As Summer fades into Autumn, I am reminded of the many beauties and enjoyments of the season. Not least of which involves good food, music, and family. Also on the near horizon is our nation’s next Presidential election.

Recently I attended a two-day retreat with several other life-affirming clinics of the PNW. Much of the time focused on this simple question; “Who do we serve?”

And further, “Who do you think needs our services?” To be frank, it may not be who you think.

I could quote statistics, “Lies, damned lies, and statistics!” Churchill supposedly said, but I won’t.

Today’s young woman needs to feel educated, confident, and above all – in control. I get that.

An excerpt from the article, “Abortion: A failure to Communicate”, says this, “many young women of today have developed a self-identity that simply does not include being a mother. It may include going through college, getting a degree, obtaining a good job, even getting married someday; but the sudden intrusion of motherhood is perceived as a complete loss of control over their present and future selves. It shatters their sense of who they are and will become, and thereby paralyzes their ability to think more rationally or realistically.” (Swope, Paul F, Abortion: A Failure to Communicate, April 1998)

Boom. That spoke to me.

I begin to see who it is we need to be serving. Who it is our mission promise is for. Our mission is our emotional promise to our clients. Do our current services deliver the trust and confidence that our clients need to build relationships with us? Are we reaching those young women before an unpanned pregnancy? Or are we serving women who want to carry to term? If the modern young woman does not identify as a mother (yet) then why would she consider a place like Next Step Pregnancy Services as a place to turn to for any reproductive care, be it STI testing, cycle charting, or otherwise?

We say all the time that we meet women where they are. But do we? Our services and work must begin to reflect the needs of those we want to build relationships with.

“Modern American women of childbearing age do not view the abortion issue within the same moral framework as those of us who are pro-life activists. While we may not agree with how women currently evaluate this issue, the importance of our mission and the imperative to be effective demand that we listen, that we understand, and that we respond to the actual concerns of women who are most likely to choose abortion.” (Swope, Paul F.)

“Assuming that women, especially those facing the trauma of an unplanned pregnancy, will respond to principles we see as self-evident within our own moral framework” is not how we meet them and how we love them.

I said earlier that young women today want to feel educated, confident, and in control. Those emotions translate to me as; informed, brave, and capable. And I understand that. I want that for my two daughters as well. That’s our assignment.

What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like.”
― St. Augustine

Just in time for October which is Respect Life Month! This month especially we ask for your prayers as we discern services, welcome in new clients, and continue to strive for medical and ethical excellence in our clinic – ahead of possible WA state leadership changes.

~ Heather

The annual Next Step Pregnancy Services Gala was a beautiful night full of memorable moments, passionate defense of life, and the world premiere of the Next Step video showcasing the day to day work you, dear friends, support! In case you missed it – take a look!

Click the link below! *Pictured – Scarlett Vasquez with one of the many scrumptious desserts from the event!*

Its a hard question. And can have so many answers. Working with the myriad of women we see at Next Step Pregnancy Services that question comes up on an almost daily basis. In talking with other pregnancy resource clinics and centers we were told that there is a certain criteria. However, I’ll be honest, I’m not so sure using this criteria is the most effective way to meet our clients.
Let me explain. Here are some of those bullet points;

• Still in school (H.S./college/grad)
• Between 17 and 26 years old
• Father of baby in favor of abortion
• Parents in favor of abortion
• History of abortion
• Financial pressure
• Single

When I first realized I was pregnant with my first child, a daughter, I met 5 of the 7 criteria listed above. Through God’s grace my parents were prolife not just in words but in actions as well, even when it was this close to home. But I was young, still in school, the father was, let’s just say indifferent, I had little to no money, and was in all senses of the word – single.
So was I abortion vulnerable? According to Merriam-Webster the word vulnerable means;1: capable of being physically or emotionally wounded 2: open to attack or damage. 
In one sense I was, but not solely because of any of those listed bullet points. Those were and are a factor for many, many of our clients. That is a fact.
But for me, I was now not only a vessel for the life growing within me and her sole protector and source of growth and prosperity, but I had become a co-creator with God to give life.
Something that opened me, as well as my child, up to attack. So yes, I was vulnerable. I had the choice to leave myself potentially open to being wounded and, despite family, alone or I could choose to abort and start again. I chose life. And there is not a day that goes by I do not think of my beautiful daughter, Maria, and the path her birth put me on. 

So when we say abortion vulnerable woman – it can mean many many things. And we need to be open and willing to hear those reasons, those barriers, those uncertainties. And be there for that woman come what may. 

If anything I have said has resonated with you and you want to help Next Step continue to thrive then I ask you to please consider supporting our mission. In whatever way you are able.
And I encourage you to join us this year for our annual Gala – our one large fundraiser – to keep Next Step a place vulnerable women can come to in their time of need. 
This week is the last chance to purchase tickets to this event.
Dinner, drinks, a silent auction, our famous dessert auction, the world premier of the first Next Step Pregnancy Services video, and a moving and transformative talk by our guest speaker Dr. William Lile, the Prolife Doc. Someone who has seen firsthand the humanity within the womb.

Please register here for our event  https://nssupport.org/gala2024/

Saturday September 14th, at Holy Rosary in Edmonds.
Doors open at 5:30p – tickets on sale until 9/6