Posts Tagged ‘Life Centers’
Christmas Compassion at Northview
Posted on: January 4, 2014
BY HEATHER GOBLE-SORRELLS
Christmas shopping, lights, presents and visits to Santa Claus are all underway the last few weeks before Christmas. In all the hustle, bustle and gift-giving madness that consumes us every December, do we ever really stop to think of those who are less fortunate? Or those who are not part of our own family and circle of friends?
Northview’s Christmas Compassion does just that and has caused a shift in the church’s mindset.
Northview’s Christmas Compassion tree (photo by Denise McCool)
This year marked the third annual Christmas Compassion which was born of other Christmas charity drives in prior years–Share the Blessing and Christmas Outside the Box. Through Christmas Compassion, Northview asks church attendees to take a tag from a Christmas tree and buy something listed on the tag. The tags are classified by age group and gender. They list a need, want and family item. Through this drive, Northview was “able to see the thankfulness from each family,” said Shanna Thompson, Northview’s Good Neighbor Coordinator.
These are some of the items families brought back to church to donate: socks, underwear, hats, gloves, clothes, toys, books, board games, diapers, wipes…and a whole host of other items!
The gifts are all going to local families in Hamilton and Marion Counties. Specifically, the gifts go to Life Centers which serve women in crisis pregnancy, Head Start of Hamilton County which provides preschool to underprivileged families, Indianapolis Public School 54, Good Samaritan Network, Brookside Community Church and a few Latino churches in downtown Indianapolis.
“Each of the families receiving the gifts are extremely thankful for each item,” said Thompson.
A very special baby shower
Posted on: November 6, 2010
by Patty Perkins
“…And who is my neighbor?” Luke 10:29 (NIV)
Northview member, Cathy Herridge, has a passion for helping her neighbors…ladies facing an unexpected pregnancy. She began expressing her heart for these ladies by volunteering as a counselor at the east-side Life Center.
Life Centers were formerly known as Crisis Pregnancy Centers.
Cathy really wanted to see Northview involved with Life Centers. She contacted Cara Chapman, Northview’s Outreach Coordinator, about the possibility of connecting with the Good Neighbor project. Cathy is now the Good Neighbor Project Manager for Life Centers.
In January 2010, the Good Neighbor corner in the lobby featured Life Centers.
Various needs of Life Centers were listed, such as the most crucial needs of counselors and receptionists. Also listed were prayer intercessors, newsletters, and, at the bottom of the list…baby showers.
Northview attendee Laura Kaufman had always been interested in volunteering for Life Centers.
Laura commented, “I checked out their website on the Good Neighbor website. I was just looking through all the different things you could do to help and saw the shower idea and thought how neat that would be to do. Giving a baby shower is always fun, but doing it for someone who really needed it made it even better!”
Laura wanted to get her Life Group involved by hosting a baby shower. Cathy was pleasantly surprised, not really expecting anyone to tackle that need! Baby showers are usually given if a church will come forward and offer to give the shower.
The east-side Life Center has one church that provides a shower once a year. Cathy found a client that really needed the help. This client ended up losing her job, and at the time, was losing her rental house. She did find another place to live.
Laura’s Life Group connected with three other Life Groups to provide the shower.
Laura shared, “When we realized how much the client needed, Cathy asked me if I knew of other Life Groups that may want to help. Two gals from my Life Group, and myself, each knew someone in another Life Group to ask. When we asked them, they wholeheartedly joined in to help! There were actually three other Life Groups besides ours…a few individuals found out and helped as well.”
Cathy saw God’s hand at work when she went to a garage sale and found a bassinet in mint condition. She explained what she was doing and the seller gave her a great price, and another seller donated clothing. Cathy also found a high chair and car seat, both in great condition.
Life Group ladies donated big items they no longer needed.
Laura commented, “I was just completely overwhelmed and amazed at how much people donated and bought! We could tell that God was so blessing this shower!”
One of Laura’s friends from another Life Group, Christina Santellana, worked at Once Upon a Child and used her discount to get many things. Her husband, Paul, set up a blog so they could stay up-to-date and see what the client needed, to avoid duplicating gifts.
The cupcakes for the shower were donated by Northview’s GiGi Powell, the General Manager of The Flying Cupcake in Broad Ripple.
Laura added, “God is so good and it was just an amazing, wonderful experience!”
Cathy shared, “She received everything on her ‘want list’ and more!! It was overwhelming!! The Barn looked like a mini ‘Babies R Us’ shop! God was faithful to this client who chose life for her baby in supplying her needs.”
“But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him.” Luke 10:33-34 (NIV)
Maybe the Barn wasn’t an inn that day, but it was a place where “oil and wine” were poured on in the form of gifts, refreshments and love. These ladies “took care of” a lady in need.
Jesus’s words prod, “…Go and do likewise.” Luke 10:37 (NIV)
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