"Then the Lord God formed [that is, created the body of] man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being [an individual complete in body and spirit]." Genesis 2:7 (Amplified)

Of all the creatures God mad, Adam was the only one he breathed on. He didn't breathe a second time on Eve, because we are one, like God is trinity... we are tri-parts spirit, soul, and body. Man and Woman are one, much like the trinity, neither one is more important than the other, rather complementary.

Human life is particularly precious and worth safeguarding because we are God-breathed miracles, the crown of creation.

How incredible it is that we were given God's breath of Heaven, into our lungs.

Ours is a worthy cause, to safeguard life, because God formed us so uniquely and personally. He could have spoken us into existence but instead He chose get down into the dust and breath.

King Solomon, son of David and Bathsheba, in a dream was asked by the Lord for his request after Solomon had made his sacrifice.

Our sacrifices and heart attitude position us for the blessings of Father God, who wants to pour those on us.

Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream at night; and God said, “Ask [Me] what I shall give you.” 1 Kings 3:4-5.

God tested even Solomon’s heart when he asked his request.

Lent is a solemn observation with a focus on prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. It begins on Ash Wednesday and continues for six weeks leading up to Passion Week and Easter. It is generally observed by Anglican, Catholic, and Orthodox traditions. For those who do not formally observe this intense time of focus on these three pillars of the Lenten season, I believe it would be correct for me to say that you hope to live a life that reflects them daily.

When I was young, all I knew of lent was that it was as a time of fasting – giving up chocolate, Fish Fry Fridays, and waiting for Easter so that I could gorge myself in a basket full of chocolate bunnies and marshmallow peeps. Boy did I get that wrong! As an adult, I now see what Lent truly represents to those who observe it and I’m sorry I didn’t recognize it as the devotion to Christian living it ought to reflect in a believer's life.

I recently received an email from a friend who shared that lent is a time to practice all of the principles above. That simply means there’s not a “pick one and go” option. To me it seems as though prayer and fasting are the easier ones to practice as they are predominantly inward actions that we can do in our secret place, while almsgiving stretches individuals to look outside of themselves and sometimes becomes something we choose to overlook, or we simply find excuses to avoid it.

As followers of Christ, we trust in His sacrifice on the cross to save us - the sacrifice that is celebrated on Easter Sunday. We also live lives revealing that we are being transformed into the image of Christ. One way we reflect Jesus is by serving those who are poor and needy, as we are called to do.

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’” Matthew 25:31-40

Have you heard the argument, “A fetus is not a human, it’s just a clump of cells or a blob of tissue”?

A basic understanding of science and biology is enough to prove that it would be inaccurate to say that an embryo or a fetus is not human. At the moment of conception, the fertilized egg has a unique genetic code. It is unique from that of the mother, who contributed the egg and the father who contributed the sperm. The genetic information contained in the DNA of this new individual at conception is “equivalent to a library of one thousand volumes, or six hundred thousand printed pages with five hundred words on a page”. (Alcorn, 65)

Whether it is an embryo or a fetus, a human - even at its earliest stage - is anything but a simple blob of tissue or clump of cells. In fact, before many women realize they are pregnant, the embryo has formed (at varying stages of development) every internal organ that an adult human has.

As early as 5 weeks 5 days from the first day of her LMP (last menstrual period) a woman can come to the Alight Center to have an ultrasound. At this point the embryo is only 3 weeks 5 days old and a heartbeat can be detected. At an incredible rate an embryo grows according to the directions found in that very complex genetic code that is created at fertilization. Here is a simple timeline of the speed and specificity in design of each individual human in the womb.

• Fertilization occurs 2 weeks after LMP
• Implantation in the uterine wall occurs 3 weeks after LMP - 7 days after conception
• A blastocyst as developed into an embryo 14 days after conception
• 14 days after conception a woman will be expecting to have her next menstrual period
• 18 days after conception the heart is forming and eyes developing
• A heartbeat can be detected at 21 days after conception —> This is the moment an Alight Center client can receive an ultrasound.
• At 28 days arms and legs are budding
• By day 30 the brain is developed and blood is flowing through veins
• After 35 days from conception you can see the mouth, ears, and nose taking shape
• A skeleton is formed by day 42 and brain waves can be detected

This is all before 8 weeks from fertilization, when the unborn is no longer considered an embryo, but is now called a fetus.

Regardless of what this tiny human is called, it is still a tiny human and abortion ends that unique, complex developing human life.

Thanks to Dr. Maben’s Medical Office located at the Alight Center, women are able to receive no-cost pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, and STD/STI testing and treatment. Diana Deleon, RN joined our staff in 2019 and has been the Nurse Manager since 2020. In addition to providing medical services to Alight Center clients, Diana is building relationships within our community in an effort to create a network of help to those we are committed to serving. By working with community organizations; college, high school, and middle school medical offices; local Ob/Gyns; family doctors; pediatricians; and hospitals she is building connections and in-roads to reach those women facing unintended pregnancies.

In order for Diana to accomplish this, medical office hours have increased from 10 hours a week in 2022 to 30 hours a week in 2023. This allows for 20 more clients to receive medical services each week. It also provides Diana with more time to interact with medical personnel and community leaders in our area.

We have already begun to see results from developing these relationships in Columbia and Greene County. Just this week the Alight Center received a referral for a girl who is choosing to carry her baby and is interested in learning more about adoption. We are hopeful and encouraged by the positive responses that both Diana and Jennifer (Alight Center Director of Client Services) have received from those they have met with.

We are excited to see Alight’s reach expand in 2023. But just as growth means we will have the opportunity to empower more women and men to make life-affirming choices, it also requires an increase in our budget. For 2023, we have budgeted $36,000 for Diana's salary. This breaks down to $3,000 per month, $750 per week, or $200 per day. 

The Alight Center is looking for donors to sponsor a day, a week, a month, or even a year’s salary to insure our Nurse Manager is able to meet the needs of women as Alight’s visibility grows. Together, we will make a great impact in New York State.

How far will your impact reach today?

Click Here to Give a Gift and Save a Life.

What do we do at Alight? We provide hope to those without it, support for those in need, and the radiating love of Jesus that shines through us.

Click on 'Watch and See' below to view our 2022 Banquet Video. 

⇒ Watch and See ⇐

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By Christina Bennett, Board Chairperson

 David was completely overlooked but went to gather food for his family as his dad said. However, Goliath was a known champion and the army of Israel was in fear for their lives.

David was so gutsy and realized who he was and said, “For who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?” 1 Samuel 17:26. But he was discounted again and asked to tend his sheep.

David recounted his past victories to Saul and said let me fight. “Your servant killed both the lion and the bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God!” 1 Samuel 17:36.

I think it’s worth noting that, not only was Goliath a giant, about 12 feet tall, but he even had a person in front of him as a shield guard to protect himself. David attempted to use Saul’s armor, but he wasn’t used to it.

... what do we do?

The answer is very simple - we keep on fighting for life in the womb, as well as for those women who are facing difficult choices because they are pregnant - and don't want to be. Roe does not make abortion illegal, it simply returns the issue back to the states. The Justices were correct in their evaluation of the Constitution and their determination that abortion is not a constitutionally held right. With the overturning of Roe, 9 states have implemented bans on abortion from conception, and a number of states have trigger laws yet to go into effect that will restrict abortions at varying stages of pregnancy.  To see the complete list visit the Guttmacher Institute.

We know, however, that in NYS abortion remains protected, and legislation has been reinforced to not only protect abortion on demand, but to also ensure it is available to people across the nation. NY is committed to providing $30 million to support abortion providers, with $10 million designated to security and protection of those clinics. It has also passed legislation to study "Pregnancy Help Centers" (See the video below at minute mark 19:44 to hear what the governor thinks of centers like Alight). The bill authorizes the Commissioner of Health to conduct a study and issue a report examining the unmet health and resource needs facing pregnant women in New York and the impact of limited service pregnancy centers. In other words, are pregnancy centers meeting needs with respect to New York's Reproductive Health Act?

- Governor Hochul reinforces abortion rights in NY and takes aim at Pregnancy Help Organizations by signing Pregnancy Help Center Report legislation. Watch the video..

The Alight Center is still here to support and empower women, helping them know the truth about their pregnancy, the truth about their options, and the resources available to help them make a very difficult decision. No woman needs to feel alone, coerced, or so hopeless that she ends her child's life. 

Support life by supporting Alight!

Christina Bennett, Board Chairperson

God honors His promises and saves His people.

It begins with an attack on the people of God. King Jehoshaphat’s first response to the news that the Israelites would be attacked by the Moabites and Ammonites is to “resolve to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah.” Opposition typically requires (or compels) us to draw near to the Lord. 

He then inquires of the Lord… “Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” It was clear that there would be no victory without God’s help. 

~ See 2 Chronicles 20:15-24 ~

God defeated their enemies supernaturally as they praised the Lord. Never underestimate the power of your praise. It consistently brings confusion to the enemy’s camp, just as it did for Hezekiah, Gideon, and Joshua for the walls of Jericho. As we continue in our efforts, it’s important to realize that the battle for the unborn and their mothers is a spiritual one and that it is God who goes before us. 

"Pro-lifers only care about the fetus, not about women or their babies after they're born." This charge by pro-choicers is making the rounds on social media lately, in reaction to several states' (no, not New York...) strengthening of legal protections for the unborn. Here's how you can confidently refute this vacuous claim: 1.It's a false charge b...