“I went through a lot of things as a child, and I was introduced to Christ by my foster family. A lot of things I had been through would have broken a person who didn’t have any faith, instead, I became stronger going through those things. The same way God has provided for me my entire life, why wouldn’t he continue to provide? Why wouldn’t he continue to make a way?”

Please continue to pray for Angela and her family. With support, Angela will complete her bachelor’s degree in nursing in May 2013.



Angela and her son, Dylan Jasiah, are actual clients. Their names and likenesses have not been changed.

Photography by Tracey Sanders

Letter from the President



Toby DeBause with Angela's Son, Dylan



Dear friends,

I promise, I’m not simply repeating myself. It actually happened again. Marking the SIXTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR, the number of abortions performed in South Hampton Roads dropped again in 2011*!

This is great news! After serving a record number of women last year, we were praying for another overall drop in abortions. We have this confident and hopeful anticipation because we know that lives are saved when LIFE is lifted up.

We witness this in CPC’s Keim Centers where LIFE is lifted up to women at risk for abortion. These women are learning about the awesome and marvelous work of God taking place inside their wombs. They are literally seeing, through our ultrasound services, their children who are growing inside of them. They are also being introduced to the author of LIFE himself, Jesus Christ. As a result, new births are happening both physically and spiritually.

There are more, but at this point in the year, we know of at least 363 pre-born children who will have the opportunity to be born because of God’s work in the hearts of mothers helped through this ministry. Some of their mothers were at one time intending to abort them or considering abortion before their visit to one of The Keim Centers. For some of these children, their fathers (and even some grandparents) were pushing their mothers towards aborting them. A lot can happen in nine months so we continue to pray, serve and lift up LIFE to these mothers and families. We praise God they are on track towards LIFE today.

As encouraging as it is to see abortions drop in our community, it is also sobering to consider that 7,603 pre-born children did not escape abortion last year. Years of moving in the right direction should not tempt us towards complacency now.

There are still too many lives lost every year.

CPC’s Keim Centers have already served more than 1,200 women so far this year, which is an 11% increase compared to this same time last year. We are working harder than ever and spending thousands of dollars every month in advertising and outreach to help even more.

Now, more than ever, we need our community to help us. If we want abortions to continue going down, we must keep lifting up LIFE. I hope you are as encouraged and challenged as I am by this report. God is moving! 

Let’s keep it up!

 

 

Help keep LIFE up today! Increase your existing monthly gift or commit to a new gift at www.cpcfriends.org/keepitup.


 

* Virginia Department of Health, ITOP report 2011