Ways you can help 1st Way reach out to Mothers and save the unborn

Just a few announcements!

1st Way always needs diapers, especially size 4 and 5, and especially now when we are just about out. When we provide diapers for poor women who have no other means to get them, we're doing something very special. These women become comfortable with 1st Way and get to know us as a safe and welcoming place. If they have another unplanned pregnancy, they are more likely to talk to us about their concerns and we are more likely to be of influence.

Offering diapers does a lot more than help moms with a day-to-day necessity for their babies. Offering diapers is often the beginning of a long-term relationship of our nurturing new mothers and any future children they may consider aborting.

Petition- 
Outside the masses this weekend at St. Mary's, petitions were available to sign for no taxpayer funding for abortion. Why is this a concern?

Nearly half of abortions are taxpayer funded- approximately 1.75 million dollars a year.

Oregon is one of only 13 states to require taxpayers to fund other people’s abortions, without restrictions, by court order.

Do you want your tax money going for this? Do you want to pay for abortions? This is your chance to do something about it!

Stop Preaching to the Choir
All over Facebook, I see articles and memes that find resonance with others in the pro-life community. We like and share them, yes. But, this is often an insular and non-evangelical practice. This article describes the types of women who REALLY need to hear our message, and how we can help them hear our message, so we don't just circulate the same news among ourselves, "liking" them all day to nobody else's benefit.

There are so many "little" things you can do that mean a lot. Find what suits your style and resources. And always pray a lot!

1st Way appreciates your prayers, support, donations and love. Thanks for joining with us to protect the unborn.

If you haven't already, please "like" our Facebook page. Even if you don't live in our area, this blog keeps you up to date on news in the pro-life community. Thanks!  

You Can Make a Difference Easily in Just Ten Minutes

Last week, I posted about how little things you do can mean a lot in serving the pro-life movement. Gayle Atteberry, head of Oregon Right to Life, led a session at the Right to Life Conference about how to make a difference in ten minutes.

When Gayle talked about "influence," "power," and "leverage," she talked about finding your most natural area of "influence."

 For example, what would be most comfortable and ordinary for you to do. Maybe you like to read or write letters to the editor of the newspaper or magazines? Have you considered writing one on a pro-life subject? What about writing to an on-line publication?

Maybe you like to comment regularly in com-boxes on online articles. Make a special effort to find articles about abortion and spend time sharing your opinion.

Do you have any pro-life books lying around that you don't need anymore? Donate them to the library. Your local library may be lacking in helpful literature, and you could fill a real need.

Here's another great idea, especially for people like myself who work with youth. Take a look at what kids tweet. Observe them in their natural kid environment, so to speak. What appeals to them? How might you appeal to them in a better way?

Here's a really fun and easy idea- Do you like to be social or show off? Have you ever worked at a booth in the fair and loved it? Or did you enjoy science fairs at a child? Right to Life will send you materials to set up a table display in your parish hall. All you need to do is ask your pastor for permission and then contact Right to Life.

Do you like to play around on Pinterest? Pin more pro-life pictures and memes. 80% of what people pin on Pinterest is a re-pin. Search for good pins and keep them circulating around!

If you are 13-24, you can compete in 1st Way's Meme Contest. Write to us for information.

If you are a wonderful husband, you can buy lots of beautiful roses for your wife at 1st Way's rose sale this weekend.

Isn't it great how much you can do in just 10 minutes? The cool part is this- 

It really DOES make a difference. You don't have to wander outside your comfort zone much or at all. Give it a try!

Announcements

Hi Everyone!

As some of you may have read in the last church bulletins, First Way is looking for any women interested in submitting an inspirational story to our new blog, "Talk to a Friend." These stories can be anonymous. It's not necessary to include a name unless you want. E-mail laura@carmelheart.com.

I've been discovering some really great resources on-line. There are many young ladies dedicated to helping other young women who have unplanned pregnancy learn to cope well with it and be successful.



Notable in my search today is:

Ashlee Bush- author and consultant
http://www.ashleebush.com/about/
(She has a great resource list on her website, too.)

Also, do not forget about the book-signing 

for Terry Ianora, our 1st Way Director!  

We are praying for a large turnout, so bring your friends!

All proceeds from each book sale go to 1st Way. Everything- aside from manufacturing cost of the book.- ALL for 1st Way.

Join us at The Mustard Seed, 227 W 10th Ave, Eugene, OR 97401,  (541) 683-0733

(Ever curious about how the pro-life movement got started and the awesome women who got together to make that happen? This book tells the exciting story.)

Saturday, March 16, 2013 1:00-3:00

Come out, lend support, have fun!

Support The New "Talk To A Friend" Outreach!

Imagine being a young woman, about twenty-two years old, struggling on your own, making under $12,000 a year. Your get pregnant and your boyfriend either abandons you or pressures you to get an abortion. 

42% of women fall into this sort of profile. They earn under 100% of the poverty line. They are aged between 20 and 24. And they are overwhelmed. Most were barely making ends meet before they got the news about pregnancy. For a few hundred dollars and in just a couple of hours time, this woman could be free of the "problem" forever (so she feels) and just get on with her life.

What could help a woman in this scenario? I've been researching this demographic of women to find out what they want and need. The result is a new online outreach idea: Talk To A Friend. 

"Talk To A Friend" now has a facebook page and a blog. We've reserved talktoafriend.org and info@talktoafriend.org is a working email address now. Although it will take a while to get all the components running and polished, it is okay to link to the Facebook page and blog now.

Sponsored by 1st Way, "Talk To A Friend" websites  have no direct mention of abortion, 1st way or any other crisis pregnancy center, although some do have a link. These sites are designed to be warm, friendly and comfortable places for women to go to get support. Some of our former clients will be volunteer peer support workers. An extended list of resources will be kept, so that the women can get the help they need to keep their child. Through this resource, women will be referred to 1st Way, but reason for this effort is to make the experience more appealing and welcoming to them.

Please subscribe to http://talktoanewfriend.blogspot.com and "like" http://www.facebook.com/Talktoafriend?ref=hl. Share both links. Pass them on in emails. Please do all you can to help and support "Talk To A Friend."

Thank you!

New Outreach Needs Support: Talk to A Friend

We're launching a new Facebook page today as an outreach to women in crisis pregnancy. The new page is called, simply, "talktoafriend." It links to 1st Way only in the about section. We'll be posting non-judgmental articles to help women know we're empathic and care. Up until now, almost all on-line efforts have been towards the pro-life supporter community, and we'll continue to provide the most up to date news for you. There will be a new blog up soon, too. 

Please "like" this page AND share this page with whomever you can AND suggest any articles you'd like to see added. Thanks! 

http://www.facebook.com/Talktoafriend