Diana Anderson, executive director of Pathway of Hope, felt there needed to be an avenue connecting her pregnancy resource center clients to local churches. Second Baptist Church in Greenville, Kentucky, and Melissa Bivins stepped up to make that happen.
“We can only do so much as far as discipleship goes,” Anderson explained.
A few years ago, Anderson heard about Embrace Grace, a gospel-focused ministry program that equips churches to facilitate small groups for unmarried pregnant women. She sent information about the ministry to her pastor at Second Baptist Church. With staff encouragement to move forward, Anderson began praying for a leader in the church who could take Embrace Grace and guide it.
Melissa Bivins, a long-time member of Second Baptist Church and retired registered nurse who worked in obstetrics, had recently walked with her daughter through an unplanned pregnancy. She was the perfect fit.
‘Run with it’
“The more Melissa and I talked, the more I just felt like she is the one that needs to take this and run with it,” Anderson explained.
Bivins said after some prayer, it was clear that God was calling her to run an Embrace Grace group at her church.
“The vision of Embrace Grace (is) for every girl with an unplanned pregnancy to have a church to go to for spiritual, emotional and physical support,” Bivins explained. “The mission is to inspire and equip the church to love on single and pregnant young women and their families.”
Second Baptist was eager to embrace that mission.
To learn more about starting an Embrace Grace ministry at your church, visit embracegrace.com.
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EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Tessa Redmond and originally published by Kentucky Today.
