Outpouring of support puts Ray of Hope’s Shelbina center back in operation
Fire destroyed center's previous home
The ruins of the Ray of Hope Pregnancy Care Ministries (PCM) Shelbina Center were still smoldering when one of the firefighters asked for more information about the organization’s lifesaving work.
“Up until then, he didn’t know we existed, but he knew someone who he believed could benefit from our services,” said Tessy Fuller, executive director of the Ray of Hope centers in Macon and Shelbina.
An early-morning electrical fire destroyed the center on Nov. 16.
No one was in the building at the time.
Thanks to an outpouring of grace and community support, the center is back up and running, offering its full slate of services in temporary quarters owned by the First Baptist Church of Shelbina.
“The community has been amazing and really pulled together,” said Mrs. Fuller. “I can hardly believe that in just a few days after the fire, Ray of Hope PCM will be able to continue to serve clients in Shelby County. It speaks volumes of what a small town is all about.”
“Right in the middle”
Amanda Durbin, a member of St. Mary parish in Shelbina, is president of the Ray of Hope board of directors.
“It was obvious from the beginning that God was right in the middle of all of this,” she said.
First Baptist recently moved into a new building. The day of the fire, the congregation offered Ray of Hope the use of some of its vacated space, free of charge.
Volunteers helped move furniture and supplies and get things ready to welcome clients.
The new location is to be open every second Monday of the month from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., or by calling (660) 395-8099 to make an appointment.
Mrs. Fuller noted that the older building works well for now, but a permanent location will eventually need to be found.
“We’re not sure yet where God will lead us,” she stated, “but we’re confident He will reveal that and open those doors sometime in the new year.”
An online fundraising campaign, known as “Beauty from Ashes,” is under way to help pay for a new, permanent location and for items lost in the fire.
Ray of Hope had just installed new office equipment and remodeled the restroom in the Shelbina building.
“Our insurance covered our electronics and some of our office equipment in there,” said Mrs. Fuller, “but didn’t cover the majority of the inventory that we had.”
“Back on the map”
Ray of Hope PCM is a non-denominational, nonprofit corporation that offers free pregnancy tests, education and mentorship for those facing an unplanned or unexpected pregnancy and for first-time parents.
The organization helps about 25 families annually.
“We’ve had nine babies this year that have been born,” said Mrs. Fuller. “We also have some who are waiting to be born, and of course we walk with families who have babies up to the age of 2.”
Through Ray of Hope’s “Earn While You Learn” program, clients are able to complete lessons, earn points, and then “shop” in the Baby Boutique for items they need.
The Boutique is stocked with donations of diapers, wipes, clothes for the baby, blankets and more.
Many moms save their money for larger items and may even bring the father of the baby with them to learn and earn even more.
Beyond that, Ray of Hope receives funding through Missouri’s Alternatives to Abortion (ATA) program, which helps provide for the immediate material needs of pregnant women who are in crisis.
“We get an allotment from the state,” Mrs. Fuller explained. “Through the ATA program, we’re able to assist with things such as rent or car payments to help our clients get back on their feet.
“A lot of time, they come to us and don’t even have a place to live,” she noted.
Clients travel from as far as Hannibal, Monroe City and Perry for services.
“That’s why it’s so important for us to get back on the map and let people know that we’re still here, still going, still offering services,” she said.
From sadness to joy
Mrs. Durbin completed three difficult pregnancies before her doctor told her and her husband, Dale, that they could have no more children.
Heartbroken at losing out on the big family she always dreamed of, she prayed for God to help her honor Him while working through her grief.
“I asked Him to use me however He could,” she said. “I just wanted to serve.”
Father Mike Murphy, her pastor at the time, asked her to represent her parish on the Kirksville Deanery’s pro-life committee.
Leading the meetings was Stephana Landwehr, who was the diocesan pro-life coordinator.
She told the committee about a woman who prayed on the sidewalk outside the Planned Parenthood abortion clinic in Columbia whenever abortions were being performed there.
Mrs. Durbin and her 2-year-old son began traveling to Columbia to join Kathy Forck in prayer.
She quickly realized that many of the women seeking abortions in Columbia based their decision on a lack of support and tangible resources.
“And it hit me hard that we had neither of those in the area where I live,” said Mrs. Durbin.
Mrs. Durbin gave a presentation on the subject at Immaculate Conception parish in Macon, St. Patrick parish in Clarence and her home parish, St. Mary in Shelbina.
Dr. Landwehr gave her information about spiritual adoption of pre-born babies. With that, the people began praying for individual babies who were in danger of abortion.
Mrs. Durbin organized a baby shower for the unborn babies at sixth months. The response was overwhelmingly generous.
“People brought tons of baby supplies to help new mothers,” she recalled. “We didn’t know what we were going to do with it all.”
Recognizing good momentum, Fr. Murphy asked Mrs. Durbin to meet with likeminded women from several congregations in Macon about starting a permanent ministry to help pregnant women in need.
“We got together and came up with a plan to offer love, support and education for women experiencing a difficult pregnancy and for first-time mothers and fathers who felt they didn’t have the tools and resources to be the best parents they could be,” she said.
Through that action, “many, many babies have been saved,” stated Kathy Forck, coordinator of the Columbia 40 Days for Life Campaign.
A place to land
Ray of Hope Pregnancy Ministries opened its main location in Macon on Aug. 15, 2010 — the day Catholics around the world celebrate Mary saying “yes” to being Jesus’s mother.
The Shelbina location opened four years later in a building Mr. and Mrs. Durbin own on the same block as St. Mary Church.
Mrs. Durbin has watched in wonder as people set aside their theological and even political differences in order to help families, mothers and babies in need.
The Ray of Hope board of directors has representatives from every local congregation.
“There are no boundaries when it comes to what we are doing with Ray of Hope,” she said. “It pulls on my heart strings to see us all unified in Christ for life, a cause that should have no divisions.”
It has also united people in giving.
The Macon and Shelby County Knights of Columbus, Shelby County Right to Life and many other faith-based organizations have been tremendously supportive throughout Ray of Hope’s existence.
Children and adults have foregone presents at birthday parties, instead asking for support for Ray of Hope.
High school students sponsor fundraisers. The local Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapter has welcomed Mrs. Durbin to talk about Ray of Hope’s mission.
“I tell them how necessary it is to have pregnancy resource centers in every community,” she said.
Whenever she gives a presentation, she likens pregnancy resource centers to light towers along an airport runway.
“When someone is experiencing difficulties on their journey and needs to make a safe landing, we are all prepared and waiting,” she said.
Smoke signals
An off-duty 911 dispatcher contacted Mrs. Durbin to tell her about the fire.
Father Simeon Etonu, current pastor of the Shelbina and Clarence parishes, met her when she arrived at the scene.
“It was devastating,” she recalled. “I teared up for a moment. But right away, two different firefighters asked if we could give them information about our ministry.
“I realized then that God was going to use this to let people who need us know we’re here,” she said.
Throughout the day, pastors from nearby congregations offered free office and storage space and whatever help they could give.
“It’s been amazing,” said Mrs. Fuller. “And maybe through all of this, more people will find out that we exist and what our mission is.”
“Looking for the best”
Mrs. Fuller said it’s a privilege to be part of a ministry and a community that shines such a bright light of hope in times of such difficulty.
“We are amazed by the outpouring of love, prayers and support from our community,” she stated. “Many volunteers from First Baptist and from Ray of Hope worked to get the space ready in a short period of time.”
She asked for prayers for the center’s clients as they weather the transition.
She also suggested praying for the Ray of Hope staff and board as it seeks a permanent home.
“We’re not just looking for a good location, we’re looking for the best,” she said. “We want it to be a space where we can reach the most clients, where we can save lives and help families.”
“Beauty from Ashes”
Mrs. Fuller said Ray of Hope is much more than a building.
“It is a mission and a community of people who are battling on the front lines to stand for the sanctity of human life,” she stated. “During difficult times, there is no better people to be surrounded by.”
All money contributed to Ray of Hope’s Beauty from Ashes campaign will go toward the next steps of opening up a permanent location in Shelby County.
Donations can be sent to Ray of Hope PCM, 309 N. Missouri St., Suite B, Macon, MO 63552. Checks should have “Beauty from Ashes” written in the memo section.
Online donations can be made at:
