After CT senior writer Tim Stafford visited a half-dozen crisis-pregnancy centers (CPCs) in preparation for this issue’s cover story, he reported what he found, women caring for women. “It really is a women’s movement,” he said, underscoring the utterly positive nature of the work. This is no hold-my-breath-till-I’m-blue-in-the-face obstructionism, but a warm, supportive outreach to women who feel overwhelmed by unplanned pregnancies.
Photographer Bill Youngblood had a similar experience as he worked on this issue’s cover. What impressed him was the network of caring that CPCs create.
Like most professional photographers, Bill works with models. But he strongly prefers ordinary people. And that’s what appear in his cover photo. He contacted a CPC where CT art director Joan Nickerson knew a volunteer. Joan and her husband, who have had a long and fruitful ministry to troubled youth, once helped foster this volunteer’s spiritual life.
Through her, Bill traced an actual network of crisis-pregnancy care: Andrea Goins, and her mother, Karen, who decided to give her life and raise her; a CPC counselor and a single-mothers’ care-group leader who supported Karen; the pastor who prayed with Karen, and the doctor and nursing assistant who provided medical care and advice; and Karen Johnson, executive director of the Conejo Valley (Calif.) Crisis Pregnancy Center.
“This is no set-up shot,” says Bill, “but a true story.” No slick P.R. illusions, but real-life heroes who help women choose life.
DAVID NEFF, Managing Editor
Cover photograph by Bill Youngblood.
