Close to 200 people from churches throughout Broward County will Walk for Life on Saturday, September 26 at Westminster Academy’s West Athletic Campus at 3701 NW 44 Street in Lauderdale Lakes. The Walk will raise funds to support Hope Women’s Centers, which provides pregnant women in crisis with free services such as testing, counseling, ultrasounds and referrals. The Scriptures tell us that, “Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you” (James 1:27 NLT). What better way is there to follow this command than to Walk for Life? Hope Women’s Centers are right in our own community, our own backyard, and it’s really easy to get involved.

All Sponsored Walkers are encouraged to bring their families for this fun event. Check-in starts at 5 p.m., and the event will last until 7:30 p.m. Hope will provide burgers along with snacks such as cotton candy and popcorn. This year there will be a bounce house, petting zoo and train ride.

In a video about last year’s walk, one supporter said, “I walk for life because it’s a way to join brothers and sisters from other churches of every color, shade, hue and nationality.”

Mark Schweitzer of Fort Lauderdale said, “We stand for Hope because they stand for life on the front lives.”

 

Fundraising goal

You can assist Hope in reaching their goal of $125,000 by becoming a Sponsored Walker. To do this you ask friends, family or co-workers to pledge money for you to walk. The services to save one life cost Hope $400, so that is the individual goal for every walker, but every dollar counts. Last year the 187 walkers raised $126,500. Their goal this year is to raise 125,000; however, Deborah Griffin, vice president of outreach, said, “We would love to see an extra $40,000 – $50,000 come in to help establish a reserve account.” Help Hope continue providing for pregnant women across South Florida.

About Hope

Hope Women’s Centers opened in 1987 with the intention to assist and guide women faced with unplanned pregnancy. President and CEO of Hope Women’s Centers, Nancy McDonald said, “Women can be overwhelmed by fear and confusion when they face an unplanned pregnancy. They need practical solutions, compassionate care and non-judgmental support during this difficult time.”

Hope now has five-centers that spread the message of love in South Florida. These facilities seek to provide these women with services to help them understand all of their options. Hope’s driving beliefs are the dignity of women, the sanctity of human life, the right of access to information, the right to a safe place, the value of sexual purity, marriage and family and the importance of faith.

Hope holds a high respect for any woman that walks through their doors and recognizes her right to decide her and her child’s fate. They seek to give her helpful information about all of her options as well as referring her to helpful and safe places.

McDonald said, “We can’t focus on saving a baby because God doesn’t send us a baby. He sends us the woman who is carrying the baby, so we use all the tools that God has put at our disposal to see her [the mother] through God’s eyes and love in a way that allows her to receive the truth about the life that is growing within her and the truth about the one who can change her life for all eternity.”

Please join Hope’s mission to change the lives of women all across South Florida and save the lives of their unborn babies. Register as a Sponsored Walker this year and walk along others who share the same dream to help minister to women experiencing pregnancy and show her love the Christ.

For more information or to register please visit www.friendsofhope.com/events/walk-for-life/. If you have any other questions, contact Deborah at [email protected] or call at 954-372-7089.

Gabriella Morris is a home-school student and writer at Good News. She can be reached [email protected].