Highlights From Our First Year of Ministry
December 31, 2021
Our prenatal support group, From Diagnosis to Delivery, is finishing its first full year of existence. And what an amazing year of supporting families who received a life-limiting diagnosis! I wish I had time to tell you about all 117 babies we have had the privilege of honoring. For now, we will share some of the highlights from the first year of ministry in Verity’s Village.
A Ministry with an International Reach
First of all, can we just take a moment to appreciate these amazing little humans? God intimately knows each of these babies by name–all of their unique features. He also knows and loves each of their precious family members.
Verity’s Village supported families in Argentina, Australia, Canada, Denmark, England, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, and the United States. We had 38 states within the U.S. represented at last count.
Verity’s Village Care Packages
We sent out 40 celebration packages to families when their babies were born alive. Our gift packs have included items such as a handmade octopus, our Navigating the NICU journal, a unique “I care for someone rare” sticker, and some other items especially for Mom.
Over 90 families received a special condolence package when their babies were stillborn or went to heaven all too early. (Some families received a celebration and later bereavement package…this journey is full of ups and downs.) Depending on their baby’s diagnosis, these packages may have included our special book, Our Baby Will Be Different. This book helps siblings understand the needs of their baby brother or sister. It also explains the fact that Baby may not live long on earth. Packages also included special items to commemorate the life and name of these little ones. In the later part of 2021, we partnered with Kristin Hernandez to include her book Sunlight in December in these packages.
We partnered with Griselia Ware of Everly’s Art to create a beautiful keepsake to send to bereaved parents at Christmas. We mailed out 91 8×10 photos and letters in December 2021.
And we also sent personalized “Baby’s First Christmas” ornaments to the families who were able to be with their children for the holidays.
Written Resources
But that’s not all! More highlights from the first year of ministry in Verity’s Village include publishing written resources. Besides the aforementioned NICU journal, we also have a special pregnancy journal for mamas who receive a prenatal diagnosis.
And one of the things I’m most proud of–perhaps one of the biggest highlights from the first year of the Verity’s Village ministry–the book From Diagnosis to Delivery: What to Expect When the Unexpected Happens During Your Pregnancy. This book was a labor of love, everything I wish I had known when we received our own prenatal diagnosis. Moms within our support network freely shared their thoughts as well. Their quotes and contributions, along with other experienced parents, make this a valuable resource indeed.
Behind-the-Scenes Ministry Work
Finally, here are some highlights of some of the not-so-glamorous yet very important ministry accomplishments.
Our founder, Beverly Jacobson, attended the Save the Storks Prolife Innovators Summit in April. She was awarded a $10,000 grant, which helped officially launch this ministry. Verity’s Village was incorporated as a non-profit organization as of August.
In addition the the grant money, Save the Storks provided much support in launching our ministry with practical support. Their graphic designer helped us with our logo and brand guidelines. Their web design team got VeritysVillage.com up and running. And their CEO, Diane Ferraro, invited us to bring our care packages to their shipping office so they could pay for shipping costs for one whole year! Diane also wrote the beautiful foreword to our From Diagnosis to Delivery book.
Our Second Year of Ministry
As we look ahead to 2022, we are so excited about what God has planned for our ministry in 2022! Verity’s Village has a strong, supportive Board of Directors who are eager to help advance our mission and vision.
Additionally, we have gained a number of supporters as we have shared our story with others. We are grateful for many prayer warriors who lift up our families and the precious babies they support. And we also appreciate those who have been able to support us financially. Having funds in the bank at the beginning of 2022 will help us provide a greater level of support to the families who enter our network.
Thank you for being part of our village!
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”
Ephesians 3:20-21