Young mothers and mothers-to-be learn CPR at a Care Fair sponsored by First Baptist Church in Farmers Branch.

Church shows love to
teenaged parents at Care Fair

By George Henson

Staff Writer

FARMERS BRANCH--More than 50 teenaged unwed mothers and mothers-to-be gathered at First Baptist Church in Farmers Branch for an aptly named Care Fair.

The young women--and a few young men-- learned about a variety of topics throughout the event, organized by members of the church's Woman's Missionary Union. But the overarching concept the church wanted to communicate was simple: Regardless of choices that had been made, the teens still were loved.

Representatives of the state attorney general's office opened the day with information about paternity and child-support laws. A question-and-answer period produced questions from a young man about how he could secure visitation of a child he believed to be his.

Other sessions included information on child development, learning activities for young children, infant massage and infant sign language.

At lunch, teenaged parents heard the testimony of a woman who years ago found herself in a similar circumstance but now is a successful professional.

Pastor Sam Underwood said the event helped the church minister to many segments of the community.

"Even though we've been here since 1870, we're seeking new ways to be a church on mission," he said. "From our perspective, it's a way of reaching out to some people who we might not otherwise meet. Also, it meets a tremendous need in the lives of these young people.

"The easiest way to explain why we do this is that it's the Christian thing to do. ... I have to give credit to our women. Our Baptist Women saw the need and really just ran with it. It has really energized that group."

Suzanne Devine, a leader in the church's WMU, said her church does not elect officers--everyone just gets involved. At First Baptist, the WMU meets every Tuesday night.

To prepare for the Care Fair, volunteers made 90 baby blankets, but not all were made by WMU members. Men, children and youth also participated.

Plans begin for the next Care Fair just weeks after one is completed, Devine said, with concentrated focus the four months preceding the next event.

"This is really a project that involves the whole church," she said. Members who could not help make the blankets donated money to buy the material, provided food for the event or served as hosts and hostesses.

Men's involvement is an important compenent, Underwood noted. "We want (the young parents) to see that families include men," he said.

Devine said the school-age mothers fit a variety of profiles. Some are pregnant with their first child, while others already have had their babies and some have more than one child. Some came with the child's father, while others have no connection to the father of the baby.

Seven males attended this year's Care Fair, up from two last year.

WMU members feel a responsibility to provide the best day of instruction possible for the young people.

"We want to make sure they get good information and don't just get out of school for a day," she said. "I don't think they feel like they've been on a field trip when they leave here, but more like a parenting seminar."

WMU member Margaret Wilkerson believes the event is beneficial not only for the high school parents, but also especially for their children.

"I'm a mom, and being able to raise a child to be an educated, contributing member of society is one of the most important things a mom can do. These kids are now doing that at a disadvantage, but maybe this will help them along," she said.

"Also, I think this makes them aware of their huge responsibility, but also gives them encouragement that they can get through it."

Parenting is a big responsibility, but "you can be an effective, responsible parent and still have a lot of fun," she said, noting she tried to demonstrate by example.

Helping make the blankets also provided her an opportunity to talk to her 9-year-old son, Shafer, about some topics that may not have come up otherwise.

"He had some questions, and I talked with him about how important it was these girls feel important and welcomed and how these presents would do that," Wilkerson said. "It also opened the door to wider conversations about God's plans for our lives, and about how decisions have consequences."

While the church would like to see the young people return, it did not collect names and addresses or any other contact information.

"That's not what we set out to do," Devine said. "But these girls are from our community. Our children know them. Younger children attend school with their siblings. It's not 'here today and gone tomorrow.'"

Devine has a broader focus.

"I want them to know that we feel they are a vibrant part of our community, that we respect the choices they made and that the door here is always open and that there will always be someone here for them who will receive them without judgement," she said.

Her pastor agrees.

"We don't know that any of these young people will come to our church, but they certainly would be welcome. We hope through this that we will have a Christian witness and will show them what a church is all about--loving others as Christ loves us," Underwood said.

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