Providing the HOPE which brings Life and Healing...
Founded in 2009 by Rev. Dr. Herb Lusk II, The HOPE Center's mission from its inception was to shine the light of God's hope and healing into an area darkened by sky-rocketing rates of abortion. It is incorporated under the aegis of People for People, Inc, of which Rev. Lusk is the founder and CEO. The foundational mission of People for People is to drastically reduce the blight and effects of poverty in its community of the most urban pockets of Philadelphia. It is no secret that abortion providers especially target minorities and those disenfranchised by socio-economic factors, rendering these demographics most vulnerable to choosing abortion because of the lack of access to accurate information and supporting resources. In answer to the tremendous need for counseling and supported services for men and women confronted by crisis pregnancies in Philadelphia, the HOPE Center was born as a natural extension of People for People's original mandate, providing alternatives to abortion and strengthening and empowering families through times of pregnancy related stresses.
Our Mission
The mission of the Hope Center is to provide comprehensive life-affirming support, resources, and services in a safe environment to anyone facing an unplanned pregnancy, in need of healing from past pregnancy decisions, or seeking to make healthy sexual choices through responsible behavior.
Our Vision
The Hope Center seeks to promote healthy life-affirming options for women, men, and families facing an unplanned pregnancy. We are committed to empowering families and communities by:
We believe that…
Founded in 2009 by Rev. Dr. Herb Lusk II, The HOPE Center's mission from its inception was to shine the light of God's hope and healing into an area darkened by sky-rocketing rates of abortion. It is incorporated under the aegis of People for People, Inc, of which Rev. Lusk is the founder and CEO. The foundational mission of People for People is to drastically reduce the blight and effects of poverty in its community of the most urban pockets of Philadelphia. It is no secret that abortion providers especially target minorities and those disenfranchised by socio-economic factors, rendering these demographics most vulnerable to choosing abortion because of the lack of access to accurate information and supporting resources. In answer to the tremendous need for counseling and supported services for men and women confronted by crisis pregnancies in Philadelphia, the HOPE Center was born as a natural extension of People for People's original mandate, providing alternatives to abortion and strengthening and empowering families through times of pregnancy related stresses.
Our Mission
The mission of the Hope Center is to provide comprehensive life-affirming support, resources, and services in a safe environment to anyone facing an unplanned pregnancy, in need of healing from past pregnancy decisions, or seeking to make healthy sexual choices through responsible behavior.
Our Vision
The Hope Center seeks to promote healthy life-affirming options for women, men, and families facing an unplanned pregnancy. We are committed to empowering families and communities by:
- Being a trusted and valued provider of options counseling, medical services, and self-care during pregnancy.
- Being a reliable resource in the community and providing accurate information and education regarding lifestyle choices.
- Offering spiritual renewal and healing for past pregnancy decisions.
- Providing a foundation of faith for women, men, and families seeking to raise healthy children.
We believe that…
- Women are strong and capable of making their own choices and that we are not here to judge their decisions.
- Women should be empowered to make informed decisions about their pregnancy.
- That there is a divine purpose and plan for every child that is conceived.
- Every child IS a wanted child…by someone.
- No woman should feel pressured into making a choice about her pregnancy.
- A woman facing an unwanted pregnancy should have a safe place to help her that will not profit from the reproductive choices she makes.
- A woman facing an unwanted pregnancy deserves non-violent solutions such as practical resources and emotional support.
Our Services
The HOPE Center provides positive alternatives to crisis pregnancies, working to meet both the needs of the woman and her child at every level. Our goal is not only to offer pregnancy related services, but to educate, empower and equip every woman to choose life.
We shine the light of God's love and mercy into moments of greatest despair and darkness by offering Prevention, Intervention and Restoration.
All of the HOPE Center's services are provided at no cost to it's clients in order to make them accessible to all. They include:
- Pregnancy Testing
- Limited obstetrical ultrasounds
- Confidential options counseling
- Abstinence and relationship counseling
- Abortion recovery counseling and support groups
- Referrals for medical, legal and social aid
- Referrals for adoption agencies
- Material assistance
- Moms' support group
- Evangelism and discipleship
Prevention
The HOPE Center believes it is essential to empower individuals to make responsible choices regarding sexuality.
We promote abstinence education in schools, youth groups, and most of all, in our counseling rooms. The strength of our program is not solely in our curriculum, but in our relationships with those we serve.
We believe in them. We encourage them. They know the difference.
Intervention
There are few times in a woman’s life when fear and desperation are as overwhelming as when she experiences a crisis pregnancy. It is likely she bears the secret of her pregnancy alone with little support.
The HOPE Center’s unique blend of Christ-centered, compassionate counseling, with accurate up-to-date information presented by professionally trained peer counselors, provides a safe and supportive environment for our clients to process through their situations.
By ministering the care and compassion of Christ to them, we empower our clients to make life-giving choices for their unborn.
Restoration
1.5 million abortions are performed each year in the United States, leaving a wake of emotional pain and regret for both men and women.
People who experience Post-Abortion Stress need to complete the natural grieving process.
At The HOPE Center, we offer biblical group counseling with a support network, as well as one-on-one counseling, in a confidential environment. We help our clients learn the truth proclaimed in Psalm 30:5: “For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime: weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning."
Hear What HOPE's Clients Have to Say About Us
The following are excepted from the exit survey each client completes at the end of her counseling session with us:
“I felt as though the counselor’s known me forever and I could talk to her about anything."
“The staff made me feel very comfortable.”
“The client advocate was very kind and attentive to my concerns.”
“That I was able to talk and not be judged of my mistakes.”
“Everyone was understanding and tried to assist me in this difficult situation.”
“The counseling session opened my eyes to where I am and where I need to be.”
“The fact that I have somewhere to turn…”
“The Hope Center staff was easy to talk to and helped me out on decisions and making better choices.”
"I'll hold you in heaven..." A Mother's Story
This would have been their first Christmas together.
Their mother first came to HOPE last winter. She had a young daughter who was just a little over a year old. They were living in Georgia but the relationship with her daughter’s father had soured and he was abusive. Together, they fled and found their way to Philadelphia. She found refuge in a family shelter and was desperate for a new start. She even started attending church again and wanted to recommit her life to Jesus. But that first visit to HOPE threw a wrench in her plans to start afresh. She discovered she was pregnant.
Abortion, she decided, was her only option. She was barely eking out a means of survival with her daughter, how would she be able to care for another child? Yet, something about the compassionate counseling she received at HOPE moved her and she agreed to come back for an ultrasound before terminating the pregnancy. It was at her ultrasound that she discovered more shocking news- our nurse did not find a heartbeat. She found two. Yes, our client was pregnant with twins!
While she had no idea how she was going to care for twins, she could not conceive of destroying two lives with an abortion. Months of counseling at HOPE ensued- she was at our center almost daily and after much tears and wrestling, she decided to continue with the pregnancy. We found her as much supportive resources as we could, from material assistance to helping her find a job so she could start planning constructively for the road ahead.
Her twins were due this past September. In early July, we received a panicked phone call. The twins made their entrance prematurely- quite prematurely, in fact. Both would need to stay in the NICU for a period of time. More counseling support from us followed and we did everything we could to help her through this difficult time.
Stressful though the initial months of the twins’ lives were, their mother was buoyed by her love for them. It is true that God has hardwired maternal instincts into mothers for whom He had uniquely chosen their children! She was by her babies’ bedside through their stay in the NICU and watched them daily grow and get stronger.
However, one of the twins remained frailer than the other. He would gain strength, then falter. He finally lost the battle after 4 short months of life. She was heartbroken. Which mother would not? But, she cherished the time she had with him in his short time on earth and clung to the memories she will always have. She could not imagine that at one time, she had thought to terminate his life willfully! We are continuing to provide her with support and help her through this time of loss and grief.
It has been an incredible privilege to walk this precious mother through her journey this past year. Even in the midst of the pain of losing one of her twins, yet God’s grace continues to be unfailing. Had she aborted her children, she would always live with the regret and pain. In making the choice for life, she was able to minister to her child on earth and know that someday, she will hold him again in heaven.
Her story highlights the fact that at HOPE, our work is not simply just to help a woman choose life and thereafter leave her to flounder. We walk with her every step of the way and continue to extend God’s compassion and mercy so that ultimately, she can find her life in Him.
Your support of HOPE is critical to our work.
More than ever, the need for HOPE is dire in North Philadelphia. We are helping to save lives and effect meaningful changes in the lives of the women we serve. We need you to help us make a difference.
The financial gift you make this year will help new lives next year who might not otherwise be given a chance to live!
Every cent you give to our ministry goes towards saving and changing lives. Please make a donation today.