FOR THE MONTH OF MAY, we had 96 client visits, 45 of which were new Daybreak clients. We performed 48 pregnancy tests. 35 of those tests were positive, and 21 ultrasounds were performed. For the month, 42 Community Care clients were served, and we had 2 mothers graduate from our “Baby Bucks” program and qualify for shopping sessions in “Taylor’s Boutique”.

Beyond the meeting of our clients’ physical needs, the Gospel of the Lord Jesus was shared with 30 clients and 2 client family members, and 2 of those individuals professed saving faith in Christ. Another 47 clients were engaged in frank and open discussions about spiritual matters, and 2 abortion minded/abortion vulnerable clients changed their minds and decided to give birth to their babies!

On Wednesday, May 1st, Sabrina and I represented Daybreak at Shandon Baptist Church’s “Local Missions Night”. We were treated to a delicious meal and had the opportunity to meet several members and visit with two of our Daybreak volunteers – Joanne Ferster and Ann Gibson – who are members at SBC. It was a delightful evening, and we are extremely grateful to Shandon Baptist for their support of Daybreak and this opportunity to highlight our work.

On Thursday, May 2nd, it was “all-hands-on-deck” in making the final preparations for the Daybreak Annual Banquet. The event, which we billed as, “An Evening with Dr. Albert Mohler, Jr.”, was held on Thursday, May 16th at the University of South Carolina’s Pastides Alumni Center, and it was everything we had hoped it would be. Dr. Mohler, as we suspected he would, drew an incredible audience, causing us to freeze registrations a full week in advance of the event.

Fire code for the Center allows no more than 550, and heading into the evening, we were a few above that number. But a few “no-shows” enabled us to conform to fire code standards, and the evening proceeded smoothly. Dr. Mohler delivered a plenary address and then entertained questions from our moderator and a few members of the audience. He concluded the evening by graciously signing copies of his books outside the banquet hall.

On Thursday, May 23rd, Daybreak hosted a training session for Client Advocates and Staff on the important issue of adoption. The class was facilitated by Ms. Andrea House of Abiding Love Adoptions. Attendance for the session was terrific, as was the information that was shared.

FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE, we had 154 client visits, 61 of which were new Daybreak clients. We performed 56 pregnancy tests, 37 of which were positive. We performed 27 ultrasounds, and 3 mothers were persuaded by their ultrasound to give life to their babies. We thank God for the “game-changing” technology of ultrasound and our wonderful ultrasound technicians, Marina Bird and Jenny Smith!

For June, 50 Community Care clients were served, and 6 mothers completed the Bible studies and courses we provide our Daybreak clients, earning them “Baby Bucks” and shopping sessions in “Taylor’s Boutique”. The Gospel was shared with 33 clients and 4 of their family members, resulting in 3 new professions of saving faith in Christ. Another 54 clients were engaged in frank and open discussions about their “spiritual state of affairs”.

On June 13, Valerie and Corliss, Daughters of the King (Mildred S. Murray Chapter of St. Luke's Episcopal Church), were excited to deliver many baby items that DOK collected to donate to Daybreak to help infants and toddlers in the surrounding Midlands community. Lori Baker, Daybreak’s Director of Client Care, was so appreciative of all the boxes of diapers and packages of wipes that will be given to Daybreak Community Care Clients. What a blessing!!!

Daybreak received 100 expecting-mother “gift bags” that were prepared by members of the American Heritage Girls Troop SC0171. Each bag contained an inspirational note that was personally signed by all the members and leaders of the troop. A very special word of thanks is due Ms. Breanna Cabrera, the Troop Leader, and members of her leadership team, as well as the wonderful young ladies who took on this initiative. Thank you for your support of the work of Daybreak as we encourage mothers in their pregnancies.

We want to extend a special note of thanks to Ms. Hannah McDaniel. Hannah, who is the daughter of our own Lori Baker, donated 68 “mini-blankets” in order to wrap the 12-week soft silicone babies we give our positive-pregnancy test clients. These babies are a beautiful reminder of the precious child growing within the new mother, and thanks to Hannah for her kindness.

Father’s Day (June 16th) signaled the completion of our “Baby Bottles” campaign at several local churches. So far, we have received filled bottles from the following churches:

1) Aimwell Presbyterian

2) Round Hill Baptist

3) Saluda River Baptist

4) Shandon Baptist

We are anticipating the return of bottles from the following churches the first week of July:

1) Grace Life Church

2) Grace Point Church

These faithful churches have been regular and long participants in our Baby Bottles campaigns, and we are so grateful for them!

Well, this has already been too lengthy a “word” from me, so I will close with this. The evening of the Daybreak banquet (May 16th) marked the 3rd anniversary of my service as Daybreak’s Executive Director. It has been an incredible 3 years, with opportunities to meet and speak with so many with hearts for the Gospel and passion for the lives of unborn babies.

It’s been my privilege to observe an incredible team of staff and volunteers who grace Daybreak clients with their gifts and talents every day. Daybreak is in a remarkably sound position, and because of that reality, I have transitioned from being a full-time member of the Daybreak team. I have been accepted back as a member of the Daybreak Board of Directors, so I will still be very much a part of Daybreak, just not a daily eyewitness to the work of this incredible ministry.

Eddie Benton

Chairman of the Board

• Daybreak Devotionals – Tuesdays from 12:30pm-1:30pm. Join us July 9, 16, 23, 30 for a time of fellowship, Bible study, and prayer at Daybreak LifeCare Center. July's theme is "Building Materials". Each person who attends the Tuesday Daybreak Devotionals afternoon meetings in July will receive TWO packs of diapers for their 0-24 month-old child or grandchild. DOUBLE DIAPER DAY!

• Daybreak 5K Walk/Run – SAVE THE DATE: Saturday October 12 at Saluda Shoals Park. 8am Registration and 9am Walk/Run. Stay tuned for more information on our webpage: https://daybreakcola.org/get-involved/.

"Thirty-five years ago, I was serving Daybreak as a hotline volunteer. I got a call one night from a 19-year-old college student, Caryn Powell, who was pregnant and scared. As we talked that night on the phone, her boyfriend wanted her to have an abortion, but she knew in her heart she couldn’t go through with that decision. She allowed me to share the gospel as we talked about life and other options she had. She knew she couldn’t provide for a baby on her own, so we talked about adoption.

"We met the next day, and as she describes it: God began to work in her life. She insisted in the months that followed that her baby be placed with a Christian couple. As Caryn said, 'Releasing my baby required a huge sacrifice on my part. I would have to go against my flesh and trust God that He would provide for BOTH of us. The decision was not made lightly, but I knew it was the right one. God gave me a perfect peace that sustained me for almost twenty years.' We both held that baby girl the day she was born, knowing we might never see her again."

Aimee Murphy

Client Advocate