Jenniffer & Brandon’s Story
Client Testimony
50% of our clients in 2022 self-identified as Christians on their intake paperwork.
21% of our clients in 2022 were married.
Still, 81% of our clients were abortion-vulnerable or abortion-minded.
According to Guttmacher Institute data, 54% of clients obtaining abortions were Mainline Protestant, Evangelical Protestant, or Catholic [1]. It is important to understand the true fight that we are in and the pressures our “typical client” is facing in today’s age. The past few years we have noticed a shift in our clients. They are more determined than ever to abort, and protective factors such as being married and/or being a Christian do not always prevent a person from the temptation of abortion. As the world we are living in gets darker, our light must shine stronger. For this reason it is so important for FCWS to exist as a life-affirming, safe place in our community.
Brandon and Jenniffer bravely shared their story publicly. Though they were both Christians and married, they considered abortion in the middle of COVID – fearing their unplanned pregnancy during a season of layoffs. In a new city without family, they found themselves feeling scared and alone. This is the exact reason why First Coast Women’s Services is needed in our communities. This couple needed a voice of comfort and encouragement which said, “Yes, you can do this” and “you are not alone.” Brandon said that when they found out they were pregnant, there was a “cloud of confusion.” Over time, with ongoing support and follow-up, they ultimately were able to choose life. FCWS is a safe place for not just single expectant moms but also married expectant moms who are considering abortion. FCWS is a safe place for women and men to process this time of confusion. We are there as a life-affirming support for both the mother and the father of the baby. The pressures of COVID and inflation have taken a grip on our families. Families are stressed and need community support more than ever. FCWS is the community support they need. I encourage you to take a moment and scan the QR code to listen to Brandon and Jenniffer talk about choosing life for baby Sloane and the role FCWS played.
[1] https://www.guttmacher.org/article/2020/10/people-all-religions-use-birth-control-and-have-abortions, Retrieved 12/27/2022.
Where We’ve Been
Where We’re Going
“The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.” –Proverbs 16:9
We are eager to see what God will accomplish in and through this ministry for LIFE this year. Here are two of our main goals for 2023.
Upcoming Events
A Message from the CEO:
Acts 5:39 “But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” This is what Gamaliel said about Peter and John, and this is the confidence we feel about the work that God has given us to do here at FCWS.
Now is the time to rejoice over what the Lord has done in 2022 and then to roll up our sleeves and get ready to work even harder in 2023. More clients than ever before, 1,049, who were seriously considering abortion when they came to us in 2022, chose LIFE for their babies and themselves. One of the four Jacksonville abortion clinics closed when the doctor performing their abortions retired. The implementation of our Call Center with nurses has more than doubled the percent of clients who show up for their ultrasound appointments. We are serving more abortion-minded clients than ever before. Our appeal for more volunteers to serve in our five centers has resulted in more than 170 who have asked to be contacted. The Lord has opened the storehouses of heaven and supplied more revenue at each of our 2022 fundraising efforts. And certainly, the overturn of the Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court decision is something to be celebrated.
However, the work is far from done to end abortion in Florida, the nation, and the world. Abortion was the leading cause of death in the world in 2022 with 44 million abortions. The enemies of life for each unborn baby are becoming more hostile and more creative. NPR recently reported that a doctor in the Netherlands is prescribing abortion pills that are mailed from India with the approval of the FDA. Pregnancy Resource Centers in Texas, where abortion has been outlawed, say that black-market pills are readily available there. Pills ordered and mailed are not counted in state or federal statistics. That is why we take no comfort in the fact that the FL Agency for Healthcare Administration (AHCA) reports that abortions in Duval County dropped from 6,832 in 2021 to 5,838 in 2022. Even in 2021, ACHA statistics reported that abortion pills accounted for more than half of all abortions in FL. We are confident that abortions in Duval County and Florida have increased, especially for unreported abortions by pills.
For several months, the FCWS Board of Directors has been praying for vision concerning what we should do in 2023. Will you join us in prayer as we ask God for direction for His next steps in this battle plan? The Lord has been faithful in providing increased revenue and more volunteers. He will give a clear vision of what to do. How can we improve our marketing to abortion-minded clients? Should we open another center very near an abortion clinic? In some places, Mobile Clinics providing abortion pills park just inside states with more liberal abortion laws, like Florida, to serve those coming across state lines from stricter states. Do we need a new Mobile Center to park at the Florida border to reach those first who are crossing from other states? One fact is clear: God is with us in this battle, and He cares about each life that hangs in the balance even more than we do.
We can and do trust completely in Him. Please join us in this. We are thankful for the confidence you have shown in FCWS by your support in the past and ask for you to stand with us in 2023. We will continue faithfully and fearlessly until every precious life is valued and preserved.
Joyfully serving,
Judy Weber, CEO