The Ministry and Challenges of Pro-Life Pregnancy Centers
Episode Description:
The ministry of pro-life pregnancy centers is essential in providing compassionate care for women who are navigating what can be the crisis of an unplanned pregnancy. Our guest this week is Monica Henderson, the Executive Director of BsideU for Life in Louisville, KY. BsideU for Life provides pro-life pregnancy care, resources, and programs to mothers and fathers who are navigating pregnancy in this context. Monica’s background as a commercial real estate attorney and service as a board member of various non-profits has equipped her with the skillset and network to effectively serve as the Director of this pregnancy center.
Along the way Monica has learned not only how to provide compassionate care and counsel through the ministry of BsideU for Life, but also how to navigate the interpersonal, cultural, and political challenges that are encountered in this context. In addition to her oversight of BsideU for Life, Monica works with the Care Net Center. Advising other pregnancy centers and navigating the organizational complexities and challenges.
In this episode, Monica and Bobby discuss:
- The compassionate care available to women navigating the challenges of an unplanned pregnancy.
- The importance of the involvement of the father and providing an opportunity for them to be a positive influence in the life of the mother and child.
- The “salt and light” staff that serve at pro-life pregnancy centers.
- Learning how to attune yourself as a leader to the people on your team.
- Interpersonal development and conflict resolution.
- The importance of a wide variety of mentor relationships.
- Navigating increasing opposition to pro-life pregnancy centers.
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About the guest:
Monica Henderson is the Executive Director of BsideU for Life, a pro-life pregnancy and life skills ministry in Louisville, Kentucky. She’s a graduate of Furman University (B.A. in Political Science, 1990), and the Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville (JD, 1998). She also studied historic preservation planning at Cornell University.
Before joining BsideU for Life in January 2009, Monica practiced law for 10 years, 9 of them with a large Louisville firm in their commercial real estate group. Her legal background and experience advising nonprofits gifted her to serve in this season of the ministry. In addition to overseeing the day-to-day operations of the center with a staff of 24, she is a Care Net Center Specialist, advising pregnancy center directors all over the country in areas of board development and relations, personnel, and fundraising.
She has served on a number of nonprofit boards. Most recently with Access Justice, a Christian legal aid organization in Louisville. Monica was a member of Little Flock Baptist Church in Shepherdsville, KY for 19 years. Serving in the past as a children’s Sunday School teacher, Bylaws Committee Chair and Trustee. She and her husband Todd moved their membership to Highview Baptist Church (Louisville, KY) in 2018. Where she currently serves as Chair of the Finance Committee, and as a Trustee.
She’s been married to her husband Todd since 1992. They have two adult sons and a double doodle named Bennett who is the pregnancy center’s semi-official therapy dog.
About the host:
Following a successful career as CEO, Bobby sold his business to a publicly-traded company. In what he calls his “second half of life,” Bobby seeks to pour Biblically-based principles into growth-minded business, church, and non-profit leaders.
Through Values-Driven Leadership, Bobby serves as an Executive Coach and Training Consultant for organizations. He shares many of his principles and practices through a weekly blog, the True North Leader podcast, and through three books he has authored:
- Principled Profits: Outward Success Is an Inside Job
- True North Business: A Leader’s Guide to Extraordinary Growth and Impact
- The Freedom Paradox: Is Unbridled Freedom Dividing America?
Pause and Reflect: Pro-Life Pregnancy Centers
- How are you involved in the compassionate care of the whole family?