By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer
HAMMOND, La. (LBM) – The Louisiana Baptist Convention, Northshore Baptist Association and Louisiana Baptist Children’s Homes and Family Ministries have teamed up with the Psalm 139 Project to provide an ultrasound machine for women in crisis pregnancies.
Leaders from all four ministries attended a Nov. 15 dedication for the ultrasound machine donated to the Restoration House Pregnancy Resource Center in Hammond, through the Psalm 139 Project, a pro-life ministry of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention. Funds were given by the LBC, NBA and LBCHFM and forwarded to the Psalm 139 Project, which then coordinated the purchase and delivery of the machine, and in September provided the necessary training for the staff of the pregnancy resource center.
Since 2004, the Psalm 139 Project has provided more than 80 ultrasound machines to pregnancy care centers across the country. The project provided an ultrasound machine in 2012 to the LBCHFM for use in a mobile pregnancy unit and in 2018 to the Baptist Community Health Services in New Orleans’ lower 9th Ward.
Coleen Enmon, Restoration House board member and co-manager, said 25 women have used the ultrasound machine since it was delivered.
“We give as God gives to us and He gives to us abundantly and freely,” Enmon said in her remarks. “We give the love of Jesus to these moms in the hopes of changing the trajectory of their lives, their children’s lives and their family’s lives.”
Bobby Reed, the ERLC chief financial officer, said the Psalm 139 Project connects the ERLC with those serving on the front lines at the pregnancy resource centers, whose teams he called “heroes.”
Speaking to the volunteers and staff at Restoration House he said, “Every time I say that, I have some of you say the real heroes are the young ladies who come in and make an absolutely crucial, courageous choice to choose life, and to take on the unfathomable idea of raising a child, or giving birth to a child not knowing what their future is going to hold. And it is so incredible for us to be able to be a part of that with you.”
Louisiana Baptist Executive Director Steve Horn said this was a true cooperative effort by all parties involved.
“When the ERLC reached out to me about this particular need and this particular opportunity, it was an easy yes for me because I value cooperation. And these were very quick and easy conversations with Dr. Hancock (president and CEO of the LBCHFM) and the Northshore Baptist Association. It was a ‘yes’ on everybody’s part and I’m grateful for that.”
Hancock said the entity has a long history of supporting the pro-life cause, including operating Sellers Maternity Home from 1992 until 2011 and a mobile pregnancy care center, from 2011-2017. The Children’s Home also provides support for the Northeast Louisiana Life March every year.
“We want to remain in this important work because these are God’s children, whether they’re born or unborn,” Hancock noted.
David Cranford, moderator of NBA and pastor of FBC Ponchatoula, offered a prayer of blessing over Restoration House.
“Over the years, we pray that you would continue to give them wonderful opportunities to share the message of life,” he prayed. “To those who are contemplating what to do, we pray that you would allow them the opportunity to hear the message of eternal life. We are grateful for Your blessing and the resources that You have given us to be able to purchase this ultrasound machine.”
