FREEPORT — Freeport Pregnancy Focus Executive Director Sherrie Bicksler began crying Thursday throughout a tour of the center’s $10,000 renovations.
The tears came in a space along with shelves crowded along with infant products to fill baskets for brand-new mothers as she discussed the center’s 25-year anniversary. Bicksler said she is thankful for her “prayer warriors.”
The Freeport Pregnancy Focus is a ministry Focus that tries to stay clear of abortions by aiding women and men cope along with unplanned and crisis pregnancies.
“I have actually 160 prayer warriors that grab the messages that I send out for whatever requires we or our clients have actually and pray for the requires here,” she said. “I already know that this ministry would certainly not be where it is and performing exactly what it’s performing if it had not been for the fervency of the prayer soldier sustain over the years.”
Bicksler, seven employees and regarding 25 volunteers strategy to commemorate their turning point at an open home from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday at 222 W. Exchange St. They’ll host a dedication ceremony for the renovated room at 2 p.m.
Operating on an annual budget of regarding $100,000, the center’s volunteers offered a combined 3,152 hrs in 2015. It has actually presented an abstinence routine to regarding 800 youth and offered regarding 1,000 clients a year due to the fact that its start.
The Freeport Pregnancy Focus started on West Empire Street prior to moving many times. The Focus settled in to its Exchange Street place in 2009. Over the years, they have actually added classes for parents to earn infant and maternity products and started supplying ultrasounds.
“We’re performing much more to merely manage life,” said Dave Barton, a board member, noting that the Focus tries to manage the women’s emotional, spiritual and bodily needs.
Bicksler is proud to state that a few of her employees have actually been along with the Focus for many of its existence. She has actually been executive director for 16 years.
Ruth Barr has actually been along with the Focus for regarding 15 years. She started as a prayer soldier and now functions as the center’s sexual avoidance director, teaching abstinence and secure sex to neighborhood schools and youth groups. She’s an Orangeville school bus driver and in some cases sees a few of the students that attend Orangeville schools at the center.
“To notice them grab suggestions and to notice them little infants come in then view them grow, you know, it’s amazing,” Barr said. “Once you’re able to discuss the Lord along with them and they grab the Lord in their life and exactly how it aids to provide them the strength to do exactly what they have actually to do on a day-to-day basis. It’s merely an awesome put to work.”
Page 2 of 2 – Susan Vela: 815-987-1392; svela@rrstar.com; @susanvela
If you go
What: Freeport Pregnancy Focus 25th anniversary celebration
When: 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday
Where: 222 W. Exchange St., Freeport
