PADUCAH, Ky. (KT) – Pastors and ministry leaders representing churches from the West Union Baptist Association explored a key ministry partnership opportunity on Monday (Feb. 5).
Hope Unlimited Family Care Center, a pregnancy resource center and prenatal clinic in Paducah, hosted the Luncheon & Open House event, an effort birthed by the Friends of Life KY Initiative.
Todd Gray, executive director of the Kentucky Baptist Convention, shared with attendees that Friends of Life has had two goals since its 2020 conception: to see legalized abortion abolished in Kentucky and to promote the good work of pregnancy resource centers.
“They do incredible work, literally helping save lives of unborn children (and) at the same time caring for the mother and caring for the family. They’re actually doing discipleship work. They’re sharing the gospel with people,” Gray said, before noting that Monday’s event was purposed to help forge stronger partnerships between Hope Unlimited and Kentucky Baptist churches in the area.
“We are not just about the baby,” explained Hope Unlimited CEO Nicole Farley. “We are about the mom, the dad, the grandparent, the foster parent, the adoptive family— whoever is parenting – our calling is family.”
Farley said Hope Unlimited’s work is hard.
“I’m going to be really honest with you. It’s very messy,” she said. “And church, it’s time to get messy. It’s time to make a difference in messy people’s lives.”
Jim Ewing, pastor of First Baptist Church in Calvert City and a two-time board member at H.O.P.E. Clinic in Benton, championed churches serving at their local pregnancy resource center.
“Pregnancy resource centers are not the church. They don’t claim to be the church…that’s not their calling. And if we leave the task of following up to them, they won’t be able to do the things they’re called to do,” Ewing said.
Ewing noted that PRCs need something only churches can provide: “A safe place they can point their clients to that’s willing to enter into the labor of bringing these people to Christ…that is our task. That’s why we need this partnership.”
“If just each of you sent one person to be a part of this ministry, hands and feet on the ground here, what happens is they build relationships and they begin to have connection,” Farley said. “They know people by name. That’s what we need.”
Farley shared several ways churches can participate in Hope Unlimited’s ministry: prayer, financial support, mentors who can address parenting, infant loss or post-abortion issues with clients, medical personnel, volunteers for the PRC’s thrift store and material donations.
A former client and volunteer also gave testimonials during the Luncheon & Open House before attendees were dismissed for tours of the facility.
Howard Atkinson, associational mission strategist for the West Union Association, was pleased with the turnout —roughly 25% of the association’s approximate 50 churches were represented — and he noted that many of his pastors are bivocational and were not able to attend.
“We’re real happy with the turnout we had today,” he said. “And the ones that came are real leaders and they will be influencers with other people.”
Ewing told pastors and ministry leaders that knowing something is not the same as doing something — a message that was taken to heart. During her presentation, Farley articulated the ministry’s need for a truck to transport things or a truck owner who could be called upon to assist. Shortly after the event ended, an attendee returned with a vehicle to meet that immediate need.
“It’s been a win for us,” Farley said of the event.
To learn more about Friends of Life KY, visit friendsoflifeky.org. For a list of pregnancy centers in your area, visit kybaptist.org/pregnancy-resource-centers/.
Friends of Life KY 