Only One Could Have Known...
Dear Friend of Stanton,
It has been an interesting couple of months, to say the least. I would never have expected a pandemic to coincide almost precisely with Stanton SoCal’s planned sabbatical, but God certainly knew this was the time to take a break.
(In case you missed it, here is the letter where our sabbatical details are outlined.)
Thanks to ongoing news about the challenges of finding enough Personal Protective Equipment (“PPE”) for hospitals nationwide, it is easy to explain how difficult it would have been to continue regular operations in the Stanton Mobile once all the coronavirus-related restrictions began. We used to order gloves, masks, sanitizer and other medical supplies “as needed”, only keeping up to a month’s worth of supplies in our office at a time. If Stanton SoCal had been open for business as usual in March, our mobile clinic wouldn’t have made it through April based on supplies alone.
I know God could have worked through the PPE shortage if we were indeed open, but this is just one reminder among many that the Lord knew all the reasons for our necessary sabbatical long before we even asked “why”.
While Stanton SoCal’s mobile ministry has been on hiatus, we have been blessed by the continued monthly support of our faithful donors. I paid our annual insurance bill in April - a hefty amount that must be paid to keep our clinic license in good standing - and I was grateful to have the resources to do so.
If you are a monthly partner with Stanton, thank you. I have great hope for the future because of your belief in the mission of Stanton SoCal and your support of the life-saving work we do.
I continue to field calls from abortion-vulnerable women seeking help in the High Desert, and it is positively heartbreaking to know that Planned Parenthood remains open while our mobile clinic is garaged for the season. I refer clients to pregnancy medical clinics in the Inland Empire, but many of our typical clientele do not have the transportation to reach Fontana or San Bernardino.
It is clearer than ever that the ministry of the Stanton Mobile is critical for the women of Victorville, Hesperia, and beyond. We need to reopen, and we will keep working diligently toward that day.
At this time, we do not yet have a date for reopening the Mobile. We are still significantly short in our monthly budget for full-time operation, and our plans to reach new supporters through large events this spring were swiftly quashed by the pandemic restrictions.
However, I said “our plans”.
The Stanton SoCal Board of Directors has led the ministry through some significant storms, and at all times our board members have sought to do God’s will in His timing. We don’t know how funds will be raised and staff will be recruited in this uncertain season, but we remain confident that the Lord has great plans for Stanton SoCal and for the precious women and children we are called to serve.
I am reminded of 2 Corinthians 4, where Paul and Timothy write of their supernatural ability to minister effectively in human bodies:
“Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart… But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed… for this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen.”
If you are reading this, you almost certainly have the same hope as Paul and Timothy and as the Stanton SoCal Board of Directors. You may also be struggling personally, professionally, and/or spiritually during this intense time of societal upheaval.
It is my prayer for you today that you are encouraged by God’s Word to continue pressing on, to continue to look ahead to the “eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.” Please do not lose heart!
For now, you can help Stanton SoCal in a few specific ways.
Please pray with the Stanton team for the women of the High Desert who are seeking life-affirming, quality healthcare, that they would call Stanton SoCal and be referred to like-minded ministries instead of entering Planned Parenthood.
Pray for the Stanton team - our board of directors, our staff on sabbatical, and our faithful supporters. We have 3 babies due to be born this summer to staff members (including myself - my seventh child is due in July), for which we praise God! Pray for health and safety for all our team and for renewed energy when we are able to resume operations.
Pray for miraculous provision of funding and additional staff members to allow the Mobile clinic to reopen full-time in the near future. If you do not currently support Stanton on a monthly basis, please consider becoming a regular partner to help us reach our budget goals! You can donate securely online at this link.
Please share the ministry of Stanton with your family and friends. If you have any creative ideas for connecting potential partners with Stanton SoCal, please do share by emailing me directly at Danielle@StantonSoCal.org. We are actively seeking the following part-time volunteers and would appreciate your help in our search:
Bookkeeper
Ultrasound Technician or RN trained in obstetric ultrasound
Clinic Manager
Church Liaison
Again, thank you for your continued care for the ministry of Stanton SoCal.
I look forward to the day when I can add to the incredible stories of women and their babies whose lives are forever changed because of this ministry. I am grateful for the hope that is found in Jesus, and I believe we will one day soon be able to again share that hope with the lost and hurting souls who make their way into the Stanton Mobile.
For Life,
Danielle Versluys
President, Stanton SoCal