by Melanie Jongsma
LANSING, Ill. (March 10, 2020) – Approximately 30 people gathered in a downstairs fellowship room at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church this past Sunday to play shower games, give baby gifts, and socialize over lunch. No one was pregnant—they were holding a baby shower for Lansing’s PASS Pregnancy Care Center.
Kersten Kazen was at the shower to represent PASS. She explained that the faith-based center has four pillars of ministry:
- Prevention includes programs for students in fifth grade through college, with teaching and discussion about healthy relationship skills, choosing abstinence, honesty, trust, commitment, faithfulness, sexting, and cheating.
- Intervention is an opportunity to let people know what their options are when anticipating a pregnancy and help them navigate through the unique challenges that each option involves.
- Education— “We’re not just aiming for healthy births,” said Kazen, “but healthy families.” PASS parenting classes provide new mothers and fathers with pregnancy information and parenting skills through one-on-one mentoring and group classes. By participating in classes, new parents can earn baby supplies that have been donated through PASS baby showers.
- Restoration is available for people who have experienced a previous abortion and are suffering regret or questions.
PASS receives no government funding, so they rely on donations and volunteerism from churches and other sources. A variety of volunteer options are available, and interested individuals or groups can contact the main office at 708-614-9777.
After lunch and socializing, church members helped load the shower gifts into Kazen’s vehicle. They will be used at the Lansing PASS location, which is located at 3116 Ridge Road. PASS Lansing is open Mondays 10:00am–6:00pm and Tuesdays 12:00pm–8:00pm.
St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church is located at 18100 Wentworth Avenue in Lansing. Sunday services begin at 9:30am.
