In mid-July, St. James joined a coalition of 10 LCMS churches in the area to raise money to replace an aging ultrasound machine for Mosaic Health Pregnancy Center. The coalition has received a matching $5,000 LCMS Life Grant.
Mosaic Health offers no-cost and confidential pregnancy help, testing, and sexual health services to those in the community and beyond. They have helped over 16,000 clients make unplanned pregnancy and health decisions since inception in 1987. The ultrasound machine is located in the Mobile Medical Unit (MMU) that sits outside Planned Parenthood in Fairview Heights.Abortion-minded woman are directed to the MMU, where they are offered an opportunity to receive a free ultrasound, along with the sharing of the Gospel message of love, life and hope in Jesus Christ! What Mosaic finds is that those women that receive an ultrasound, where they may observe the new life that they are carrying, are more inclined to reject having an abortion and carry their babies to full term than those who do not receive an ultrasound.
The total cost for a new ultrasound machine is around $23,000. At the time of this writing, the 10-church coalition has raised over $17,000 and received a $5,000 LCMS Life Grant with donations still coming in! St. James donated a total of $1,700! Praise God for His good gifts!
We will continue to follow this effort and continue to provide updates on the status of the donations received, the matching grant and plan to provide pictures of the new ultrasound when purchased. Heartfelt thanks to all who prayed for this effort, donated, and participated in the egg burrito breakfast!
The churches who are participating in the effort are:
- Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Collinsville
- Trinity Lutheran Church, Edwardsville
- St. James Lutheran Church, Glen Carbon
- Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Collinsville
- Hope Lutheran Church, Granite City
- Zion Lutheran Church, Staunton
- St. Paul Lutheran Church, Hamel
- Trinity Lutheran Church, Worden
- Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church, Freeburg
- Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Golconda