Next Step Supporters, Volunteers, and Staff
Hello friends, Next Step is thriving! We welcomed our newest teammate – Ralphie!
Ralphie has been certified as an ’emotional support dog’ and he’s just a sweetie. There is overwhelming evidence that some dogs can help provide comfort and they can counteract the effects of stress and anxiety. Which is sometimes a huge factor in women and girls facing an unplanned pregnancy. There is nothing like a snuggle from a dog to bring a smile. Thank you for all your support!
I have been asking myself the same thing for two weeks now. Ever since someone vandalized the Next Step clinic in the early morning hours of May 25th.
Blood red words adorned the front door and walkway. Five of the clinic’s front windows were broken.
Why? Because they cannot abide it when a woman chooses life.
It was never about choice.
On Wednesday May 25th Next Step welcomed many clients in the doors. With ultrasound paper draping the front door to cover the spray-paint and friends boarding up the broken windows – Next Step was open and serving. And the overwhelming question we were asked that day? “Why destroy a place that helps women?”
Despite some major reservations I decided to answer some questions from, among others, Jason Rantz, LifeSite News, King 5, The Daily Caller, National Catholic Register, Fox News and more.
My question to their questions – “If a woman chooses to come here and get our assistance, she made a choice. So why can’t she go where she wants to go?”
In 2022 so far Next Step has seen over 1,250 clients/families, performed 144 pregnancy tests and our nurses have completed 45 ultrasound scans. Our resources have been requested and utilized over and over and over again for those seeking assistance.
Our nurses and staff do not make choices for our clients. Next Step does not make any money from the reproductive decisions our clients make. Next Step offers an exhaustive number of services, supplies, and compassion to anyone who comes through our doors.
So again – “Why destroy a place that helps women?” Something to think about. To pray about. In the last few months Next Step has joined several other pregnancy resource clinics who have been vandalized, lied about, targeted with false reviews and more. And it won’t end any time soon. The landmark Supreme Court decision regarding the probable overturning of Roe is expected to be announced mid to late June. And with it – a range of emotions will take over for many folks. Anger, elation, fear, relief, motivation, hate, and conviction.
Your support of Next Step Pregnancy Services is needed now more than ever. For those that support us unfailingly monthly, quarterly, annually, bi-annually, when you can – thank you. We’re in this now and there is no going backwards. The lives of women and their unborn depend on us. Whatever the verdict places like Next Step Pregnancy clinic are essential “if only to have someplace to go without having to crawl to” Planned Parenthood. For there they will receive nothing but death and lies.
Walk boldly. You are choosing to defend life and there is no greater task.
Proverbs 24: 11-12
Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter.
If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay everyone according to what they have done?
Saturday September 24th, 2022 – Holy Rosary Church 630 7th Ave. North,
Edmonds, WA 98020 – 6pm
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who was promised is faithful. ~ Hebrews 10:23
Join us for dinner and drinks, a silent auction and a compelling young speaker!
You won’t want to miss it.
Invitations will be out over the summer! If you aren’t on our mailing list – email heather@nextstepnw.com
Rebekah Hagan is one of today`s youngest speakers on the issues of teenage pregnancy, abortion, and abortion pill reversal.
Raised in a Christian home where abortion was never discussed, Rebekah`s life in pro-life ministry was unplanned and fueled, instead, by her firsthand experience. She became pregnant at seventeen with her son, Eli, and again with a second child while in her first year of college.
Feeling ashamed and fearing that she would lose her family and be forced to drop out of school, Rebekah thought that raising two children alone would be impossible. At just over seven weeks pregnant, she began a medication abortion that changed her life; however, her story did not end there.
A passionate advocate for grace-centered outreach, Rebekah Hagan uses her story to unravel the mindset of women in unplanned pregnancies, and to equip and encourage others to lead with hope and compassion
let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,
Hebrews 12:1
I, like many of you, was patiently waiting as the time drew near when the injustice decided almost 50 years ago would be no more. Like all of you I was shocked to read of the ‘leak’ from the Supreme Court clerk’s office on Tuesday evening. The immediate reaction was a mix of joy, disbelief, and reluctance. What the heck?
As the story progressed and more details came to light about the possible nefarious motives of the “leak” lots of emotions and prayers raged through the hearts and minds of those of us who continue to stand firm in our faith and profess to the world that the protection of life is the test of tests He has placed before us.
Riots and protests erupted around the country at the news. Violence has been done to various pro-life clinics and groups. Little hits like trolling pregnancy resource clinics, like Next Step, and leaving false reviews to bigger punches like rocks thrown through pregnancy clinic windows and members or various pro-life groups being verbally harassed and bodily threatened.
Thankfully, so far, life has gone on as usual here at Next Step. Babies are being welcomed, young women and receiving life-changing news, clothes are being sorted and shared, toys are being picked out and taken home with smiles.
I invite you, friends of Next Step, to keep our ministry, our staff and volunteers and above all our clients in your hearts and in your minds and in your prayers. It is a critical time. A pivotal time for all defenders of life. Here in WA an overturning of Roe would mean something very different for say a PRC in Texas or Oklahoma. WA will become a safety net state for all those seeking abortion and we need to be prepared to meet these women, and their families, in their time of need and their time of uncertainty. More support then ever will be needed to keep Next Step on the map with open doors and the staff, services and supplies needed to be there when they come.
On Tuesday I was asked for our thoughts on the “leak” by a reporter from King 5. That can be tricky. I was very uneasy at the prospect of again allowing myself to get in front of a camera that may or may not slice and dice my words in the worst way. But I did – very very briefly. I highlighted again, as I did a couple months ago on King 5, the services Next Step provides. The certainty of our mission, unapologetically pro-life, and pro-woman and pro-family no matter what. That’s us. It thankfully did not blow up in my face.
There was also airtime given to a director from Pro Choice of Washington. And like our mantra about options other than abortion – I needed to ensure that every person was aware that there are answers and options that do in fact exist for them that do not include the termination of their own children and the hollowness and sorrow that follow. So I got in there.
As the verse at the top says – we’re on an obstacle course of sin and worldly distractions. So easily ensnared. We need to keep running the race He has made for us. Til the very end. I pray you will continue to support our clients and our mission – even more so than before – as we edge ever closer to this critical and momentous time in our nation’s history. When a grievous wrong will be righted and an innumerable lives will be saved.
Blessings
Heather
(photo is from the cover of Life magazine 1965)
“Of all the rights of women, the greatest is to be a mother.” —Lin Yutang
Becoming a mother has been the greatest, happiest, hardest, and scariest feat of my life. Nothing can compare. It’s a roller coaster that never seems to end. Its every lazy Sunday afternoon in the backyard playing croquet in too long grass, it’s the sticky puddle of unknown origin you find on the kitchen counter which brings an exasperated headshake, it’s the constant reminder of life pulsing and racing that you are responsible for , its every quiet night you spend pressing your palm gently to your child’s chest to ensure she is still breathing, and its all of the nights dozing in the moonlight not quite asleep until she is home and safely in your presence.
Its every school drop off living in constant fear of being scolded for not moving forward, its every edgy discussion about why organized religion is ‘bad’ and big plans to move somewhere in Europe where the politics are more ‘tolerant’ make you want to pop the cork on that bottle you’ve been saving and dump it down the drain where everything you taught your child appears to have gone.
Its every hug and joyful smile she ever gives you with sparkling eyes full of enthusiasm and hope. And your every instinct to keep that state of mind in her for as long as you can.
That’s some of what being a mother is for me. May is the month of motherhood. And yes, of all the rights I believe women should possess – I believe the right to be a mother is one. And that includes the right to be a mother an unborn little girl possesses while still in the womb hearing the steady drumbeat of her mother’s heart matching her own.
On March 17th 2022 Gov. Inslee signed into law HB1851 – here is a brief news segment King 5 did which included a quick snippet of Next Step!! We’re near the end! But great ending! Next Step shows that not only do we serve women 100% but there IS in fact an alternative to abortion.
On Feb 28th, 2022 Next Step was featured on the radio program “Conversations” with Emily Raines – KKWFFM Seattle Audacy! It starts at about 1:09 – check it out – lots of great info!
https://omny.fm/shows/seattle-kkwffm-default-audio-channel/next-step-pregnancy-services
Rebekah Hagan is one of today`s youngest speakers on the issues of teenage pregnancy, abortion, and abortion pill reversal.
Raised in a Christian home where abortion was never discussed, Rebekah`s life in pro-life ministry was unplanned and fueled, instead, by her firsthand experience. She became pregnant at seventeen with her son, Eli, and again with a second child while in her first year of college.
Feeling ashamed and fearing that she would lose her family and be forced to drop out of school, Rebekah thought that raising two children alone would be impossible. At just over seven weeks pregnant, she began a medication abortion that changed her life; however, her story did not end there.
Her story has been shared by local and national media, as well as religious and secular organizations, including Vice News HBO, Focus On The Family, Students For Life, Live Action, Heartbeat International, Epoch Times, and World Magazine.
A passionate advocate for grace-centered outreach, Rebekah Hagan uses her story to unravel the mindset of women in unplanned pregnancies, and to equip and encourage others to lead with hope and compassion.
Rebekah is a graduate of William Jessup University and a Mission Advancement Officer at Heartbeat International. She and her family reside in Northern California.
Thank you Blessed Sacrament! Your Baby Bottle Campaign raised well over $5000 for moms and babies!
Pastor Ryan and his church family collected almost 2000 diapers and just under 5,700 baby wipes for Next Step Families! Thank you!
St. Brendan’s 2022 Baby Bottle Campaign brought in a whopping $12,574 for our ministry!
The 2022 Next Step Pregnancy Services Annual Gala Dinner and Silent Auction
will be held on Saturday September 24th @ Holy Rosary Church in Edmonds.
Save the Dates will be out soon – you do not want to miss our powerful young speaker!
Saint Brendan’s if having their annual Baby Bottle Drive! January 8th – Jan 30th, see ‘Current Campaigns’ and thank you Knight of Columbus Council 6686!
Thank you to all those who donated to the Giving Trees at your churches! The gifts were a beautiful blessing for all!
Giving Tuesday went swimmingly! Thank you to all who donated online and through the FB Fundraiser. Your support makes all the difference in the world.
Please check out our current campaigns and programs! Holy Rosary in Edmonds and St. Mark School in Shoreline are supporting Next Step in extraordinary ways! See ‘Current Campaigns’
When did you realize you were Pro-Life?
The featured image above is of my “unexpected blessing holding my ‘expected’ blessing!
The first picture below is of my parents, Rich and Pat, and I in front of the Capitol on one of many Marches we attended! You can tell by my determined expression I was in this for the long haul!Its definitely something to think about especially with the current events of today. Were you always pro-life? Or did certain life experiences or relationships steer you that way?
A month to celebrate, protect, and fight for the most vulnerable of our brothers and sisters.
Last weekend there was a Women’s March and some folks exercised their right to march in front of Next Step. Once again the group seemed determined to make false claims about what happens at Next Step Pregnancy Services and all pregnancy resource centers truly. Sadly none of those folks have ever accepted our invitation to come inside and see firsthand all that Next Step provides for women, babies, and families. All we can truly do is live our faith through acts and pray for those who continue to fight for what they see as their right but what is really the killing of the unborn.
When you support Next Step Pregnancy Services you make a difference. Here are some statistics from the first half of this year of all the support and love you’ve helped Next Step achieve. In 2021 up until and through August there have been twenty-four young women between the ages of 15-19 who came to us for supplies for their babies, pregnancy tests, and subsequent ultrasounds. Twelve of those tests were positive – twelve of those young women were pregnant. Twelve new lives were taking shape! Of those twelve – five of them intended to carry and parent and three were unsure. However, two were fairly certain of their plans to terminate. None of the twenty-four girls listed were married – most are students, and most were in a committed relationship with the fob (father of the baby).
That being said we’ve noticed that at times a young single gal who intends to parent when they meet with us is still vulnerable. The excitement of a child may wear off into uncertainty and fear, especially if she is surrounded by those in her life who may not think she should continue with the pregnancy. One of the things the staff and I have been talking about recently is follow up calls and outcomes. Especially for those young ladies who are uncertain. How can we reach out and let them know we are still here and ready to listen and help? If they come in at roughly 5 weeks sometimes it is hard to detect a viable pregnancy, so we urge them to come again in a week or two. But that is a long week or two where the pressures and worries of their lives and families can intrude and break them down. We need to let them know they are not alone. That they are supported. And cherished.
So far this year we’ve had ninety-nine young women aged 20-24 who have come in for supplies for their children, pregnancy tests and ultrasounds. We had 48 pregnancy tests of which 33 were positive. Of those young women, 18 listed themselves as single. Of those 33 young women there were 2 that expressed a strong desire for information on an abortion and at least 9 more that were very uncertain as to whether or not to continue the pregnancy. And one had chosen adoption.
As a side and very wonderful note – of those considering abortion we know that at least 6 of them chose life. Very, very good news.
And there’s more – between the ages of 15-24 there were 80 clients who came in for supplies for their children and all with income levels well under the Federal Poverty Level. For every young woman who continues with her pregnancy there is one who is scared and feels helpless. For every couple who are happy and hopeful with their pregnancy news there is a couple who now feel trapped and anxious about their future. For every bag of clothes, we are blessed with and every pack of diapers we are gifted there are families struggling to support themselves and their children. And some of them are still children themselves!
Where do we go from here? Where do you come in? Well prayer certainly. The easiest and surest way to support these women and men and families as well the team at Next Step. Donations of clothes – newborn to 2T, maternity, diapers and wipes, formula, breast pumps and bottles, strollers, playpens, bouncers, books, stuffys, crib sheets, nursing accessories, socks, hats, shoes, and more. Volunteers to help bundle diapers, sort clothes, and greet clients. To help with mailings and market booths. To spread the word!
And yes funding. Monetary donations. Your help ensures we have more than adequate staff, nurses, medical supplies, and resources for these families to remain open and serving.
Check out our support site – nssupport.org – for information and all the good news at Next Step. Fall Newsletter coming soon as well as Snapshot Tax Letters!
And thank you for the continued support of these young women and the lives you are touching and ensuring in the process. Whether you have always been Pro-Life or have recently joined this ministry – your help and prayers changes lives. One at a time.
Sunday September 19th at 1130am please join us at St. Mark Catholic church in Shoreline for a BBQ, bouncy houses, and visits with Next Step Pregnancy Services and 40 Days for Life folks! Fun for the whole bunch as we head into the Autumn season.
Same day – Sunday September 19th at 6pm – join Next Step for the Kickoff Rally for the 40 Days for Life campaign at Calvary Chapel in Ballard! Hope to see you there!
Thank you to St. Pius X Church and Father Cal for having us a part of their celebration!
Celebrating our Volunteers!!
Its been a wonderful summer so far thanks to the many hands helping out here at Next Step Pregnancy Services – here are some highlights!
Thank you to Manuel, Rick, Rich and Pat, and Scarlett for helping put together Next Step’s new storage shed!
Thank you to Kristie and Marilyn for hanging out with me at the Shoreline Farmers Market booth all day last Saturday!!
(Next date is August 28th!)
And thank you to all our volunteers at Next Step!
We had a lunch a couple weeks ago with our gang minus one – such lovely folks who give of their time, talent, and treasure to help Next Step serve mothers, babies, and families.
Thank you!
Interested in seeing how you can help? Visit nssupport.org!
