Thank you for your decision to become a partner of Alpha Women’s Center. By giving regular, monthly donations, you will help Alpha reach more women facing unplanned pregnancies with practical help and the love of Christ. To set up your monthly gift, please choose from the options below.
Monthly Giving
1st Week
Alpha Women’s center will be holding its annual Life Walk on Saturday, June 14th. Start collecting pledges today by picking up a pledge form at the Life Walk information table. For more information, call Alpha Women’s Center at 616-742-0242, or visit alphawc.org.
2nd Week
Show how much you value life by walking in Life Walk 2008, on Saturday, June 14th! Pick up your pledge form and begin collecting pledges today! For more information, or to receive a pledge form, call Alpha Women’s Center at 616-742-0242, or visit alphawc.org.
3rd Week
You can bring hope and encouragement to women and their families here in Grand Rapids by gathering pledges and joining us for Life Walk 2008. It’s more than just a fun time-it’s a great way to take a stand for life. For more information on Life Walk 2008, or to receive a pledge form, call Alpha Women’s Center at 616-742-0242, or visit alphawc.org.
4th Week
Dust off your walking shoes and step out for life! Join thousands of others across the country for Life Walk 2008, on Saturday, June 14th. For more information, call Alpha Women’s Center at 616-742-0242, or visit alphawc.org.
Extra:
Did you know that 10% of college-age women get pregnant each year? Alpha Women’s Center wants to reach these girls before they make an irreversible decision. You can be part of this vital ministry by participating in Life Walk 2008, on Saturday, June 4th. For details and a pledge for, call Alpha Women’s Center at 616-742-0242, or go to www.alphawc.org
Church E-mail (use this for a church-wide mailing)
Alpha Women’s Center invites you to participate in Life Walk 2008, on June 14th. It’s a great way to put feet o your pro-life convictions. This event brings in 20% of their annual budget-so they are counting on our church to do our part! For a pledge form either respond to my email or go to www.alphawc.org
Personal E-mail (use this for friends, family, co-workers, etc.)
I am walking for Alpha Women’s center-a pro-life, Christian organization-on June 14th, for their annual Life Walk event. My personal goal is to raise $______. Would you help me reach that goal by sponsoring me for this walk? Thanks for supporting Life! If you would like more information about the ministry, please go to www.alphawc.org.
Elevator Speech:
Alpha Women’s Center of Grand Rapids’ annual Life Walk is coming up on Saturday, June 14th at 9:00 AM. Alpha is a pregnancy care center dedicated to assist women of at-risk pregnancies. It is funded entirely by donations and Life Walk is, currently, the biggest fundraising event of the year. Families and individuals find sponsors; walk the route mapped out by Alpha, and turn in their proceeds to the ministry. Alpha still needs people to get involved this year, whether they walk, sponsor another person to walk, or volunteer the day of the event. If you are interested or want more information, please pick up a form at the Alpha table in the foyer starting May 4th, or call Alpha’s administrative offices at 742-0242, to see how you can show your support.
Main Points to Talk About:
There are six Sundays until Life Walk.
Try to do something every single Sunday starting May 4th!
1st Sunday
Run the bulletin inserts
2nd Sunday
Set up a display table and run a bulletin blurb (leave the table set-up for as long as your church allows).
3rd Sunday
Talk about it in your SS class or group. The leader should be just fine with giving up 5 minutes of his/her time!
4th Sunday
Have the pastor announce the event. Feeling brave? See if you can present Life Walk to the congregation or group yourself! This would be a great Sunday to utilize the power point presentation.
5th Sunday
This is a holiday weekend. Invite visitors to stop by the display table or encourage non-walkers to sponsor someone who is walking. Yet another great weekend to show off that power point presentation!
6th Sunday
Spend some time this Sunday afternoon calling your committed walkers (utilize their pre-registration form). Use the time as a “pep” rally by encouraging them in getting sponsors.
Participate in Life Walk by walking and raising pledges.
Promote Life Walk in church, Sunday school, or small group by doing any or all of the following:
Always announce the main details of the event first:
Run a power point presentation.
Promote it as being a part of the bigger picture by supporting the pro-life cause, a time to bond with your group and to show your support to the community!
Utilize the church’s mass e-mail list and send out a church-wide informative email.
Ask permission from the church office to sest up a display table.
We will equip you with all the materials you need.
Alpha Women’s Center of Grand Rapids (AWC) is a women’s pregnancy care center dedicated to reaching abortion minded or abortion vulnerable women with love and compassion in the name of Christ. In doing this we also seek justice and mercy for their unborn children.
More than 1,000 women per year walk through our doors seeking help. This year’s Life Walk coming on June 14, 2008 will provide 20% of our annual budget. AWC is extremely blessed to have many wonderful liaisons to promote Life Walk within their organization, but more help is needed. Life Walk liaisons are vital to our success!
Thank you for partnering with Alpha Women’s Center of Grand Rapids (AWC) for this year’s Life Walk on June 14, 2008. As a Life Walk liaison you can promote Life Walk in several ways. AWC will supply all the materials to do this.
Day 1: Sponsor yourself for $50.
Day 2: Ask 2 family members to sponsor for $25.
Day 3: Ask 4 friends to sponsor you for $20.
Day 4: Ask 5 co-workers to sponsor you for $20.
Day 5: Ask 4 neighbors to sponsor you for $10.
Day 6: Ask 5 people from church to sponsor you for $10.
Day 7: Ask your employer to sponsor you for $20, or better yet, see if your company will match the amount you raise!
Day 8: Ask 3 local merchants to sponsor for $20.
Day 9: Ask 2 businesses you frequent to sponsor you for $25.
Day 10: Take a break and pat yourself on the back!
Do you have some more ideas? Please share them with us below!
Do I need to collect all of my pledges prior to Life Walk?
We would prefer that you collect all of your pledges prior to the day of the walk. This saves us both time and money, and allows us to most effectively use the money that is raised from this event. We do understand that there may be some pledges left uncollected by the event. If this is the case a letter will be sent to the walker asking them to collect their remaining pledges. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause, but we feel it is the only financially responsible solution to managing uncollected pledges.
Do you need to collect a certain amount in pledges to participate in Life Walk?
No, we would like to welcome everyone to this event, even those who are able to collect very little or nothing in pledges. While this is a major fundraiser for the organization, and all the money raised is used to stop abortions and help women get their lives back together, it is also an event to show support for the work we are doing in the community. The opportunity for us to walk together, as a group dedicated to the pro-life movement, has the potential to make a great impact on the community.
Are pets and small children welcome?
This is a family event. All children are welcome, regardless of their age, and pets that have been well socialized are also welcome. Please remember that this event will be held at a city park and the law states that pets must be on leashes at all times.
How long is the walk?
Since there will be the option to walk, run, or bike this year, the length for each trail will be different. We are however expecting the actual walk portion of the event to not take more than an hour.
Who’s invited?
Everyone! This is a great opportunity to introduce friends and family to Alpha. There will also be fun and games for the kids, a praise and worship band in the morning, and lots of food. Bring as many people as you can.
Will everyone who pledges receive a receipt?
Typically for events such as this, our policy is that any donations of $10 or more will be sent a receipt. If an individual pledges less than $10 and would still like a receipt, please write a note on the pledge form indicating this.
How many walkers can use a pledge form?
Each walker who collects pledges must use a separate form, even if they are part of a family walking.
How would I receive another pledge form if I fill mine or loose it?
You can either contact our office by calling 616-742-0242 and we will send you one, or you can download one.
Alpha Women’s Center of Grand Rapids is a women’s pregnancy care center that since 1985 has shown compassion and love to thousands of women in crisis while seeking mercy for the unborn. Alpha is funded entirely by donations. Life Walk is the biggest fundraising event of the year, providing 20 percent of our annual operating costs. Families, businesses, churches and individuals find sponsors to support their; walk, ride or run with routes mapped out by Alpha, and turn in their proceeds to the ministry. Moms, dads, children, grandparents, extended family and friends, etc., are all welcome to join this fun community-wide event!
Life Walk 2008 will be held at Chapel Pointe in Hudsonville, Michigan (3350 Baldwin St) on Saturday, June 14 with registration beginning at 9:00 a.m.
On our site you can find the following downloads:
Please return your lunch/prize ticket(s) by no later than June 11 (one per person - make copies if needed) which reserve(s) your meal and give(s) you the opportunity to win great prizes - all graciously underwritten by businesses in your community.
Alpha is extremely blessed to have many wonderful liaisons who promote Life Walk within organizations where they worship, work or volunteer, but more help is needed. Write “Liaison” in the upper right hand corner of the reply card if you want liaison information or more information about Alpha Women’s Center and return it with your ticket reservation(s). You may also call our office and ask for me at 616.742.0242. We’re happy to provide all of the necessary materials and administrative support to help you spread the word about Life Walk. Hope to see you on June 14.
Seeking to change hearts, lives and impact generations.
Carolyn Koole,
Executive Director
Reminder: Please collect all pledges and turn them in with your pledge form at registration on June 14. You may download additional pledge forms from our website at www.alphawc.org or if still available, from our office.
I was part of Life Walk 2007 and it was awesome!
Looking forward to walking with the dogs!
A big thank you from Alpha’s staff, board and volunteers to Jamie Brokus from Color Splash Studio for creating this amazing new website. It is absolutely beautiful - far beyond what we could imagine. Jamie, I’m glad you featured Life Walk on the homepage. We’re ready to walk, run and ride to celebrate life!
Volunteers are a tremendous asset to Alpha Women’s Center. They help the director in many ways and allow the center to function smoothly. This type of atmosphere welcomes and comforts clients who come to us with different areas of need.
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please download the volunteer application at the bottom of this page. Upon completion, please return it to Alpha Women’s Center.
Those who apply to be volunteers must sign the Statement of Faith and Lifestyle Statement.
Volunteer Opportunities:
Alpha Women’s Center is a theologically conservative Christian ministry whose mission is to promote the sanctity of human life, the family and Biblical sexuality. As an organization representing the Lord Jesus Christ, all board members, staff and volunteers are expected to live their personal and professional lives in a manner that brings honor to God by adhering to biblical standards of holiness and godliness. In light of this high calling, the Alpha Women’s Center Board of Directors, Staff and Volunteers are committed to the following principles:
WE BELIEVE in the authority and sufficiency of the Holy Bible, consisting of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, as originally written, inspired, infallible, and inerrant.
WE BELIEVE there is one and only one true and living God, with equality and deity revealed in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
WE BELIEVE in the reality and personality of Satan, the Devil.
WE BELIEVE that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace through Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Christ the Lord bore our sins in His own body on the tree, rose from the dead and He is now enthroned in Heaven.
WE BELIEVE in the imminent return of Christ, and that at that moment, the dead in Christ shall be raised in glorified bodies, and the living in Christ shall be given glorified bodies without tasting death.
WE BELIEVE that faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the only condition of Salvation. Repentance is a change of mind and purpose toward God prompted by the Holy Spirit and is an integral part of saving faith.
WE BELIEVE that all who are truly born again are kept by God the Father for Jesus Christ.
Over 60% of the women who come to Alpha learn they are not pregnant. Challenging lifestyle choices with the truth about behaviors that are physically, emotionally and spiritually damaging is important to Alpha. Our volunteers share the option of secondary virginity and help clients assess their current relationships in light of the value of their own life and longing for unconditional love.
We believe the crisis does not end when the baby is born. Indeed, two lives continue to be at risk. We offer basic parenting education and Bible studies to embrace and nurture young mothers and their children in critical development years.
The Earn While You Learn program uses video lessons and worksheets to provide practical information about pregnancy and beyond.
There are a number of topics to choose from. By setting and keeping regular appointments, clients are able to design a lesson plan unique for their situation.
Earn While You Learn gives Alpha regular, at least, monthly contact with clients. A caring volunteer walks with clients through the challenges and joys of parenting.
Throughout the program, the client earns “Alpha Bucks” that can be used to buy items from the “Alpha Store.” The store is stocked with everything from diapers to maternity clothes.
Ministering in grace and truth means bringing a biblical, healing word to women suffering lifestyle or abortion decisions. Our Bible studies are available for women who seek healing and hope for their futures. We want these women to know the forgiveness found through Jesus Christ, and the freedom for living life which can only be experienced through Him.
Many young women come to Alpha wondering if they are pregnant and how they will be able to face the crisis alone. We offer a free pregnancy screening test. Because information is critical to making good decisions, our trained volunteers provide the facts on pregnancy, fetal development and abortion. We seek to create a warm, caring and non-judgmental environment during this critical time.
All of our services are free and confidential!
Services include:
Information available regarding:
Alpha was founded in 1985 by a group of pro-life Christians who were dedicated to reducing the increasing number of abortions performed in Grand Rapids. Our services began with free pregnancy testing and counseling women who were considering an abortion. Over the years we have added services, such as, our ultrasound program, Earn-While-You-Learn parenting program, abstinence education program, sexual integrity program, and post-abortive Bible studies.
Soon after opening, it became clear that there was not only a need in Grand Rapids for sharing abortion alternatives with women facing a crisis pregnancy but also supporting them in their decision to choose life for their child. Our Earn-While-You-Learn parenting program sets us apart from other pregnancy care centers. Alpha believes that regularly supporting our clients in their decision can mean life or death for their unborn child. We support them in their decision by meeting with them at least once a month, offering them prenatal, parenting, financial responsibility, and spiritual development classes. Through this program, our clients are also able to earn the material items they need for themselves and their child.
We serve women who are in a crisis pregnancy, families that have children under the age of four and are seeking material support and encouragement, and women who are trying to heal from a past abortion. Our clients meet with the same client advocate at each visit. Through this, strong relationships and trust are developed. This has also allowed us to successfully lead many women to Christ. Alpha continues to look for ways to improve the services we offer, lead more women to Christ, and not only stop abortions from happening but reduce the number of crisis pregnancies that occur.
The mission of Alpha Women’s Center is to affirm and promote the sanctity of human life, the value of the family, and Biblical sexuality in our community. Above all else, we realize our primary duty is to help women come into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The services we provide are a means of establishing a presence in the lives of people whose real need is Jesus Christ.
It is our resolve to withhold attitudes of judgment and condemnation, projecting instead attitudes of love, support and service to our clients. By creating such an atmosphere, we can assist them as they develop more fully as individuals, and take significant steps toward more rewarding lifestyles.
Alpha Women’s Center exists to be a vehicle for bringing the spiritual and material resources of the local church to bear on the needs of women and their babies, born and unborn, and by extension, their families.