(Though the following was written for leadership of Pregnancy Medical Clinics, many of the same principles apply to non-medical models of Pregnancy Resource Centers.)

Knowing the "condition of our flock" is both a Biblical imperative and good business sense. As we enter a new year, it's a great time to examine our organizations to assess the effectiveness of both our internal operations and external success. Asking the following questions will help us "know the condition of our flock":

• Are we carrying out God’s primary call to our ministry?
• Are we reaching the most abortion-risk women in the most effective ways possible?
• Are we putting our resources to their highest and best use?
• Has mission creep diverted us from "keeping our main thing the main thing"? Are we trading good for the best?

For most pregnancy center ministries, the answers to these questions can bring about some very healthy challenges.

As boards and ministry leaders examine ways to have more IMPACT through their work, here is a list of essential qualities for an effective Pregnancy Medical Clinic (PMC) ministry:

Influential — the PMC's mission is to prioritize reaching abortion-risk women in order to empower their decision making process. This helps bring improved results for the individual woman and baby, as well as for the community at large as the culture reflects more of the value of human life.

Medical — the PMC operates as a medical clinic, appropriately licensed and directed by medical professionals and meets the standard of medical excellence offered within their community. Ultrasound services are provided as a vital diagnostic tool to women considering abortion. Several PMCs also provide testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections that impact women and babies' health.

Professional — the PMC is governed by a board with high proficiency and staffed by trained individuals in areas of management, finances, and medical services, and adhere to generally acceptable biblical and ethical standards.

Accountable — the PMC is held accountable to high standards of care including regular monitoring of results, self-evaluation, and compliance with national affiliate organization.

Culturally relevant — the PMC will continually obtain awareness of community and consumer needs and readjust strategies to meet these objectives.

Trustworthy — through the practice of all of the above, the community, donors, clients and national organizations deem the PMC worthy of confidence and recommendation.

Focus on the Family has increased our commitment and scope to stop abortion in this country. One of the vital ways to achieve this is to help existing prolife clinics increase the I.M.P.A.C.T. of their operations. As well, we are investing in the conversion of Pregnancy Resource Centers into medical clinics in order to bring ultrasound services to those who need them the most — women who are desperate and considering aborting their preborn babies.

When we are able to reach more at-risk women and engage them through effective PMC services, we WILL see abortion reduced in each of our communities, and as a result, across our entire nation.

(For information on how Focus on the Family can help your PRC convert into a medical clinic, or possibly provide ultrasound grants to your clinic, see our website at www.heartlink.org/oupdirectors.cfm.)

Kim Conroy
Sanctity of Human Life Director
Focus on the Family