Our History
This document was prepared as a record and expression of the thankfulness that we, the current staff and volunteers, feel for the many people who were resolute in their service, giving selflessly during the formative years and “middle ages” of this ministry. Upon the foundation of their prayers and labor, we carry on the mission using the buildings, one purchased and one given, as bases from which we’ll help, using the wisdom and grace found in Christ, those who come to navigate life’s choices. May the Lord be praised!
A Historical Account of New Beginnings Pregnancy + Family Support
Birthright was the first crisis pregnancy center in Grand Rapids, MN, but closed due to a lack of volunteers. Yvonne Warren, led by God to re-establish a local center, organized a visit to Agape Pregnancy Center in Fergus Falls, MN, on Oct. 15, 2004. That group led the effort to create a nonprofit organization and conduct their first meeting a month later. To obtain a 501©(3) status, they declared the official name to be “Brephos Pregnancy Center.” Brephos is the Greek word for baby used in Luke 1:44 and is used for both an unborn baby in the womb and a newborn child. Their first official Board of Director’s meeting was May 15, 2005, with Pastor Dan Domke as Chairman.
At the outset, Board members volunteered to accomplish the mission by serving on various committees. They produced a newsletter called The Rattle. Programs offered to clients in 2006 were Conqueror’s post-abortion healing program, Teen Childbirth Education, Teen Parenting Class, Firm Foundations and Adoption Training.
Board members and the Executive Director served faithfully for the first six years. Their legacy was a functioning Center with a passionate purpose and great potential. They worked to raise operational funds and struggled with the ongoing challenge of retaining volunteers. Volunteers were pressed to give more time to keep the doors open. A few years later, several part-time staff positions were created to resolve the scheduling issue. The Board of Directors now address policy-related matters, decisions required by law, long-range planning, oversight of the Executive Director, and participating in fundraising efforts.
The organization’s name was changed to New Beginnings Pregnancy Care Center on 11-24-14 in order to communicate more effectively to a younger audience. Laurie Marshall and Bobbie Harrington worked with the Board of Directors, volunteers, and groups like the Kiwanis Club, to raise $30,000 for the purchase of an ultrasound machine. In order for clients to better reach our volunteers, an additional texting phone number was added. Several adoption placements resulted because of the Center’s referrals.
To strengthen connections to area churches, the “Church Representative’s Initiative” was developed in 2015 and the Representatives met for the first time in February 2016. In the fall of 2016 a comprehensive web-based client, donor and staff management software was purchased.
A third day of operation was added in September, 2017, with funding provided by First Evangelical Lutheran Church to accommodate additional clients. During that same time, staff initiated a partnership with Cradles of Hope so the center could become a distributor of free Pack N Plays to clients who receive Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and Safe Sleep Environments instruction. Several staff were certified as car seat safety trainers, and we added free car seats as a program.
The Center crossed a record setting month in October 2018 by providing 101 services, and we have had consistently strong service numbers ever since. Several major milestones were reached in 2019. We congratulated our first graduate of the Earn While You Learn program. The Grand Rapids building was purchased on May 1, 2019. Businesses donated materials and an army of volunteers, led by Gary Edwards and Dale Geisler, accomplished the remodeling and move.
A generous couple donated a large warehouse-type building in Deer River in August 2019, to expand services meeting the mission of the organization. Another flurry of volunteers worked on the section of this building that would house New Beginnings. They worked through COVID, led by Civil Engineer, Jerry Meyer. The Deer River location officially opened on September 9, 2021. In 2022 funds were secured for a second ultrasound program. Plans are currently being made to utilize the remainder of the building for group classes and community and youth events.
In 2022, the name of our organization was changed to New Beginnings Pregnancy + Family Support to better reflect our mission. God’s blessings continue in bringing dedicated staff and volunteers to the centers and providing sustaining funds from generous donors and grants. The center continues GROWTH-more open hours, more clients, more volunteers, more programs, more services-exciting opportunities to share the love of Jesus.
Psalm 22:30 A posterity shall serve Him. It will be recounted of the Lord to the next generation, they will come and declare His righteousness to a people who will be born, That He has done this.
