There is great work being done at Mend Pregnancy Resource Center and Medical Clinic.

Many women from all areas of life can face a crisis when they unexpectedly become pregnant. It can be especially troubling for a young woman who is not married or whose family is living from paycheck-to-paycheck.

Unexpected babies interfere with work schedules, put a strain on finances and test marriages. The abortion industry in Oklahoma depends on preying on women who face these challenges particularly when they are being pressured by their husband, a boyfriend, parents, employers or others who care more for convenience than the life of an unborn child.

Mend Pregnancy Resource Center offers solutions.

I have known Mend Director Forrest Cowan for more than 30 years. About 10 years ago, he succeeded Nancy Roe, who had done a great job.

Forrest brought a new angle to the Christian ministry. Before, men would come in with women and there was essentially not much for them. Now, Forrest and several other male counselors engage these men. They talk to them about the emotional, financial and spiritual conflicts that brought them to Mend. They speak about how lives can be transformed through a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Earlier this month, I went to the annual Mend Banquet in Glenpool. The had record attendance – more than 110 over 2018 – and I think part of the reason is the growing conflict from those who want to end abortion and those who want to promote abortion.

Forrest gave a report on what happened at Mend in the last year. Here are some facts:

• Mend performed 490 pregnancy tests.
• Mend had 294 ultrasounds – tests which clearly show the woman her baby (or babies).
• The number of families in “Earn While You Learn” was 205. This is program that helps with Bible studies, obtaining GEDs and other practical issues for families.
• Mend helped 152 men with one-on-one counseling, Bible studies and other services.
• Overall, Mend tended to 3,238 visits with needy folks.

And no one was charged a cent – even for the medical work.

Last year, Mend got 1,176 phone calls inquiring about pregnancy. Of those, 685 are classified as “abortion vulnerable” – women who are pondering having an abortion. Forrest said 343 women made appointments to come in for pregnancy testing, ultrasounds and counseling and 210 kept those appointments (that’s big step).

Here are the yearly numbers for ultrasound tests for “abortion vulnerable” – 136 clients, 113 saw their babies and 74 chose not to abort their babies.

That’s 74 lives saved.

That, my friends, is a life-changing ministry.

This includes 41 adoption referrals. It is heart-breaking that so many couples want children but our culture is hell-bent on aborting unborn children.

And here is the icing on the cake – 17 women decided to trust Jesus Christ as their Savior last year as a result of Mend Pregnancy Resource Center. I know many Christians who want to share their faith but they never get an opportunity to see others convert. It happens at Mend.

Here a sad and puzzling statistic.

Mend’s proposed budget for the next year is $250,000.

That’s peanuts, folks.

This would never be possible without a host of volunteers – including doctors and nurses – and the donation of diapers, baby furniture, toys and other materials so desperately needed by some of these young women and their children.

A handful of churches donated about 14 percent of the budget. Twelve percent came from charitable foundations (many foundations won’t donate to a Christian ministry).  About 10 percent comes from private families and 64 percent from local businesses run by Christians who treasure the lives of the unborn and who want to help struggling families in crisis.

As I write this, Mend needs $21,000 to furnish expansion of their medical rooms, computer upgrades and office work. The medical clinic needs about $32,000 for a part-time RN, ultrasound disinfectant, nurse training, an examination table, medical supplies, electronic tablets, pregnancy test kits and prenatal vitals.

Mend hopes to get about $24,000 to stay open later on week nights, for training materials and a new DVD player for the “kid’s corner.”

And Mend needs about $12,000 for diapers ($8,400), Spanish parenting classes, “Earn While You Learn” updates, parenting materials and the financial skills program. The banquet raised about $35,000.

Forrest Cowan is a regular guest on my show, Tulsa Beacon Weekend (on KCFO AM970 at noon on Saturdays).

There are a lot of wonderful Christian ministries throughout Tulsa. I won’t list any because I might leave out some. And there are other pregnancy resource centers in the metro area that do similar work.

Here’s the bottom line.

If you volunteer at Mend, lives are saved.

If you donate diapers, formula, baby clothing, etc., at Mend, babies are not aborted.

If you donate much-needed cash to Mend, they can expand the ministry to not only save the lives of the unborn, but to offer the Gospel of Jesus Christ to families in great need of redemption.

Mend is at 6216 S. Lewis Ave., Suite 100. The phone is 918-745-6000 and the website it www.mendpregnancy.org.

They don’t charge for services. They don’t judge the women or men who walk in. You don’t have to be a Christian to get help.

And God uses them to change lives forever.