HopePlace Warren held its annual banquet at Immanuel Baptist Church’s Family Life Center on Tuesday.
A barbecue dinner was served with the assistance of Warren High School JROTC cadets and Beta Club members.
By Tim Kessler
Saline River Chronicle Contributor
The Rev. Tim Saunders of Grace Cowboy Church opened the event by saying, “Tonight, we’re here over a long battle that has been fought over the life of a child. Think about an innocent child in the belly of a mother. Christ knew that child before it was in the womb.”
He mentioned that volunteers are always needed at HopePlace.
HopePlace board member Tricia Wilkerson gave the welcome address.
HopePlace Executive Director Wendy Curry stated that the organization has been in operation for 11 years. “We are a crisis pregnancy center. The original mission was to fight for the voiceless.”
She also mentioned that the center is open two days a week and provides free confidential pregnancy tests, self-worth classes, and parenting classes for both mothers and fathers, allowing families to earn “baby bucks” that can be exchanged for diapers, wipes, and baby supplies. The center offers life skills and budgeting sessions, TrueGirls Bible classes, and GraceGirls classes. A food pantry, started last year, has served about 600 people so far. A Blessing Box with free food has been moved to the HopePlace property, and the center provides grief resources and abortion recovery mentoring.
“Sometimes we have to speak honestly with them. Sometimes you have to be gentle with them,” Curry mentioned about the clients.
She noted that pregnancy centers have been targeted since the Dobbs U.S. Supreme Court decision overturned Roe v. Wade. “The truth is that the fight against abortion has become more challenging,” she said.
Arkansas Pregnancy Center has set up a telehelp line.
Curry also mentioned that a future goal of the center is to offer a medical clinic that provides pregnancy tests, STD tests, and ultrasounds.
The Amazing Grace Award was presented to state Sen. Ben Gilmore. “I’m someone who got involved in politics because of this issue (abortion). It’s about making sure people know they are loved and there is hope.”
He also asked for prayers for the conflict in Israel.
T.J. Files and his daughters, Karis Files and Kynlee West, sang a song and offered a prayer.
The Rev. Henry Cox of Union Hill Baptist Church was the keynote speaker on the theme, “The Bride of Christ.”
Among his highlights: “Before you become the bride, you have to be part of the body. The body does not function unless it all works together. There are no unimportant parts in the body of Christ. Everybody has a specific purpose. If we are in our proper places, we can bring people into Christ. If the body of Christ fights for life, we can make a change. A man should have a say in the life of an unborn child. When you kill a child, you kill a part of yourself.”
The Powerhouse Church of God in Christ choir closed out the banquet as Saunders made a final plea for funding.