State of the Ministry Address

In Our Midst has been "official" since around March 18th of this year. She's still a "baby," but this baby is learning and growing every day!

Media Exposure

Since March, we have sent two press releases out on the news wires. As a result In Our Midst has been highlighted by numerous Christian ministries and has been featured on a variety of web news reports. We have also been interviewed by several Christian news programs and talk shows, some which are nationwide.

Networking

Over the past few months we have networked with other Christian ministries and churches literally from coast to coast, and we have found many "soul mates" with similar goals and common passions along the way. Ministries, churches, and individuals from Florida to South Carolina to Illinois, Oregon, California, and Saskatoon, Canada have encouraged us and confirmed this journey we have begun.

SafeHaven Ministries, Inc. remains our strongest ally, but we have made new friends and associations with others as well: CareNet, A.R.I.N., Women of Faith, and Misty Mountain Retreat Center to name a few. We cherish and highly esteem these friends, both old and new, as wonderful gifts from our God.

We have also developed our first ministry brochure which details what In Our Midst is about. If you would like a brochure -- to give to your pastor or pregnancy care center, or for your own information -- simply contact us and we will be happy to send that out to you free of charge.

Upcoming Events

September marks some other firsts for In Our Midst. I will begin teaching a four-week class on compassionate abortion recovery at Henderson Hills Baptist Church in Edmond, Oklahoma the second week in September, and In Our Midst will join SafeHaven for a two-day post-abortion recovery training conference in Rock Hill, South Carolina beginning on September 30th. (We will have online registration available for the Rock Hill conference soon. Please check back if you're interested in attending.)

We are also joining with three pregnancy care centers (Foothills Pregnancy Care Center, Piedmont Women's Center, and York County Pregnancy Center) and SafeHaven for South Carolina's annual Ride 4 Life to be held in 2006. (Look for more details to follow in the months ahead!)

Staff and Finances

It's hard to call Anita Dost "staff." Anita is more like a full-fledged partner in this ministry. She possesses the same calling and passion for the church and the abortion-affected suffering silently within her walls. She has tireless energy and abundant enthusiasm, and is always quick to remember where her strength and sufficiency come from. In all honesty, I don't know where In Our Midst would be without her. She is truly a gift from God!

Anita came on staff officially in May, and takes an embarrassingly small paycheck for the enormous contribution she makes to this ministry. Even so, she gives all she has to the calling God has placed on her life.

As for finances, we began this ministry with an adequate nest-egg for the start-up costs, but those funds are dwindling rapidly. Up to this point we have been mostly privately funded, and will continue to operate in this manner as long as God provides. We believe that where God calls, He also equips. If you feel God has laid this ministry on your heart or if you would like to contribute financially, you may do so via PayPal or by sending a personal check or money order to us. Because In Our Midst is a non-profit 501c-3 corporation, all contributions are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.

Also, because this ministry is growing we are planning to add another person to the payroll for general office work. There simply aren't enough hours in the day to accomplish all that needs to be done with the minimal staff we currently have -- which is a good thing! It is proof that we are growing! However, unless a volunteer surfaces, we will offer an hourly wage for these services, which will further deplete our current resources. However, please know that our dependence is on our God to replenish these resources. We trust that He will provide, by whatever means He chooses. :)

Prayer Support and Quarterly Newsletters

Beyond our need for financial support, we need prayer support! If you would like to be an ongoing prayer partner for this ministry please contact us at staff@inourmidst. Specific prayer requests and praises are sent out weekly via email, usually with a brief update on the activities of the ministry. We welcome all the prayer support we can get!

Also, if you would like to receive an occasional In Our Midst newsletter update via email, please send your name and email address to staff@inourmidst.com. Our plan is to begin sending out email newsletters quarterly, beginning in October. You won't want to miss these updates!

In Closing...

As I look back over the past year and see all that God has done through In Our Midst I stand amazed! And as I look ahead to where He is taking us, I am even more in awe.... What a privilege it is to have been chosen by God Himself to work in this much-needed ministry field. We are grateful beyond words for this assignment and as such, our greatest desire is to serve you accordingly. Please let us know how we can serve you...for His glory.

From my heart to yours,
In Jesus,
Mary Comm
President and Founder
In Our Midst Ministries, Inc.