Forging Relationships

Our new fiscal year is off to a great start with grassroots interest and involvement flourishing! On July 8^th , 14 volunteers gave a total of 37.5 hours helping the Development Department with vital projects that would have otherwise taken weeks of staff time. Thanks to all who assembled information packets, stuffed envelopes, assisted with clerical tasks and prepared goodie bags. By popular demand, we're instituting a monthly Volunteer Work Day! The next one will be Tuesday, August 12. Interested individuals and groups may request additional information from Erin Kelley (nee Herwig!) at 314-783-3040 ext 224.

We are pleased to partner this year with Churches for Life, a new ministry under the leadership of Doug Merkey. On Saturday, July 26, CFL will conduct a workshop entitled Life-Affirming Agencies from 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at Central Presbyterian Church. The workshop is designed for agency leaders, staff and board members who want to grow their organization's relationship with local churches. Doug brings his experience as a marketing executive, theologian, and sold-out believer in Jesus to this workshop which is sure to offer some practical, substantive helps. Since ThriVe is a partner with CFL, we can send as many people as we want to the workshop without cost. Each person attending must RSVP and you may do so by email to info@getintolife.org.

To read more, go to this link: http://www.getintolife.org/Agencies/Workshops/tabid/235/Default.aspx

If the link does not work for you, go to www.getintolife.org and you can find the workshop on the Calendar. Please do not RSVP through the website - it will try to charge you $10!

Yesterday morning we were honored to be a sponsor for a Pastor Breakfast organized by the Respect Life Apostolate of the Archdiocese of St. Louis and featuring Pastor Luke J. Robinson, Executive Director of The Voice of Truth & Life Ministries of Frederick, Maryland. Pastor Robinson, visiting St. Louis this week for the AME Convention, is committed to "Sound the Alarm" on the problem of abortion in the African American community. His teaching, exhortation and commentary edified and challenged all who attended.

This afternoon we hosted representatives from the Respect Life Apostolate for a Talk and Tour at our St. Louis City center. Our relationship with the Apostolate has been fruitful in many ways already as they encouraged strong support for our run&walk 4 Life and opened doors for us to forge new relationships within numerous schools and churches.Today's energetic conversation inspired us all to seek ongoing opportunities to share information, programming, (particularly among our respective abstinence educators) networking and collaboration and we're meeting next Wednesday to discuss more specifically how our organizations may forge a partnership for an urban initiative.
It was an inspiring way to end our week!