Earlier this month, two Tennessee pregnancy resource centers dedicated ultrasound machines donated from the Psalm 139 Project, a pro-life ministry of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention.
The two ultrasound machines were donated to centers in Athens and Dunlap in August as a part of the state’s grant to place seven ultrasound machines during the 2021-2022 fiscal year. They are the third and fourth of the seven centers to host a dedication service.
Full Circle Medical Center for Women, Athens
Full Circle Medical Center for Women in Athens hosted their dedication ceremony, Dec. 14, along with local pastors and Baptist associational leaders.
“At Full Circle, we believe that our patients should receive the very best care, and this brand new technology will help us serve them at the level they deserve,” said Julie Ladd, executive director for Full Circle Medical Center for Women. “We are beyond grateful to be chosen for this grant by the ERLC.”
The center has been in operation for more than 22 years and began as a ministry of First Baptist Athens in 1998. They have since become a parachurch organization for the McMinn County area, partnering with the local churches with the ultimate goal of pointing women and families to Christ. The center sees approximately 250 clients per year.
Next Step, Dunlap
In Dunlap, Next Step Resources Center hosted a dedication ceremony Dec. 15. ERLC staff, local pastors and Baptist associational leaders attended the event.
“The machine we had was around 10 years old and I knew we could get better images for our clients,” said Debbie Chandler, executive director of Next Step Resources Center. “I had no idea how much better these images would be … We are able to perform more scans each day because of this wonderful blessing.”
The resource center began through assistance from another clinic located about 40 miles away by launching a satellite office. This center opened as a non-medical satellite in 2009, and in 2013, bought a building.
In 2016, the center became known as Next Step Resources Center and launched as a medical clinic. The center provides pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, STD testing and treatment. The center also has a post abortion healing program. They see approximately 575 clients per year.
“We are thrilled to partner alongside Full Circle Medical Center for Women and Next Step Resources Center and their incredible work,” said Elizabeth Graham, ERLC vice president of operations and life initiatives. “Through our partnership with the state of Tennessee in placing seven machines this fiscal year, I’m confident the hope of the gospel will continue to reach vulnerable women and preborn babies across this region. May we continue to advocate until abortion becomes illegal, unthinkable, and unnecessary across the world.”
The partnership between the ERLC’s Psalm 139 Project and Tennessee represents a total investment of $183,000 to place machines across the state. One hundred percent of financial contributions to the Psalm 139 Project go toward purchasing ultrasound machines and providing training for workers, and the ERLC notes that no resources for these machines come through the Cooperative Program, the SBC’s giving channel for missions and ministry.
Learn more at psalm139project.com.
