TACKLING A GENERATION AT RISK – BRINGING A CHRIST-CENTRED RESPONSE TO AN ABORTION-VULNERABLE, SEXUALLY CHARGED CULTURE
2:30 – 3:30
Room: Georgian Bay
Have you ever sat across from a young woman who has just found out she’s pregnant? It may have been you, your daughter, a friend or sister. The fear is real. The sense of impending loss is real – How will I finish school? What will my parents say? I feel so ashamed. I’m not ready to be a parent.
How do we bring hope and truth to counteract the prevailing cultural view that abortion is an easy answer? How do we reach out to women and men broken from the pain of a prior abortion? How do we change the conversation and ensure that our message reflects the perfect love of God?
In this session we will explore behind the scenes of pregnancy care ministry – you’ll hear stories that will impact you and you’ll be inspired to see the expansion of this Christ-centred work into the communities near you.
Dr. Laura Lewis | Canadian Association of Pregnancy Support Services (CAPSS)
Dr. Laura Lewis is a wife, mother of two boys, and a family physician of over twenty years. During the course of her work as a front-line medical doctor she has seen the need for education, support, and practical options for women and men facing unplanned pregnancies.
As part of a team that established a pregnancy care centre in her hometown, she has seen the importance of a local community response to the varied challenges encountered with an unplanned pregnancy. She has also seen the power of compassion, non-judgmental support and practical help in bringing a message of value and hope to each individual both in Canada and overseas. In May of 2016, Dr. Lewis left her active medical work to serve as the Executive Director of CAPSS, the Canadian Association of Pregnancy Support Services. Her combined business and medical degrees position her to be an effective voice and leader in these important matters.
Dr. Lewis graduated with an Honours Bachelor of Commerce degree from Queen’s University, followed by a medical degree from the University of Western Ontario, and certificate of family medicine from McMaster University.
Tara Steeves | Canadian Association of Pregnancy Support Services (CAPSS)
Tara Steeves is the Executive Director of the Sarnia Pregnancy Centre as well as the Pastor of Congregational Care and Adult Ministries at New Horizons Community Church (Free Methodist) in Sarnia, Ontario. She has been a minister for over 25 years and is a wife and mother of 4 children. She and her husband Brent have been partners in ministry for nearly 15 years.
After working for many years in the Criminal Justice System in many different capacities, she has had the privilege of gaining valuable insight in working with individuals who are at risk of life altering decisions. Whether it’s substance abuse, intimate partner violence or unplanned pregnancy, crisis is crisis. She has a passion for connecting the local church to reaching out to those in our community who need the Lord’s love, compassion and forgiveness.
Tara has acquired numerous degrees in criminal diversion, case management, stress management, etc. As a graduate from Kingswood University (Bible College) and her work with the RCMP and Corrections Canada, she has had the opportunity of being the keynote speaker for different conferences internationally.
