In the gray days of winter, when the ground is frozen and the sun likes to hide, we stay hopeful because we know that spring is on its way. The anticipation of feeling sunlight on our skin and hearing the sound of birds in the trees gives us the motivation we need to make it through winter’s last weeks.
As we anticipate the coming of springtime and sunshine, Life’s Choices is also looking forward to some exciting things this year! Here is what is in store for us in 2023!
1. Group Classes
Life’s Choices offers a large number of classes for individuals and couples, but this year we will be organizing different classes for bigger groups of people. While taking a class individually is incredibly helpful, we have found that group classes help to create a sense of community and belonging for our participants. In 2022, we offered a class for young/new fathers to help train them in child safety. The “Dr. Dad” sessions were held at the Journey Cafe community center in Hamburg and were taught by experienced fathers from local churches. We had a great turn-out and we received wonderful feedback from those who took the course. This got our wheels turning and we are currently working on similar courses to offer in the summer of 2023! Keep an eye out for updates and information about these exciting group classes!
2. New Hamburg Location(!)
While we absolutely love our Hamburg office, we are quickly outgrowing the space! With our recent new hirings and an influx of client appointments, we have come to the conclusion that we will need a new space very soon! Life’s Choices management is currently on the hunt for potential buildings that could become our new and larger Hamburg center. This process is a reminder of the bittersweetness of growth; we are ecstatic for how Life’s Choices is expanding, but moving our office will definitely not be easy. Please cover this process in prayers as there are many decisions to make and variables to consider.
3. Welcoming and Equipping our New Employees
Within the last few months, the Life’s Choices team has gained some new members! We are so excited to work with them this year. Each of our new hires are bringing new skill-sets and new vision to this ministry. We are SO looking forward to how they will help make Life’s Choices even stronger. Our new Nurse Manager, Sonya, tells us what she is looking forward to this year as she settles into her position: “Since I am new to Life’s Choices, I am looking forward to getting more acquainted and established in my role as nurse manager. And I am also looking forward to completing my STD training as well as beginning an ultrasound training. This training will enable me to be a back-up for our current ultrasound tech after I complete my 50-75 hours of supervised ultrasounds. This was something I had considered doing for another center a couple years ago, but the timing wasn’t right. Now it seems to be, and I am excited and looking forward to completing this training in 2023!”
Her enthusiasm and her desire for preparedness is something that we have seen in all of our new employees, which is both refreshing and motivating!
4. Life’s Choices Fundraising Events!
It is no surprise that we are looking forward to our big events in 2023. Each year, our Spring Chicken 5k, our Baby Bottle Fundraiser, and our Life’s Choices Banquet become even more fun and impactful than the last year. Our team is already in full preparation-mode for these events, thinking up new ways to improve and revitalize them! Since Life’s Choices is 100% non-profit, we are completely funded by the donations of generous individuals and organizations. These larger events help collect the lion’s share of our donations, as well as give us the opportunity to recognize and thank those who give to our ministry. If you are also excited for these events, make sure you stay connected with our social media so that you can get all of the updates and information you need!
5. Continued Training for our Staff
Katie Bailey, our Director of Client Services at our Kutztown office, is looking forward to a group trip coming up in 2023. She and some of our other staff will be taking a trip to Nebraska for training that is specifically designed for those who run/operate pregnancy centers. This course will help our staff to become more prepared to professionally and compassionately interact with clients who are facing a crisis pregnancy. Our staff takes pride in staying up-to-date with the latest facts and resources available, so that we can serve our clients in the best way possible.
Our education staff will also be working hard to strengthen their knowledge and delivery of the helpful classes we teach. As statistics change and new research is released, we are constantly making sure that our information is trustworthy, and our lessons are relevant.
These are just a few of the many things that God has in store for this ministry in 2023! We are faithful that He will direct our steps and provide for us as we go forward this year. There is no doubt that 2023 will have struggles as well as blessings, but we hold this verse in our hearts as we gaze into the future of Life’s Choices: