by Kathy Jerman, Director of Affiliate Services

In the pregnancy help movement, the needs never stop.

The phones keep ringing. The clients keep coming. The emails keep piling up. And for many of us, the weight of leadership, limited resources, and the spiritual intensity of this work can quietly drain our reserves. We pour out every day. But even those who are called must be filled.

As we approach our Annual Conference in Cincinnati at the end of the month, I want to gently encourage you to view this gathering not simply as professional development, but as soul care.

Rest Is Not a Luxury - It’s a Necessity

In pregnancy help ministry, stepping away can feel indulgent or even irresponsible. There is always more to do. But the truth is, you cannot sustainably lead from depletion. Time away is stewardship of your calling.

When you take a few days to step out of the daily demands of your center, you give yourself space to breathe deeply, listen more clearly to the Lord, reanchor your heart in God’s calling, and be reminded that you are not alone.

Nourishing Your Spirit

One of the most beautiful aspects of our time together in Cincinnati will be the intentional opportunities to encounter the Lord. Conference is not just workshops and strategy sessions. It includes:

• Dedicated worship time where we can collectively lay our burdens at His feet
• The opportunity for personal prayer with someone who will intercede specifically for you
• Morning Mass
• Quiet moments in between sessions, where the Spirit often speaks most clearly
  
  

Investing in Yourself as a Leader

Professional development is not self-promotion. It is wise leadership. Strong organizations are led by growing leaders.

Our workshops and keynote sessions are designed to sharpen your skills, expand your thinking, and strengthen your effectiveness. Whether it’s leadership development, board governance, client care, fundraising strategy, or medical advancements, you will walk away with practical tools you can implement immediately.

But beyond information, conference offers something even more powerful: perspective. When you gather with hundreds of leaders who understand the unique challenges of pregnancy help ministry, you discover you are part of something bigger: a united movement that is stronger together than any one center could ever be alone.

If You Aren’t Attending Conference

If you’re unable to join us in person or virtually, you can still nourish your soul intentionally. Nourishment is not location-dependent. It is intention-dependent. Here are intentional ways you can still rest, grow, and refill.

• Schedule a personal mini retreat to reflect and pray. Block it on your calendar. Protect that time. Go somewhere quiet, like a park or a coffee shop, with your journal. Leave your laptop closed. Silence notifications.
• Ask a trusted friend, pastor, or colleague to pray over you specifically as you serve in your center. We spend so much time interceding for others. Being prayed for is humbling and healing.
• Create your own learning track. Professional growth doesn’t only happen at events. Choose one area this month where you want to grow. Then commit to reading a book on the topic, listening to a podcast or a webinar, or ask someone to mentor you.
• Reconnect with worship. Attend a weekday service. Begin your next team meeting with an extended time of prayer. Protect one true day of rest each week.
• Build a community around you. Schedule a virtual meeting with another director. Start a monthly prayer call with nearby centers. Text someone in the movement and ask how they’re really doing. Pray with them and encourage them. We are better together!
  

Come Be Filled

If you are joining us in Cincinnati, come expectant.

Expect the Lord to meet you.
Expect meaningful conversations.
Expect renewed vision.
Expect laughter.
Expect rest for your weary soul.

If you’re not joining us, be just as intentional at home. Block the time. Ask for prayer. Learn something new. Worship deeply. Rest boldly.

Return Ready to Jump Back In

Whether in a conference convention center or in your own quiet space, the goal is the same: to return refreshed and ready to jump back in with fresh energy, deeper faith, and renewed passion for the sacred work we’ve been called to do. 

You deserve time to rest and learn. More importantly, the sacred mission you lead deserves a spiritually grounded, continually growing leader.

Let’s commit to nourishing our souls so we can continue serving with courage, compassion, and conviction.