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Executive Director Transition

ALPHA CARE CENTER OF LOWELL AND LAKE ODESSA (ACC) ANNOUNCES EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TRANSITION

Contact: Vonda Mattson, Board Member 616-329-0127

It is with sadness at our loss but also with cheerful understanding of her move that the Board of Directors of Alpha Care Centers announces the resignation of Christa Wetzel as Executive Director.

The Board of Directors recognizes Christa’s commitment to caring and effective leadership, as well as her role in moving the ministry forward in its service to family. “Christa has spent her 10-year tenure steadfastly dedicated to the ministry, to connecting with community to share our mission, and to fostering a spirit of welcome and acceptance to all. Under her leadership, the organization has matured and expanded its services to offer multifaceted support for family health. She has led the organization with grace and dignity, and she will be missed by all.”

In her communications with staff and volunteers Christa acknowledged that Alpha would always hold a special place in her heart. “I have been on quite a journey with Alpha and have been able to see God do amazing things. It is His ministry.” Christa acknowledges that her decision to move was not one made quickly or without thought and prayer. “God has a season and time for everything,” she shares, and adds that she will meet this new chapter with her typical trust and reliance on Him.

Christa’s exit and new position within her home community comes with the Board’s

support. “We love and highly respect Christa and are excited for her as she transitions to her home area in direct support of her community.” While we are saddened to see her go, we are excited for this next chapter of her life and are grateful for her years of service to the Lowell and Lake Odessa communities.

The Board of Directors has begun a new hire procedure. To read the full job description, including position submission deadline, select that option below.

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When Clients Face Uncertainty

“I was a senior in high school when I found out I was pregnant with my first daughter. I knew I would need help learning how best to raise my daughter. Alpha Family Center helped me discuss my options as a parent, as well as additional classes once I made my option. I learned how to keep my child safe, use Godly discipline, and I had someone to talk to along the way of uncertainty. Along with taking classes I was provided with diapers, wipes, clothes, soap, and much more. I can not explain in words how much Alpha Family Center was a blessing to me and my family. Once I found out I was pregnant with my second child I reached out to Alpha Family Center for an ultrasound to ensure the baby was healthy and the appointment was flexible enough so my child’s father could attend as well. Today I have two healthy children and I am so glad there are resources like Alpha for parents that might need a little jump start to parenting.”

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Registration is still open for the Lowell Dinner until Friday, October 6. Click below to get your registration in!

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Pray With Us

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Annual Dinners coming soon – join us!

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August News

“After that visit, I felt so much hope and faith. At that moment, I knew that God was working in my life and these women were meant to be in it.”

I wanted to give a little background story on how Alpha has helped me and my family. It all started back in 2015 when my son was born. God gifted me with him, he is my bonus child. My husband became a single father with a newborn straight out of the hospital. He had nowhere to look for help until he became part of the Alpha family. They had helped him with whatever it was he needed for him and our son. About two months after we met each other, he asked me to go to an appointment with him at Alpha. I was a little nervous because I suffer with social anxiety and PTSD. When I walked through the door there was a lady that greeted us; her name was Christa. Christa is one of the most kindhearted, selfless women I have ever met. She welcomed me with open arms and I felt like I had known her for years. Sometimes bonus-mother duty can be hard but Christa would always make sure she told me how proud she was of me and thank me for taking on the responsibility of being a bonus mother and validated how hard it was for me. She is truly a gift from God himself. I felt safe when I was there, which was big for me at that time. I have gone to Alpha since 2015 and couldn’t imagine my life without the women that work there. I could always go in and talk and they would pray with me at the end, and this always makes me feel so hopeful.

My last little story is that I walked in one day and I was having a very hard time in my life. When I went into the room Denise came and sat with me and I honestly just let it all go and cried for almost an hour. She made sure I knew it was okay and that she was there for me. She also said, “don’t worry about the video, let’s just sit and pray.” After that visit, I felt so much hope and faith. At that moment, I knew that God was working in my life and these women were meant to be in it. They also helped me so much with things that I needed for my children. We now have another child that also gets to visit. Such great information is given out and resources that can fit any situation. I look forward to my visit every other week.

This place is a God-send and they help so many women in so many different situations. I am now at a point in my life where I am just about done with my master’s degree in psychology. I one day want to help individuals that have been in dark places have that same glimpse of hope. I will always let women in need know about the Alpha Care Center and how the people there can help and they are more than willing, with open arms.

Sincerely,

A

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Get Involved …

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July News

Church in Action!

A local church fostered an opportunity for their youth to learn more about Alpha Care Center this summer. During their VBS, they collected items for the Alpha Store and money to support Alpha Care Center. Then, the older kids came for a tour at our Lowell location. We were so blessed by these kids and the adult volunteers who were intentionally involved in shining the light their community! Thank you Apostolic Christian Church of Alto!

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Get Involved!

We have a goal of having 100 people participate in Strides for Life: Lake Odessa! This is three times as many as last year so we cannot do this without God’s will and your help. Please pray for this event and help us get the word out. This is a fun, active, purposeful way to spend time together with your family and friends! Also, please spread the word! Share social media posts, talk to your church, or even request printed materials from Abigail.(abigailg@alphacarecenter.org)

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Save the Date

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Pray With Us

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A Quick Note

Sunshine, community, exercise, popsicles, and laughter! Gathering together to raise awareness and funds at Strides for Life 5K was a true joy for all of us. We want to say a big, “THANK YOU” to all who participated! There were 78 participants, 47 individual sponsors, and 8 organization sponsors that came together and raised just over $10,000.

If you couldn’t make it, or you want to join us for a good time again, we will have another event in Lake Odessa. Keep an eye out on social media or in your email inbox for the registration to be opened soon!

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PRAY WITH US

Join us in prayer by downloading July’s daily prayer calendar.

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We love our volunteers

Thank You

We are incredibly thankful for the volunteers that make ministering to all of the clients in our communities possible. Their willing spirits and loving care are priceless. If you know someone who is a volunteer at Alpha Care Center, help us by thanking them for giving their time and energy. We truly could not do this without them! If you would like to get involved by volunteering your time, reach out to us for ideas.

Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 5:16

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Love Box

“What if one box could save two lives?”

When a mother is considering abortion, one resource Alpha Care Center has available at both the Lowell and Lake Odessa locations are Love Boxes from a ministry called Embrace Grace. Each box has a personal invitation to a church-hosted support group, stories from both a parenting mom and birth mom, a letter of hope, a journal with writing prompts encouraging her to be fearless, a ‘Best Gift Ever’ onesie and A Bump in Life book that includes testimonies that offer single and pregnant moms hope.

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Let’s Pray

May 4th is the National Day of Prayer. You can join Lowell Ministry Alliance and the Lowell community by gathering at the Riverwalk at noon for a community prayer service. Also, please consider spending time intentionally praying for the unborn and the families who are navigating unplanned pregnancies right here in our communities.

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Be one of the first to sign up for the Strides for Life 5K that is just over one month away!

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Welcome Spring

Spring is officially here on Monday, March 20th! All of us at Alpha Care Center are welcoming everything that comes with it. Warmer weather, beautiful flowers, and preparation for our Strides for Life 5K! All of these signs of spring remind us that God brings beautiful LIFE to this world. We pray that God uses this season to bring you rejuvenation and to draw you nearer to Him. May you see His creation coming back to life and be reminded of how Jesus rose from the dead.

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It’s Time to Make Strides for Life!

We are thrilled to announce that registration is now open for our 5K Fundraiser, Strides for Life! All proceeds raised will go to Alpha Care Center so that we can continue to be used by God to support and encourage the clients in our communities.

Who: Individuals and Families who would like to run or walk a 5K to honor LIFE! 

When: Saturday, June 3rd 9:00am-12:00pm

Where: Riverfront Trail in Lowell (near the pickleball courts)

Cost: $25/participate ($60 maximum for families)

Participate or Donate here: https://secure.fundeasy.com/ministrysync/event/website/home/?e=24919

Questions? Contact Abigail at abigailg@alphacarecenter.org

We will hold another Strides for Life 5K Fundraiser on August 19, 2023 in Lake Odessa. These fundraising events help to cover a good portion of our annual budget. We are excited to see the community step forward to help support us in this way!

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Can you help Alpha Care Center become better connected with your church?

We are now ready for you to sign up as an Ambassador of Hope!

Please view the documents below for more details and how to get started.

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We have all witnessed the power of your prayer for Alpha Care Center. God moves in wonderous ways. He provides and directs. He is good. Will you please consider praying with us in April? We have a calendar you can use as a guide. Check it out below!

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Winter Update

Grace at the Well

There is now a new, engaging support group in the community for women facing unexpected pregnancies through West Cannon Baptist Church “We offer hope, community, and encouragement to unmarried pregnant moms and unmarried moms of newborns up to 6 months old in a 10 week support group format. Come to 8 of our 10 meetings and we will throw you a baby shower! Considering adoption? Our baby shower doubles as an adoption party, where we help equip you to meet your future goals.” We are pleased to have this on our radar as another resource for our clients. Stay tuned to learn about other resources made available to clients in future eNews updates!

Become an Ambassador of Hope

We are seeking to create stronger, more consistent connections within our communities and churches. We are looking for “Ambassadors of Hope!” Would you be willing to help us connect the dots?

For more details or to sign up, please contact Abigail at abigailg@alphacarecenter.org

Ladies Luncheon

Less than two weeks remain to register for the Ladies Luncheon!

Can’t make it this year? You can still get involved! We are accepting donations for the silent auction and are also still in need of sponsors to help cover the cost of the event. For more information please reach out to Abigail Guernsey at abigailg@abigail

RSVP at: https://secure.fundeasy.com/ministrysync/event/?e=24342

Please Consider Praying With Us

Click on the link below to view our daily prayer calendar.

https://mcusercontent.com/dcb2fb281d436d1b55de0e178/files/812a218b-1e79-89eb-8a76-3d28bbe6a4b6/March_2023_Prayer_Calendar.pdf

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Happy New Year!

New Year, New Outreach Opportunities
Lake Odessa Ultrasound room

We are excited to announce that the Lake Odessa location is now able to provide free ultrasounds for clients. We are praising God for providing us with this practical avenue of outreach. Our first client ultrasound was on January 11, 2023! See the photo below! (shared anonymously with permission of mom)

Lake Odessa ultrasound images
Christmas Celebration
Alpha Care Center Christmas Parties

In December, Alpha Care Center had a Christmas party to celebrate Jesus’s birth with clients at both the Lowell and the Lake Odessa Locations. THIRTY-FIVE families were adopted for gifting. A great big thank you to our communities for helping make these celebrations a success—you prayed, volunteered time, and gave financially to help Alpha Care Center spread Christmas Joy!

New Development Assistant
Abigail Gurnsey

My husband, Adam, and I live on a small farm in Ionia right in between the Lowell and Lake Odessa locations. We have two kiddos— Levi (4.5) and Eden (1.5). Our family is also in the home study process to pursue domestic, infant adoption. We grow closer in our relationships with Jesus at Impact Church in Lowell.

The majority of my work experiences been in the credit union world. I have helped many members in local branches. More recently, I was behind the scenes creating and facilitating company training and supporting projects that fostered the company culture within the credit union. I left my career (that I enjoyed greatly!) in June 2022 to be more involved with my family because, as I’ve heard many times, “Your kids are only little once!”

Accepting this part-time role at Alpha Care Center was truly God-Orchestrated and Christa or myself would enjoy telling you of His goodness sometime in person! My heart is burdened for moms because, well, I’ve been there. I’ve had two challenging pregnancies and am now experiencing mom-life to the max.

I am thrilled to use my experience to support an organization that intentionally pours into families in our communities and cannot wait to learn from everyone at Alpha Care Center!

Wondering how to pray with us?

Click on the button below to view our daily prayer calendar.

https://mcusercontent.com/dcb2fb281d436d1b55de0e178/files/2ce58eaf-387e-22ab-0ac6-e13973f69df6/2.February_2023.01.pdf