Category: Our Programs

Volunteers. Here at Two Lines (formerly Advice & Aid), we rely on our many volunteers on a daily basis. In fact, we wouldn’t exist without them. They are our strength and our backbone.

The following story was shared with us by a former client. But she is now much more than that. She is one of our volunteers. Her story of receiving help, and then being led back years later to offering help, is one that only God could write.

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Recently I met with an adviser at my church after taking an online assessment offering insight into my spiritual gifts. I have had the word “obedience” on my heart this year, so I took the next step to meet with her. The spiritual gifts that I was strongest in were mercy, encouragement and hospitality. As we discussed where I might use my gifts, an organization called Two Lines (formerly Advice & Aid) came up. After asking her more about it, I came to the shocking realization that this organization was the very one that changed the trajectory of my entire life many years ago.

Following is a little about my history and why this particular meeting was clearly God’s leading.

Nearly 8 years ago, I had been dating a man for about 3 months when we found out I was pregnant. To say I was terrified would be an understatement. I had a rocky history with my father, my mother was on the streets somewhere, and I was a lost person who didn’t know God. I cannot describe how scared and lonely I felt. I didn’t even know who you call once you had a positive pregnancy test. However, one day I was driving down 67th street and I saw a pregnancy help billboard so I called the number and scheduled an appointment. I walked in to that appointment hoping someone would tell me that it would be okay to just do what I needed to do and to not feel bad about it. Instead they listened to me cry in desperation about my own traumatic history, how I could never be a mother, and how I didn’t even like children. The counselor then told me I qualified for a sonogram. At the time, I had NO IDEA what that was, but for whatever reason I said yes.

My daughter’s heartbeat at 7 weeks was around 179 beats per minute. That was my BABY, and it was alive. It was unbelievable. I walked out of that place bawling about being pregnant, but determined to keep the baby. I never went back to that facility or had further contact with them, but it had made a difference in my life.

Fast forward a handful of years and a lot of history that led me to my current place in life, and my adviser was going over my spiritual gifts and mentions the very place I had received help from years ago. That this particular adviser was in my life, and had it on her heart to talk to me about volunteering at the one place that had changed my life years ago was definitely a God-thing.

I now have officially done my first couple of volunteer opportunities with Two Lines (formerly Advice & Aid). This experience has given me the confidence to reach out to another ministry who helps people in transition homes, as well as meeting with another leader at my church to discuss my desire to do some work for over the next year. I’m finding contentment in the areas where I am serving, and it feels good in my bones. I’m really looking forward to seeing where Two Lines (formerly Advice & Aid) leads me. I’m curious to see if somehow God will weave the work with them in with the work I’m doing with another ministry for furnishing and finding transition homes for those in need.

As for my story, I now have two beautiful daughters and a baby on the way. I eventually married that man whom I barely knew and had a child with. Whenever I doubt my faith, I remember that God chose ME to be the mother of my beautiful children! I have never felt chosen in my entire life and finding out that I have been chosen ON purpose, and FOR a purpose, continues to amaze me every day.

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So what about you? Are you using the gifts you have been given to make a difference somewhere?

This month is Sanctity of Life month, in which we focus on those mothers and babies who deserve a chance at life. We need warriors to help fight for these precious lives. You could be one of those warriors!

In the above story, we see a full circle. The writer received the help she needed, and a life was saved. She can now use the unique gifts that she has to impact others and fight for other mothers and babies.

Are you interested in learning about how you can use the very gifts that you already have in this important area? Visit our Volunteer page to begin to see how YOU can make a difference!

A rich, full and abundant life. It’s something we all dream of having.

But when an unexpected pregnancy occurs, life can seem only full of uncertainty and confusion. Certainly not the rich, full and abundant life that we all are hoping for. Here at Two Lines (formerly Advice & Aid), we can help those around us move out of that uncertainty and confusion. In fact, every day, we help our clients move from crisis, to a plan, and then on to a full life again.

How? One step at a time. In fact, that is a major goal of both our Journeys and Bridges programs. In these programs, we get to meet with clients and their partners week after week, helping them slow down, think through what their plan might look like, and figure out the steps they can take to move toward not just life, but a rich, full and abundant life! Occasionally, this even means building a stable, two-parent family for their child.

Here are two stories of couples who found their rich, full and abundant life plan . . . and started the path toward that life they always wanted!

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Matt & Kaylee*
(Names have been changed)
When Matt and Kaylee first came to Two Lines (formerly Advice & Aid), they were 20-year-old college students. They were not in a place to have a baby right then, and were considering either abortion or adoption. We discussed the importance of taking time to process and not make a rushed decision. A sonogram made the pregnancy more real for Kaylee, but they still left our office undecided on their pregnancy choice. We gave them the space and the freedom to make the decision without any pressure from us. A few weeks later, we heard back from them. They had decided to carry the baby, and then parent with Matt involved. They expressed interest in starting the Journeys parenting education program here. Throughout the next six months, we met with them weekly and got to see them grow together in their relationship and in their love for each other and their unborn baby. They welcomed a baby girl in May of that year, and both of them have since graduated from college with their respective degrees. They were married this past July.

Brett & Allison*
(Names have been changed)
Brett and Allison participated in our Journeys program after learning about their pregnancy. They had been dating for several years, and Brett let us know in that first session that they planned on getting married in the next year or so. Finances were a big factor in when that could happen. Throughout the Journeys program, they learned about fetal development and pregnancy as well as how to take care of their baby for its first year of life. They actively participated and were engaged in conversation, asking great question about parenting and gaining a great deal of knowledge before the baby ever came. Brett began to hope and dream of what it would be like to be a father. They now have a son, and were married this past summer.

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It is truly a blessing to see clients thriving. Their lives have been transformed from that very first meeting at Two Lines (formerly Advice & Aid) where we offered them help to get past the crisis and move into the life they were wanting – a life that was rich, full and abundant!

Interested in learning more about how our programs can help you? No matter where you are in your journey – unexpected, unplanned, still deciding – we can offer you friendship, support and even a few answers along the way.

913-962-0200

Miscarriage. No one ever believes that it will happen to them. But unfortunately,  up to 20% of all pregnancies end in miscarriage. It is a silent pain for most women. One that most people never even see. But the pain is real, and cannot – should not – be ignored. One of our friend’s has shared her raw and very personal story of miscarriage. Perhaps you need, as she did, the permission to grieve a child that you will never hold.

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All my life I couldn’t wait to get married and have children. I always knew I was going to have 4 kids: 2 boys and 2 girls. So, when I met my husband and he felt the same way, I couldn’t wait to start our family. Of course, our plan was to get married, find good jobs, have a place to live . . . and then we would start building the rest of the family.

Things didn’t go as planned.  About seven months into our marriage, we looked at the 2 lines of a pregnancy test and realized someone was going to join us in his/her own time. Wow! Pregnant? Really? We were still so young!! Yet, we were excited about a baby being part of our lives. It was fun to tell our parents, though a little nerve-wracking at the same time. They were happy for us.

Life continued as normal, except that I knew I was carrying a little baby in my womb. We were so happy. But then, one Tuesday morning while at work, I began to have some spotting.  I had heard that some women experience spotting, so I tried to keep cool. My husband and I talked to some people, called the doctor and were told to just to take it easy.

By end of the week, things were worse. The bleeding got heavier and heavier, and then the pain began. It got so intense that we decided to go to the hospital. I honestly don’t know if it was simply ignorance, but I had no idea that a miscarriage could be so painful. I laid there in the Emergency Room, bleeding, hurting, and definitely having contractions. I can’t even remember if they gave me anything for the pain, but it was bad. My husband held my hand as I cried and cried for I knew we were not going to hold our baby on this side of heaven. Every time we had visited the doctor I had imagined our trip to the hospital to deliver our first born, but it didn’t happen the way I imagined.

Here I was at 12 weeks of pregnancy, delivering but under very different circumstances. No one tells you how painful a miscarriage can be. The pain didn’t stop after the D & C, because then a new kind of pain began – the pain in my heart. Everywhere I went, it seemed there was a pregnant woman. People who knew what had happened often said things like, “You’ll have another one. You are still young.  Don’t cry.” I know they meant well, but these words hurt. I had lost a child, my first child. I didn’t want another one, I wanted that one.  Then my sister said something that helped my journey to healing. She said, “It’s ok to cry. You lost a child.”

Finally, someone understood that I was in pain. Someone encouraged me to grieve.

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A miscarriage is difficult. You feel like you did something wrong, or there is something wrong with you.  We need to be gentle with women and their partners when they experience a miscarriage.  If you or someone you know has experience miscarriage, Two Lines Pregnancy Clinic’s (formerly Advice & Aid Pregnancy Center) Awakenings Program may be for you. This program helps women who have experienced infant loss.  Call our office (913-962-0200) and ask for Kelly.

As you can imagine, there are many hands required to keep both locations of Two Lines Pregnancy Clinic (formerly Advice & Aid Pregnancy Center) afloat. We need staff and volunteers, supplies and equipment, office help and Client Advocates.

Last year, due to the generosity and hard work of our supporters and staff, we were joined by almost 400 men, women and children who wanted to be supportive of the expecting women in their lives! This year, our goal is to do far above those numbers.

 

To that end, we have our upcoming 2017 Walk for Life on June 3. This is an opportunity for you to be directly involved in reaching women in the Kansas City area who are dealing with an unplanned pregnancy. By being a part of our walk, you will have a hand in standing on the front lines, speaking up for the unborn. You can make a difference in the fight for life with these precious babies!

 

Interested? Start by visiting our 2017 Walk for Life website at www.aapcwalk.org. There, you can find information on how to be a part of this event.

You can participate in many different ways:

• If you wish to walk, it’s not too late to join an existing team and help raise a few dollars – Simply click the “Participate” button at the top of the walk website 
• If you wish to donate to the walk, any size donation makes a huge difference! Simply click the “Give” button at the top of the walk website 
• Join us on Saturday to simply walk and show your support for LIFE!
  

We can’t do this without your help! Help us make a difference in the lives of most vulnerable among us!

Whether being pregnant was part of your plans for life, or it came as a complete surprise, the fact is, you need help. This change in your life is a big one, and it is one that you can’t face alone. There is so much information available to you through the internet and even the advice of friends. But how do you wade through all of that to find exactly what you need? Some of that information even conflicts with other information. You can’t even be sure of who to believe anymore.

What are you going to do?

First, you need to find a trusted voice. One that you can ask straightforward questions of, and get honest, complete answers. One that truly wants what is best for you. Not just what is convenient for you at the time . . . but what is best for you both now and in the future. You need someone that offers not just opinion, but along with the helpful information can also offer actual support.

Where do you find someone like that?

Allow us to step in and fill that role in your life. In fact, we’ve even made it easy for you to check out what we have to offer, without commitment . . . without having to face an awkward conversation on the phone . . . without having to leave your home. We have created an app that can be downloaded to your phone. On this app, you will find much of the helpful information that you need right now. Here, you can find information on fetal development (Want to know what’s happening in your body? A simple click can give you the valuable information you need!). Here, you can track important medical information (Need to know more about your cycle? A couple of quick questions, and you are on your way!). Here, you can even hear testimonials about how we have helped other people who were faced being pregnant – and found some actual help through us.

It’s as simple as clicking on the button below, and you will be taken directly to the iTunes stores where you can download our app.

The Two Lines (formerly Advice & Aid) app is currently available for iPhones only.

Want to know more about what it’s like to visit Two Lines (formerly Advice & Aid)?

Check out this video. You can experience exactly what it’s like to come to our office. You’ll see – it’s a warm, comforting and helpful place to be!

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If you want to visit us in person, you can even schedule the appointment right from here, without having to even make the call. Click the button below, pick a time that is convenient for you . . . and be reassured that you have someone on your side, fighting for you, and wanting what is best!