Ministering to all as those who Jesus loves

We see a lot of different situations and people at the 7B Care Clinic and we love each one with the love of Jesus. Whatever their situation, whether eagerly pregnant, unexpectedly pregnant, recovering from an abortion or having miscarried, we meet each individual with kindness, compassion and mercy.

Sometimes life doesn’t go as we plan it. There are bumps in the road along the way. So how do we, as Christ followers, minister to the ones that Jesus loves?

Let’s look at some hypothetical scenarios:

 A 15-year-old comes in wanting to parent her child. How do we care for her? We have free pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, parenting classes and coaches to walk alongside her throughout her pregnancy. She needs support and we want to encourage her in this journey to parenthood. We don’t just want her to have the baby, but to thrive and be a strong mom.

How about the woman who has found herself pregnant and is not ready to become a parent? We give her the facts about adoption, parenting and abortion. Though we do not refer or provide abortions of any kind, we want her to have all the information she needs to make a decision she can live with. Most women decide to parent after they come in and see that we are here to help and support them in any way we can.

How about the father of the baby, who society has told that he has no say, no voice in the matter? He has been told it is the woman’s right to decide, yet he wants the baby. In the case of abortion, we have support for both men and women who are facing the side effects of abortion. These side effects can look like depression, anxiety or suicidal thoughts. We offer support to them and love them as Jesus does. There is no sin so great that Jesus can’t heal and He works in all situations to bring about good.

We want to be the hands and feet of Jesus to everyone who comes in and to point each person to the light and life of Jesus. We are grateful for each one that comes into the clinic, and we see the Lord move every day in healing and restoring people.

You can check us out at www.7BCareClinic.org.

Janine Shepard in the executive director and pastor at large at the Church of the Nazarene.