Started in 1973 by a group of churches, New Life Homes (as it was then called) ministered to teenagers with issues ranging from problems with school to problems with the law. But it quickly became apparent that teen/unwanted pregnancy was the major concern for girls.

New Life Homes began the process of transforming into a crisis pregnancy center, eventually changing its name to New Life Family Services (NLFS). An affiliate ministry of the Greater Minnesota Association of Evangelicals, NLFS offers an array of life-affirming services to the community. From pregnancy care centers and adoption services, to support groups and abstinence resources, NLFS strives to honor the sanctity of human life—both born and unborn.

With five strategically-placed locations throughout the metro area, NLFS assists 7,500 people each year, according to Mary Jane Carlson, executive director of all five offices.

“Our mission is to come alongside men and women involved in crisis pregnancy situations and offer them whatever services we can to encourage and support them to choose life for their unborn baby,” Carlson said.

One of these is the Men’s Services program, now funded by the National Fatherhood Initiative. Because 45 percent of all abortions are either encouraged, pressured or paid for by men, the Initiative saw a need to develop curriculum for fathers-to-be.

Through partnering with select crisis pregnancy centers around the country, they are able to see this curriculum make a difference. However, this idea is nothing new to NLFS. They have been forming a men’s ministry for a few years now.

“The reason we started our men’s program is that we may see a woman here who is happy to be pregnant, and she’ll go back to talk to her father or boyfriend who will say ‘No way,’” Carlson said. “We felt that in counseling her, we were only counseling one piece of the puzzle.”

While the men’s programs have been run on a volunteer basis, the grant money has now provided a paid part-time male counselor. Three days a week Mark Probasco is able to talk with fathers-to-be. Now, when a woman comes in for an ultrasound or counseling, her boyfriend or husband is able to come in as well.

“A man who is able to talk with another man about his fears and concerns of fathering is more likely to be supportive of bringing a baby into the world,” Carlson said.

Created to compliment each other, the male and female counseling sessions mirror each other. This way both men and women are able to support and be supported.

From learning what being a good father means to learning what a good father does—like changing diapers—Probasco’s role is to help prepare fathers-to-be for the responsibilities ahead.

“I am excited to now be working with men in this new program,” he said. “The opportunity to counsel and teach men at New Life and in the community is exciting and daunting at the same time.”

However, daddy-training isn’t the only job Probasco will be doing.

“Part of the goal is for him to talk options with potential dads as well,” said Jennifer Patrick, NLFS’s Director of Social Services. “We are also an adoption agency, so he has been trained on how to present and talk through that option too.”

Probasco will also take a large part in recruiting and training male volunteers to offer counseling or run classes for fathers-to-be.

“That’s the purpose of the grant—to create a program,” explains Patrick. “Rather than just hiring a person, we are taking a program that we already started and really launching it into a larger effort.”

“The hope is that [Probasco] will be able to recruit enough volunteers so there will always be a male helper at each of our offices,” Carlson added. “We know this will reduce even further the abortions among our clients.”

Though all are excited about the boost to the program, they acknowledge the need for volunteers in order to keep pace with the growing number of both males and females in need each year—especially as they jump start the men’s program.

“We will train both male and female volunteers,” says Carlson, adding that April training sessions are already scheduled.


ACTION POINT:
If you are interested in getting involved or want to know more about New Life Family Services, call (612) 866-7643 or visit www.newlifefamilyservices.com.