Morning Center vision becomes reality in Memphis

A few years ago, the vision of the Morning Center began in conversations with my wife, Theresa, about how we wanted to see God receive the glory for little babies that are born into this world in the midst of challenging circumstances. We were convinced in our hearts that this should be the next step in the pro-life movement.

A pregnant woman living in an urban or underserved area faces unique challenges and pressures that often make it tempting for her to choose abortion. The pro-life movement has done a wonderful job of interceding on behalf of the life of that little baby, but a pregnant woman who chooses life for her child needs more; she needs a caring community of support. Followers of Jesus Christ have the opportunity to lovingly walk with this young woman, her unborn baby, and her family members through pregnancy and birth, just as Jesus faithfully walks with us through all of life’s transitions and challenges.

Unfortunately, far too often those who have advocated for the life of this baby frequently offer the woman in need nothing more for her maternity care than a government aid form. Now, they can do more. With the Morning Center’s Mobile Care Units (MCUs), we are providing loving maternity care, free of charge in Jesus Name. The idea that private charity can lovingly and faithfully take care of the maternity needs of these women is no longer just an idea, it is a reality!

In August of last year, we launched the first MCU in Memphis, Tennessee.

Since we launched, our medical team in Memphis has seen more than 40 women, and there are 22 expecting in the next six months.

In the first two months of 2014, the Memphis Morning Center has experienced our most exciting events to date—the births of the first two babies to be born after the Morning Center team provided quality maternity care to mother and baby throughout pregnancy. The first baby to be born is a boy, and the second is a girl!

God was gracious to us and answered our prayers for a safe delivery. Collin Gladney was born on January 25, weighing 6 pounds, 13 ounces. Despite Tiphanie’s pregnancy being high-risk, mother and baby did just fine and Collin came into this world without complications and into the loving arms of his parents. This is Courtney and Tiphanie’s second child. Due to a number of factors, they were unable to receive state assistance for maternity care and had been turned down for charitable care by other providers.

The Gladneys are a Christian family and respect life, but knew that they would need help to bring this little life into this world. Their circumstances are a good example of how people can have true needs that are not always recognized by our current health care system. The Morning Center values all life equally and seeks to serve the true needs of everyone who God places in front of us.

Today the vision that Theresa and I had is no longer just a dream; it has been born in the life of this little boy, whose parents received gracious, life-honoring maternity care from the Morning Center team.

The Gladneys didn’t consider abortion as an option. They didn’t have to sign up for Medicaid or any form of government assistance. And, when their son was born, he was welcomed with praises to God, and hearts full of thankfulness.

All of this has been made possible by God’s grace and blessing and the faithful support of His people. The Morning Center is sharing the love of Christ and the Gospel. We are earnestly praying that God will allow us to replicate the Morning Center’s model all around the country and hope to have multiple mobile units and eventually full-service maternity hospitals.

In obedience to passages such as Galatians 6 and James 1, the Morning Center is ministering to the husbandless, fatherless, and poor—often all at the same time.

Although this is a vision that started with only a few people, we are well aware that we can’t do it without the help of the Body of Christ. God has already provided with a wonderful, caring staff of nurses, obstetricians, and supporting assistants at our pilot location, as well as caring individuals, churches, and companies that financially support the Morning Center’s work. Seeing the Body of Christ in action together in Memphis is a beautiful thing!

One new opportunity for people to support the Morning Center is our “Laboring in Love” campaign that allows supporters to create their own fundraising pages and keep track of how much they personally raise for the Morning Center. This is a fun tool that we hope will raise both awareness of the Morning Center’s vision and funds to keep providing quality, God-honoring maternity care to mothers who need it.

Providing quality prenatal, delivery, and postpartum care to mothers in need gives us an opportunity to bear another’s burden in charity and be a living example of Jesus’ love for the world. This is what the Morning Center is all about!