The ABCS family goes way beyond just our staff members! Every day all across Arizona there are children and families who receive hope and care through the dedication of individual volunteers and groups who show the love of Christ through the gift of their time. In 2021, we estimate over 22,000 people were served through our Christ-centered ministries. It is easy to say it would be impossible to serve that number of people without God’s blessing and the hundreds of volunteers who faithfully showed up. In total, 1,860 volunteers served 51,866 hours in 2021. Those hours served would be the equivalent of 25 full-time employees working for the entire year! Time is a precious commodity and ABCS volunteers give theirs cheerfully and generously.
Denise is a faithful ABCS volunteer with a big heart who comes in every week. She serves New Life Pregnancy Center by helping with material assistance distributions. Denise has also been trained in peer counseling and assists with providing pregnancy tests for women who visit the pregnancy center. In November, she celebrated a decade of serving at ABCS! Her service to the ministry does not stop once she leaves the office. Denise is part of the prayer team that regularly covers the participants of the New Life Transitional Program and clients of New Life Pregnancy Center in prayer. Over the years she has been involved with many different projects from administrative support to directly working with clients. She is a blessing to not only the families she serves but also the staff members and ministries she helps through the gift of her steadfast support through the years.
In the fall, Cathy started serving at the Yuma office. After attending a presentation lead by Adrianna, the New Life Pregnancy Center Director in Yuma, she wanted to get involved with what God is doing at ABCS! Cathy shared with the staff her passion for sewing. An idea turned into reality when Cathy began leading a life skills class teaching attendees how to sew. Each week she drives 30 miles one way to serve using the gifts and talents the Lord has given her. At the start of each class she shares a devotion with the group of women attending. From there they dive into the project prepared for that day. Each woman who comes to the class hears about the love of God, learns a new skill and builds relationships with both Cathy and other mothers in their community.
Denise and Cathy’s stories showcase just a couple of ways the Lord uses the time and talents of volunteers to bless the ministry of ABCS. Each person who gets involved, whether it be for a few hours or many years, are being the hands and feet of Jesus to people in need in our community. Jesus shares in the Bible that, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” (Matthew 9:37-38). Each person, group and partner that labors for the ABCS mission of providing hope and care to hurting children and families through Christ-centered ministries is an answer to our prayers! We are grateful. To get involved, visit abcs.org/volunteer or call Dane Clark at (800) 678-0648.