Faith-based centers plan to offer crisis intervention ministry

Three years ago, Kathy Baxley of the Free Medical Clinic was getting three calls a month from someone looking for an abortion.

Baxley, a pro life advocate, says the calls “left us frustrated.” So frustrated, in fact, that she joined forces with like-minded individuals to form Carolina Family Planning Centers.

CFPC’s foremost aim is to counsel people dealing with unwed pregnancies. The group plans to open crisis pregnancy centers across South Carolina beginning this fall at Mercy Medical in Florence and at the Free Medical Clinics in Darlington, Hartsville, Lake City and Marion.

During an informational meeting that drew a large crowd at Hartsville Memorial Library Tuesday night, CFPC board member Dr. Gary Colboch said the group has partnered with churches across the community and the effort “has really taken off.”

“Anybody that wants to get involved, we will find a place for them,” said Colboch, pastor at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Hartsville. “We’re trying to do crisis intervention but go far beyond. That’s why we chose the term family planning.

“We’ll be ministering to get the men involved, too.”

CFPC formed its board in May and has gotten its 501c3 IRS certification and EIN.

The Hartsville and Darlington offices will be at the Free Medical Clinics in those towns.

The Hartsville clinic has an unused exam room on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. “To me, God said what else can I do with this?” Baxley said.

Kay Allen, a board member unable to attend Tuesday’s event, got Mercy Medical Clinic in Florence to participate.

“We’re also working on trying to get our next facility in Dillon,” Colboch said.

The centers, affiliated with North American Mission Board and CareNet, are not any particular denomination and have received commitments from St. Luke’s, Wesley Methodist, local Churches of God and the Catholic church in town.

The centers hope to build a “bridge between the medical community, faith community and people that just have an interest in volunteering and private entities,” Colboch said.

The initial target area is the Pee Dee but goes beyond crisis intervention, and services will not be restricted by residency.

Services provided at the centers will include crisis intervention counseling, parenting classes, birth coaches, abstinence education and adoption referrals.

The centers plan to help mothers, fathers, grandparents, and parents of a child in crisis. One program, Earn as You Learn, will allow participating moms to earn points toward diapers and formula.

Through a partnership with the Turbeville Children’s Home, the centers might even be able to provide housing until the woman can get on her feet.

“Carolina Family Planning Centers exists to assist both men and women through unplanned pregnancies, to promote alternatives to abortion, to train parenting skills, to offer abstinence education, to offer hope and health and is committed to presenting the gospel in word and deed,” said Tim McKnight, pastor at Lake View Baptist Church.

Said Colboch, “We are without apology a Christian ministry. Evangelism is a big part of the healing process.”

Colboch thinks Spirit-filled believers with a passion to share the love of Jesus Christ are the best people to be involved.

Tuesday’s meeting was not only to provide the community with information, but also to get volunteers in place.

“We have a huge task at hand,” Colboch said.

According to the centers’ DVD program, approximately 8,000 South Carolina women between ages 19 and 44 have abortions annually.

“The ministry can’t exist without volunteers,” McKnight said. “Wouldn’t it be great that God might use you to make eternal change in their lives?”

Volunteer training will be held Oct. 1-3 at Lakeview Baptist Church. Cost for training will be $25 for a manual and $10 for a background check.

“We send money around the world across the ocean, but sometimes our needs at home get overlooked,” Colboch said.

Private organizations, some government funds and grants are other financial ways the centers plan to operate.

Initially, CFPC will hire five center directors who will be the point person for their area. These directors will also raise funds, speak at schools and churches, take calls and act as volunteer coordinator.

Another meeting is being planned in Darlington, and the board would like to hold one in each community to gather volunteers.

Want to help?
Donations can be sent to Carolina Family Planning Centers, P.O. Box 314, Hartsville, SC 29551

For more info, call 332-2271, 332-8427, e-mail or log on to http://www.carolinafamilyplanning.org