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Eighteen years ago, Jim Wright witnessed the struggles of a 14-year-old high school freshman as she courageously faced an unplanned pregnancy. The young woman battled to carry her child to term, even without support from family or friends.
 A few months later, she gave birth to a son. Jim and his wife Tami adopted him.
“The birth mom’s struggle was pivotal in the genesis of Birthmothers,” says Jim.
Jim’s vision – to provide women relational support during an unplanned pregnancy – is now an organization that matches women one-on-one with a Friend. Since Birthmothers’ inception, hundreds of women have been matched with a Birthmothers Friend for personal support that Jim noticed was missing in his son’s birth mom’s life. An underlying goal, says Jim, is to siphon off the need for abortion services by flooding the marketplace with unconditional love.
On Thursday, October 14, Birthmothers will celebrate its unique ministry to pregnant women at its annual banquest, An Evening to Remember, beginning at 6:30 PM at the Sheraton Premiere Tysons Corner in Vienna, VA. (RSVP here.)
 Birthmothers is privileged to partner with Christian comedian Mike Williams – “the funniest man in God’s Kingdom” – along with renowned Christian music artist John Schlitt (former lead singer of Petra) in this special event to extend Birthmothers’ reach to women who face an unplanned pregnancy.
Mike and John each have a very personal story to share about the impact of unconditional love.
Raised as a street kid in Chicago, Mike Williams was later adopted by a godly couple who’d prayed 12 years for a child. In 1997, Mike and his wife adopted their own son from a similar background, bringing him full circle in a compelling story as an adoptee and adoptive parent.
John Schlitt was on a fast track to success with a rock band when cocaine and alcohol caught  up with him. In a moving story of redemption, John’s wife first accepted Christ and urged him to speak to her pastor. After his conversion, John left behind a life of addiction to become a family man and later, the lead singer in the groundbreaking Christian contemporary group Petra.
“Compassion – not condemnation – is what women crave when in a crisis,” says Jim. He envisions the love of Christ changing the current landscape of options for pregnant women. Birthmothers works to reverse the need for abortion services by offering unconditional support and compassion to pregnant women, along with a healthy dose of grace to those on the prochoice camp.
“We’re not a protest ministry,” says Jim. “We’re a love ministry.” Volunteer Friends give women a very real option during an unplanned pregnancy. They are loved, accepted, and supported, which allows them the encouragement they may need to choose life and adoption where appropriate.
Exactly the kind of encouragement and support that a 14-year-old birth mom desperately needed so many years ago.
Join Birthmothers for An Evening To Remember on Thursday, October 14 at the Sheraton Premiere Tysons Corner, Vienna, VA at 6:30. For more information or to RSVP, click here or call (703) 261-6370.
If present trends continue, 146,863 women in VA, MD and DC alone will face an unplanned pregnancy in the coming year. You can be a vehicle of hope for these women as a volunteer Birthmothers Friend.
 Friends connect pregnant women to resources they need, explain options, and most of all provide a listening ear. (Read these Frequently Asked Questions about becoming a Birthmothers Friend.) Birthmothers helps you and others in your congregation provide practical support for pregnant women and shows you how to work one-on-one with a woman during Friends Certification Training.
Birthmothers staff can plan a training at your church to fit your congregation's schedule. You can also attend Friends Certification Training with others in the greater D.C. metro area on Saturday, November 6 from 10 AM - 3 PM at the Birthmothers offices (133 Park Street NE, Third Floor, Vienna, VA, 22180). Call (703) 261-6370 or click here to learn more and register.
Birthmothers is a 2010 Combined Federal Campaign beneficiary (#64572)!
 If you are a federal civilian employee, employed by the U.S. Postal Service, or serve in the U.S. military, please consider designating Birthmothers as your Combined Federal Campaign benficiary. We are listed in the "Local Independent Charities" portion of the CFC directory. Birthmothers' CFC number is 64572.
The Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) provides all federal employees the opportunity to improve the quality of life for others through philanthropy. CFC is the world's largest and most successful annual workplace charity campaign, with more than 300 CFC campaigns nationally and internationally, helping to raise millions of dollars each year. Pledges made during the campaign season (September 1st to December 15th) support eligible non-profit organizations that provide health and human service benefits throughout the world.
Birthmothers is one of them.
Give at your workplace or online through CFC's National Capital area website. Thank you for your partnership!
Unconditional love and acceptance are not the norm in today's culture. Yet that's what Birthmothers' ministry is all about!
 When you "Like" Birthmothers on Facebook, you can join in the dialogue as we educate people about Birthmothers and explain how Birthmothers Friends listen, offer nonjudgmental support, and provide resources to women who face an unplanned pregnancy, no matter what their circuumstances or what they choose.
Help us share this uncommon and beautiful ministry by clicking "Like" on our Facebook page!
You can also help us reach more pregnant women ... women who just need a Friend to walk with them during one of life's most difficult times.
If you're not yet on Facebook, log onto www.facebook.com and open a free account. It takes just a couple of minutes. And you'll start connecting with others online who care about women, children, and families. You could even help save lives.
 Women call the Birthmothers helpline (1-877-77BIRTH) each week and each month. They're afraid and alone. When you support Birthmothers, you help provide each pregnant woman with a specially-trained Birthmothers Friend who loves her unconditionally.
More than 95% women matched with a Birthmothers Friend choose life. Your investment can help save lives. Give here. Thank you for your generosity and compassion!
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