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Beautiful Next Step!

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What a day! Neither wind nor rain nor cold! Nothing stood in the way of beautifying Next Step! Thank you to the awesome people who came out to volunteer hours of their time getting dirty, sore, and tirelessly planting, shoveling, digging, and more! Many hands made light work for sure! What a blessing. The goal was to ensure a warm, bright, and welcoming place for all our clients – mission accomplished. See below the great photos for all the angels who came to help.

Kim and Josh Cummins, Marilyn Thornton, Jake and Nicole Forman – from the NS Board

From St. Mark – Nicholas, Robbie, and Helena Yen, Abby Pinard, Alyssa and Francie House

Dennis Halpin, Eoin, Vander, and Ryan Ritter from Boy Scouts Troop 309

Anne Lombard and Eleanor Dusch from American Heritage Girls Troop 821

Isabella Couarrubias from St. Thomas More

Linda Charcas from Holy Rosary’s Respect Life Group

Thank you Donna Vago, and Grace and Stephen Heinrichs!

And finally thank you to my big brother Ricky from the Buyce clan and my darling daughter Scarlett!!

The Gift of Human Life

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At the dawn of salvation, it is the Birth of a Child
which is proclaimed as joyful news.

Today, March 25, marks the anniversary of the papal encyclical Evangelium vitae (The Gospel of Life). Written by Pope St. John Paul II in 1995. 

The source of this “great joy” is the Birth of the Savior; but Christmas also reveals the full meaning of every human birth, and the joy which accompanies the Birth of the Messiah is thus seen to be the foundation and fulfilment of joy at every child born into the world (cf. Jn 16:21).

I cannot begin to write anything nearly as beautiful and profound as the encyclical referred to here but I can share its proclamations and connect them to what is and has always been the heart of our mission here at Next Step Pregnancy Services. 

“Man is called to a fullness of life which far exceeds the dimensions of his earthly existence, because it consists in sharing the very life of God. The loftiness of this supernatural vocation reveals the greatness and the inestimable value of human life even in its temporal phase.” (Evangelium Vitae, 1995).

Next Step’s vocation is to recognize and name those children, the unborn, those human lives that we are privileged to welcome each and every time a woman comes through our doors whether she’s happy, or tentative, uncertain, angry, overjoyed, alone, or with family. Whatever her circumstance she is cherished, planned, and chosen. Chosen to carry new life. 

For the full encyclical click here –
https://tinyurl.com/evangeliumvitae25

Thank you to all those whose prayers and gifts to Next Step continue to strengthen this thriving organization. Please check out more ways to help, pray, and donate by going to nssupport.org

P.S. Save the Date – the Next Step Pregnancy Services Gala will be on Saturday September 14th! More to come. 

“Charity is that with which no man is lost, and without which no man is saved.”

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~ Saint Charles Borromeo

As I examine that statement about charity I’m reminded of God’s ultimate charge of us, His people. To love God above all else and to love thy neighbor as ourselves because we love Him. “Charity is the theological virtue by which we love God.” (CCC1822). That’s powerful. And direct. 

In Washington state alone there are over 50 pregnancy resource clinics, centers, and programs dedicated to the well-being and care of the men, women and children (born and unborn) that seek out assistance each and every day.  Some centers focus on material goods (diapers, formula, clothes) while others are more medically geared offering evidence based ultrasounds, pregnancy testing, STI testing and treatment and still others offer well women health care on top of pregnancy and family ministry and still others are focused on maternity housing and better maternal outcomes as well as walking beside women and children up and beyond those first few years. Each ministry is essential and can’t work alone. 

And that’s just Washington state! The latest numbers say there are well over 2000 pregnancy resource clinics and centers in the US. If you take a look at the monetary value of even a fraction of the work these organizations accomplish you’ll be blown away – and I hope – proud to know where your treasure lies. 

  • Nearly $151 million in ultrasound-related care  (Year-to-Date Next Step Pregnancy performed over 300 ultrasound scans for expectant moms!)
  • Over $75 million in parenting education programs  
  • An over $3 million investment into our nation’s youth, teaching sexual risk avoidance  

These centers, like Next Step Pregnancy Services, also provided practical support of: 

  • Over $40 million in diapers  (Next Step Pregnancy Services welcomed almost 5000 clients and client families in 2023 and the first month of the new year!)
  • $6 million worth of baby formula 
  • Well over $7 million in new car seats, cribs, and strollers  

Other services include: 

  • Abortion pill reversal (Next Step Pregnancy Services just started this service in September of last year!)
  • STD testing and treatment (Next Step Pregnancy offers a full service STI clinic with trained and certified nurses)
  • Abortion trauma recovery (Next Step Pregnancy Services partners with the likes of Healing Hearts, Project Rachel, and The Life Perspectives Institute to offer post-abortive support.)

These essential services totaled over $358 million in one twelve-month period! Think about that for a moment. That is the power of pro-life pregnancy center. The power of what you’ve helped create at Next Step Pregnancy Services here in Lynnwood, Washington. 

And yet on October 13th, 2023 sixteen Attorney Generals joined together to produce and endorse an open letter denouncing Pregnancy Resource Clinics like Next Step. You can read the letter here if you are so inclined. http://tinyurl.com/October23Letter

“The hard truth is pro-life pregnancy centers impact the bottom line of the abortion industry. They are a competition that must be eliminated.”  (Bradley Mattes is president of the Life Issues Institute.)

Meet the newest Next Step babies! Lola and her mother and Musa and his big sister!

Next Step is hiring and more!

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Next Step is looking for both staff and volunteers for the following:

Front Desk Receptionist: P/T M-F/ 2:30pm-5:3pm / $20.0

Bilingual speaker strongly preferred for Spanish and/or Ukrainian.

Job Requirements: Basic knowledge of computer programs, willingness to learn and jump in where needed, and must be prepared to sign the Commitment of Care and the Statement of Faith which aligns with Next Step’s mission.

We need nurse volunteers!

If you are a nurse with a heart for women and babies, looking to volunteer your time, we would love to have you at Next Step!  Training available to help clients with pregnancy testing and counseling, STI appointments and possible ultrasound training.

Christmas Letter

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“The world will never starve for want of wonders, but for want of wonder.” G. K. Chesterton

I’ve always loved this painting by Norman Rockwell. It’s called “The Discovery” and it appeared on the cover of the Saturday Evening Post on December 29th, 1956.

The surprise, then astonishment, then the slow realization…. but not the surety. What has he discovered? Is he sure about what he is seeing and what it means?

The wondrousness of Santa. His sleigh and 8 reindeer. The clomp of boots on the roof! His huge red bag of goodies with all the names of the little boys and girls. The plate of cookies that mysteriously empties in the night…. The sparkling-colored lights and the crisp snow-covered yards and the hot cocoa and marshmallows!

The way my mom and dad made it all so magical. So believable, So wonderful! Because when you love someone, you endeavor to create a magical, joyous space where they can feel cherished. Where the unceasing darkness of the world is held at bay, even for just a little while. And the twinkling lights are like endless stars and the night is warm with blankets and footie pajamas and dad reads “A Visit from St. Nicholas”  like he does every year, and there is simply none of the harshness that seems to fill the news and the hurried disconnect etched into people’s faces. It all seems to melt away during the season.

Much like a parent – Next Step Pregnancy Services – tries so very hard to create magic and warmth and security for each person who comes through our doors. We all know life is hard. Not can be hard – IS hard. And we aim to do what we can to ease the burden of stress and isolation, uncertainty and pain that many of our clients feel. It truly is the little things.

Extra diapers, warm receiving blankets, nipple cream for breastfeeding moms, an early ultrasound to confirm baby is there and is ok, prenatal vitamins, a warm hand to hold and be held when inexplicably there is no heartbeat, a shoulder to cry on when the STI test comes back negative and you feel confident you can start fresh because our nurse was there every step of the way encouraging you to take a look at yourself in the mirror and love who you are. Not who you think you need to be.

I sometimes read articles right around this time that refer to Jesus as an “unplanned pregnancy” and I think – No! He was not unplanned. He was anointed. He was – is – the plan. Mary-His mother-was planned. Joseph-His father on earth-was planned. You were planned. So was I. We were planned. He planned us. He created us. He knows what each and every one of us can do and will do. And He loves us.

It’s no coincidence – the magic of Christmas. The birth of Jesus brings out the best in all of us. Makes us all kids again. Squeezing our eyes shut, imagining we hear the sound of hooves on the rooftop.

Christmas is joy. It is wonder. It is delight. It is cheer. It is sacred. It is peace.

May your Christmas be bright and filled with harmony. Merry Christmas to you from us at Next Step Pregnancy Services.

Open Letter from Next Step Pregnancy Services

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Dear brothers and sisters, 

“Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.” Matthew 5:11

My name is Heather Vasquez and I am the Director of your local pro-life medical and social services clinic. Many of you know me or if not me, you know the clinic and have worked and supported our pro-life mission for many years. You may even have attended the Gala we just had in September celebrating 25 years! For that thank you. 

It has come to my attention that sadly there are those in our local churches who are seeking to discredit and slander our good name. We do not know who is doing this, though we have a few suspicions; we only know that we’ve had a few instances of historically supportive familiar church staff and ministries  notifying us that “they heard we are promoting abortions”. That we in fact “referred someone for an abortion” and that “Next Step promotes abortion as an option”. 

Every instance has been an evil lie set to sow doubt and division between those who defend life. We have been falsely accused and slandered for our work. 

I felt as Director of this beautiful and life-affirming clinic I needed to speak out. 

Next Step Pregnancy Services (previously known as Angelorum) is now and has always been a pro-life organization fighting for and defending life born and unborn. We have never, and will never, refer for or promote the abhorrent act of abortion. Our nurses, our provider, our staff, our volunteers are heavily vetted. There is not one person speaking for our clinic that does not feel strongly about the conviction of life and its sacredness in all stages. 

I can’t help but take these attacks so very personally. I am here every day. Seeing the women and families coming in. Hearing their stories. Hearing our nurses and staff answer. And listen. And pray. I do know that Satan is at work here. That is a fact. And the enemy despises places like ours because we give people hope. And hope is not what Satan wants because with hope there is no despair and despair separates us from the love of Christ. 

I am asking for your help. Please pray for the protection of Next Step and its work. Please pray for the attacks to be thwarted and for the truth to be our shield.  We are under His care and protection. Please pray that the person or persons spreading these falsehoods is otherwise convicted and if there are questions or concerns about our work here that they seek the answers from a place of truth rather than a place of fear and apathy.

Many thanks to you all and for the immense support your churches and your church families have always given Next Step Pregnancy Services. I do hope you can pass this “letter” on to your fellow staff and ministries as well as your pastors. The truth needs to be spread far and wide. 

Thank you

Heather M Vasquez

Executive Director 

Next Step Pregnancy Services

Our Mission

To offer compassionate care and material support to women and families before, during, and after pregnancy, no matter the circumstances.

Our Vision

To affirm the intrinsic value of both mother and child by connecting women with the resources they need to choose life.