Twenty-five years ago, two Memphis couples, Buck and Juanette Jones, and my wife Ann and myself, were returning from the National Religious Broadcasters Convention in Washington. We had been challenged and inspired by an emphasis on the needs of young women in crisis pregnancy situations.

Pat Boone’s presentation of “Let Me Live,” a song relating to this issue, had stirred our thoughts to search for alternatives for this growing national need.  On our return flight we asked, “O Lord, why doesn’t someone do something?”  Our question was answered with another one: “Why don’t you do something?”  After several months of gathering for prayer and ideas on how to proceed, “Life Choices” was born. It’s creation was designed to help young  women facing extremely difficult decisions for themselves and their babies make a wise and intelligent choice for “life.”

The Life Choices medical center at 5575 Raleigh-LaGrange Rd.

It was truly a step of faith. In this area of social need we were totally unskilled.  We had no idea of how to begin or continue such an outreach.  The Lord led us in each step.  Now the ministry has grown from small office space in Midtown Memphis and on Park Avenue to its own medical center at 5575 Raleigh LaGrange Road, with an additional clinic at 806 S. Cooper.  Many months in the early days our bank account had less than $25.  Now Life Choices operates on an annual budget of over a half million dollars.  And the lives we touch, and the girls we help, grow each day.  This has truly been all of God.

Juanette remembers: “Someone defined success as finding a need and meeting it.  This is what we did.  The need was great, but so was our Lord.  From small beginnings to now it has been a remarkable journey.”

Starting as a crisis pregnancy center, Life Choices soon expanded to a state licensed adoption agency as it developed counseling and practical assistance to troubled women and men in this difficult situation. To date, nearly 200 babies who could have been aborted have been placed in two-parent Christian homes. Clothing and baby needs were provided, as well as other practical care.

Juanette and I both have served on the ministry’s Board Of Directors, which is graciously giving us a “Lifetime Achievement” award at this year’s fund raising banquet to be held at 7 p.m. this Friday, March 25, at Germantown Baptist Church.   A VIP Live auction at 5:30 p.m. will precede the banquet.  For tickets and information contact Beth McDaniel at 388-1172.

Life Choices of Memphis exists to provide a non-judgmental and Christ-like environment designed to educate and empower women to make life-affirming decisions. It is a medical ministry offering free pregnancy testing and ultra-sound as well as STD testing and treatment for women who are at risk for abortion.   Each year, 1,300 clients visit the two clinics and more than 80 percent of the women who present a risk for abortion make a life-affirming decision after they see their own unborn baby through ultrasound.  All of Life Choices services are confidential and free.

Life Choices is one of the few organizations that has a special program for women who have had an abortion and find a need for dealing with the past and moving on with their lives.  The program, known as H.O.P.E. (Helping Others With Post Abortion Experiences) is under the direction of Cathy Schroeder, Life Choices Director of Operations/Finance, and Amanda Perry, Director of Client Services and the Cooper Street facility.

Sue Parker, Life Choices CEO and Karen McNeil, a board member, co-host a weekly radio program, “For Life And Liberty” on Bott Radio Network, AM 640 each Monday at 3 p.m.

Rev. Don Johnson is producer and host of Afterglow, a weekly half-hour music production. In 2002, he received the National Religious Broadcasters ‘Milestone Award.’