wfn.org | [LCMSNews] Malaysians establish pregnancy center

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>5.13.2010              
>       LCMS News               
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>THE LUTHERAN CHURCH Missouri Synod             
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        May 13, 2010 .................... LCMSNews -- No. 43

Malaysians establish Lutheran pregnancy resource center

>By Sarah Schafer

LCMS Life Ministries, a ministry of LCMS World Relief and Human Care
(WR-HC), is partnering with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Malaysia
(ELCM), to offer care and counseling to women who believe abortion or
"baby dumping" are their only options.

WR-HC awarded a $24,000 one-year startup grant in April to the ELCM to
establish a Lutheran pregnancy resource center in Asia. The Women's Care
and Counseling Centre will provide positive life choices and real hope
for women by offering health care and referrals, housing and material
goods assistance, adoption services, support groups, mentors and peer
counseling, parenting classes, and the love and forgiveness of the
Gospel.

"The ELCM's outstanding management capacity and strong commitment to
diakonia -- and to this project specifically -- made them an ideal
choice," said Darin Storkson, Asia regional director with WR-HC.

The grant will cover staff salaries, materials, and utilities, and was
made possible by donations from a 2008 Jazz4Life concert in Fort Wayne,
Ind., individual gifts, and a $10,000 challenge grant from Diakonic
Foundation of Mesquite, Nev.

"We chose to work with the ELCM for a number of reasons," said Maggie
Karner, director of Life and Health Ministries with WR-HC. "One reason
was the great need they clearly displayed in their grant proposal."

Abortion is illegal in Malaysia, but Storkson says it is readily
available in most Asian countries, whether legally or illegally.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Asia accounts for 59
percent of the world's abortions, compared with three percent in North
America.

The center will be housed in the same building as Good Hope Lutheran
Church in Port Klang, Malaysia, near Kuala Lumpur. Congregation members
also saw a growing trend of baby dumping in their community, and wanted
to do something about it. They will play a large role, referring women
to the center and providing counseling services. This summer, LCMS WR-HC
staff will provide initial training for all ELCM members involved with
the center.

Baby dumping is when a child is abandoned by the mother or another
person -- perhaps left in trash bins, along rivers, or in other places
where they might be found. Members of Good Hope said they want to do
something about this practice that often results in the child's death.

"We hope that this first Lutheran pregnancy resource center in Asia can
become a model for other partners to start other centers in other
areas," said Storkson. The Asia center was inspired by the success of
WR-HC-supported pregnancy resource centers in St. Petersburg and
Novosibirsk, Russia, while keeping cultural differences in mind.

The Pregnancy Resource Center of Salt Lake City has "adopted" the center
in Asia. "They have provided wonderful support already," said Karner,
who encourages interested LCMS members to support the fledgling center
with their financial gifts.

To make a donation for the Women's Care and Counseling Centre, write a
check payable to "LCMS World Relief and Human Care," designating "Asia
pregnancy center" on the "memo" line, and mail it to LCMS World Relief
and Human Care, P.O. Box 66861, St. Louis, MO 63166-6861; call toll-free
888-930-4438; or visit http://givenowlcms.org.

For more information about LCMS Life Ministries, click here
<http://www.lcms.org/life> .

Sarah Schafer serves as communications project manager for LCMS World
Relief and Human Care.

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If you have questions or comments about this LCMSNews release, contact
Joe Isenhower Jr. at joe.isenhower@lcms.org
<mailto:joe.isenhower@lcms.org>  or (314) 996-1231, or Paula Schlueter
Ross at paula.ross@lcms.org <mailto:paula.ross@lcms.org>  or (314)
996-1230.

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