Executive Director of New Path Pregnancy Resource Center Kat Shanks, at the podium, addresses a barn full of pro-life supporters at their annual fundraiser dinner on Saturday, Sept. 16. She started by praying their “hearts would overflow with love for the Lord as you see how gracious He is and has been.” (EXAMINER PHOTO | SHARYN KOPF)
Hundreds of people filled the barn at Marmon Valley Farm Saturday night with a shared mission: to save the lives of the most vulnerable among us, the preborn child. New Path Pregnancy Resource Center’s annual fundraiser was held in the barn at Marmon Valley Farm on Sept. 16 under the theme “Dust to Glory.”
The main program got underway following a meal from City Barbecue and included brief stories from two of New Path’s client advocates, Sheila Burns and Kristine Kidder, and the Bellefontaine center director, Emily Berry. The advocates spoke about the women they work with while Berry shared her personal testimony.
Burns, who has been with New Path for five years, started things off, saying, “Being a client advocate allows me to experience firsthand how God uses our testimonies for His glory.”
Next, Berry took the platform, and she spoke about the fear that ruled much of her life. At the age of 16, she faced an unplanned pregnancy. She felt alone, hopeless and driven by fear to make rash decisions. All of which led her through the doors of an abortion clinic. There she learned she was pregnant with twins.
“The room was divided between silence and sobbing,” she recalled. “I was sobbing. And other women were too.”
At the end of the day, the clinic technicians decided Berry wasn’t “emotionally stable enough” to go through with the procedure and told her to return in two weeks, if she changed her mind.
Berry continued, “After riding home from the abortion clinic, I finally recognized the babies in my womb as my children, not a problem or a threat. My children.”
As a result, Berry gave birth to a healthy boy and girl 29 years ago.
“We pray and fight for every single life because that baby’s life matters,” she concluded.
The last speaker, Kristine Kidder, emphasized the privilege she had sharing the Gospel with the women she ministers to.
Saturday’s theme was inspired by Genesis 1:27—“So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female, He created them.”
The event finished up with worship music from the Jason Lovins Band. Lovins’ mother chose life after being raped when she was 15. He now travels the country, telling his testimony to life through song.
Kat Shanks, New Path executive director, then presented the crowd with an offer of love and support to those who could identify with the stories they heard that night. She also suggested three ways to participate in New Path’s ministry:
- Pray.
- Serve. Berry is specifically looking for women ready to help at the Bellefontaine location.
- Give. Last year’s three fundraisers—one in Logan County, the other two in Union—raised $200,000. This year’s results had not been tallied as of Sunday, Sept. 17.
Those who want to know more about New Path, Bellefontaine, can contact Berry at eberry or call 937-642-5683.
Music at the New Path Pregnancy Resource Center’s annual fundraiser on Saturday, Sept. 16, at Marmon Valley Farm, titled “Dust to Glory,” was brought by the Jason Lovins Band. Lovins’ mother, who was raped by a stranger when she was only 15, chose life. Jason learned to cherish the preborn from his mother. He learned how to sing from his maternal grandmother, and he shared that gift with the attendees. (EXAMINER PHOTO | SHARYN KOPF)