Dear HC Friends, We find ourselves in extraordinary circumstances, and we are coming together to ensure the health and safety of everyone as the COVID-19 continues to escalate. We at Hope Clinic are praying for everyone and seeking God’s direction in this moment. Life has changed so drastically in such a short period of time, but I am thankful that even though we are not in control, we can be certain that we are in the hands of the One who is. Let us set our minds on Christ, trust in our Great God and be in His Word which provides us comfort and strength. Be assured of His promise in 2 Corinthians 1:22 “our God has put His seal on us and has given us His Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.” Remember, you are His! Even though we are living during a difficult time, we have an opportunity to show the world how God’s people will respond. The question to ask ourselves is, “If I am a person of faith, what do I believe?” There are many answers we could say in response, and mine is that God is for us! He promises that He will never leave us nor forsake us. He plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). Through difficult times, we can take heart that His promise to us is that He has overcome the world (John 15:33). This is an opportunity to respond with contentment, calmness and compassion. During these ever fluid and changing circumstances all decisions are being made with a team effort that includes the Administrative Staff, Medical Director, Executive Board of Directors and outside professional consultants. As for now, we are still able to provide services to women through phone consultations and follow-up. This Sunday, March 22, the Administrative Staff and the Medical Director will discuss next week’s potential service to abortion-vulnerable clients only. We do want to serve without fear, but with caution, as we know that lives, hearts and souls are still on the line in the midst of these challenging times. We also recognize that the opposing side is still open and offering abortion referrals and/or services. All lives are being impacted by this pandemic, including the unborn. Please keep in mind that if we decide to open for abortion-minded clients, and if not forced to close, we will proceed with caution and according to the CDC standards. All paid staff have been given the freedom to choose if they want to come to work. All volunteers have been asked not to come in until further notice. Starting next week we will also be making additional calls to check on past patients to let them know we are concerned for their well-being and that we have baby care packages that we want to offer them on curbside service. Please pray for these women who have chosen life and who are facing these uncertain times. Another challenge we are facing is our upcoming Heroes Walk for Hope, Saturday, April 25, and our Baby Bottle Boomerang held during the month of April and the first part of May. These events are vital to our ministry because we count on the money raised to fund our clinic for several months of the year. We must continue with the mission because there is great possibility, as shown in similar times in history like Hurricane Katrina, that a season will follow with a spike in unplanned pregnancies. Many more women will be considering abortion. We must continue to build our resources in preparation for this increased need in our community. However, we also want to be sensitive to what you, our supporters, and your loved ones are going through as well. I know you are feeling the strain of uncertainty and are having to make adjustments. We are praying for you, our friends, as you navigate these times and are relying on God's provision. So the decision has been made to postpone the Heroes Walk for Hope to an unspecified future date. This is sad but necessary. The final decision will be driven by public health considerations and the spread of the virus. There is a possibility of pivoting the Heroes Walk for Hope into a virtual event where each walker and family group can have fun by participating from home and tuning into a live web event. Stay tuned for future notification of this year’s Heroes Walk for Hope! Remember that what was meant for evil, God meant it for good. (Genesis 50:20). In regards to the Baby Bottle Boomerang, we will be in contact with our supporting churches at a later date. At that time we will ask them to prayerfully consider sponsoring this event. We appreciate your support and your prayers. Thank you for partnering with us. We know that, as Christians, moments like these are created for His light to shine through His people. Our ultimate goal is to be about God’s mission to grow His kingdom. Let us approach the throne on behalf of those who do not know our Great God. One of my favorite verses since all this started has been Isaiah 26:3-“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”
Serving Him for Life,
