Nashville, Tenn., Dec. 10, 2021—The Psalm 139 Project, a pro-life ministry of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, has donated two ultrasound machines to pregnancy resource centers in Tennessee as a part of the state’s grant to place seven ultrasound machines during the 2021-2022 fiscal year. The machines in Athens and Dunlap were donated to the centers in August 2021 and are the third and fourth of the seven centers to have a dedication service.
Full Circle Medical Center for Women, Athens, Tenn.
Full Circle Medical Center for Women in Athens, Tenn. will host a dedication ceremony, Dec. 14 from 10:00-11:30 a.m. EST at their location, 510 Old Riceville Rd, Athens, Tenn., 37303.
Full Circle Medical Center for Women has been in operation for over 22 years and began as a ministry of First Baptist Athens in 1998. They have since become a parachurch organization for the McMinn County area, partnering with the local churches with the ultimate goal of pointing women and families to Christ. The center sees approximately 250 clients per year.
“The impact that the ERLC will have on our community through the placement of this machine is immeasurable because we can’t put a price tag on life,” said Julie Ladd, executive director for Full Circle Medical Center for Women. “At Full Circle, we believe that our patients should receive the very best care, and this brand new technology will help us serve them at the level they deserve. We believe that providing quality care is integral to women continuing to come through our doors. We are beyond grateful to be chosen for this grant by the ERLC.”
ERLC representatives will be present at the dedication service along with local pastors and Baptist associational leaders
Next Step Resources Center, Dunlap, Tenn.
Next Step Resources Center in Dunlap, Tenn. will host a dedication ceremony, Dec. 15 from 9:00-10:30 a.m. CST at their location, 1817 Old York Hwy E., Dunlap, TN 37327.
Next Step Resources Center in Dunlap, Tenn. first began through assistance from another clinic located about 40 miles away by launching a satellite office. This center opened as a non-medical satellite in 2009 and in 2013 bought a building. In 2016, the center became known as Next Step Resources Center and launched as a medical clinic. The center provides pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, STD testing and treatment. The center also has a post abortion healing program. They see approximately 575 clients per year.
“I stayed late to complete the ERLC’s Psalm 139 Project ultrasound grant the very day I heard about it,” said Debbie Chandler, executive director of Next Step Resources Center. “The machine we had was around 10 years old and I knew we could get better images for our clients. I had no idea how much better these images would be! Life and death and abundant life may all be determined by the image our clients see. Thank you to the ERLC for granting this ultrasound machine and training to Next Step. We are able to perform more scans each day because of this wonderful blessing.”
ERLC staff will be present at the dedication service along with local pastors and Baptist associational leaders.
“We are thrilled to partner alongside Full Circle Medical Center for Women and Next Step Resources Center and their incredible work,” said Elizabeth Graham, ERLC Vice President of Operations and Life Initiatives. “Through our partnership with the state of Tennessee in placing seven machines this fiscal year, I’m confident the hope of the gospel will continue to reach vulnerable women and preborn babies across this region. May we continue to advocate until abortion becomes illegal, unthinkable, and unnecessary across the world.”
The partnership between the ERLC’s Psalm 139 Project and Tennessee represents a total investment of $183,000 to place machines across the state. One hundred percent of financial contributions to the Psalm 139 Project go toward purchasing ultrasound machines and training for their use.
One hundred percent of financial contributions designated to the Psalm 139 Project go toward purchasing ultrasound machines and providing training for workers. No Cooperative Program resources are used for these machines. Tax-deductible gifts may be made online to The Psalm 139 Project, or via check to ERLC, 901 Commerce Street, Nashville, Tenn., 37203. Learn more at psalm139project.com.
