Discover Life Church showers for unmarried expectant mothers in Brevard
Ariel Long, a member of Discover Life Church, remembers what it was like when you were young, single and pregnant.
So when expectant mothers were mentioned in a sermon at Melbourne church earlier this year, Long said, telling her husband, “I think that’s an affirmation…I’ve had this idea for a long time.”
That “idea” came to fruition Saturday, in the form of three consecutive “community baby showers” for about 50 single expectant mothers and their guests from across the Space Coast. Each party, pre-recorded by mums, featured vendors representing agencies working with families and children, speakers, games, food, raffles and gifts that came from church members and donors throughout the community.
“I was 15 and had my baby boy at 16,” said Long, who goes on air throughout the first shower.
“It was a struggle…more than anything, even though I probably didn’t know it at the moment, I needed community. I needed love. I needed that love flowing around me.”
An outpouring of help for event coordinator Long’s plans came from Assistant Reverend Anthony Hatcher, Assistant Reverend Austin Green, and other church staff, social media spreads from the church’s production group and a lot of word of mouth. Gifts, from diapers to car seats and baby shampoo to strollers, contain personal items that mothers have requested.
“After two months, here we are,” Long said. “Maybe at least 200 people have posted news about this on Facebook.”
The timing coincides with renewed interest in pregnancy in light of the US Supreme Court’s ruling overturning Roe v. Wade, but nothing political was mentioned during Saturday’s shower.
Cocoa resident Chastity Simmons, who attended the shower at 10 a.m., heard about the event through her friend, Renata Bennett.
She is a mother of three, who is expecting her baby on October 26th. Simmons had never heard of such an event before — and she’s grateful.
“I’ve been through a lot, and I don’t have that much support,” she said.
“It’s amazing for me, to be able to take advantage of this, to get help with a stroller and a car seat. I struggle a little. So it’s just a blessing.”
Among the sellers were representatives from the Brevard Family Partnership. They have shared information about services including parent and child sleep safety, with Pack ‘N Play (portable bed and playroom) being offered through their Safe Sleep Classes.
Jessica Miles, BFP’s Director of Family Support, said the goal is to provide mothers with “free, safe sleeping options in their homes, so that babies and mothers can sleep peacefully.”
Rebecca Melek, interim executive director of BFP, said the BFP would “absolutely” want to see more outreach efforts such as Discover pools.
“We would love to be able to do that again and have the ability to help more people in the community,” she said.
Alicia Hayford and her sister Amber Hayford are expecting two children soon – Amber in September and Alicia in December.
Alicia Hayford said she’s “never seen anything like this” and appreciates being able to get some help with the required items.
“This is my fourth baby,” she said, “so I wasn’t planning on taking a shower this time.” “That’s really cool… I was trying to use stuff this time.”
Reverend Anthony Hatcher served as principal, providing guest speakers who shared information about parenting lessons and other resources—and playfully shared his wife’s pregnancy cravings (spicy Doritos and ice cream).
He and Long agreed the encouragement and sympathy for these mothers, all mothers, is so much needed. They said the shower – part of the church’s awareness campaign for the area – meant a lot to all involved.
For those who oppose celebrating pregnancy with unmarried mothers, or women who do not belong to their own church or any church, Hatcher said he would turn to the Bible.
“Find out the big thing about life,” Hatcher said, “that we really live what God told us to do. We got that example from Jesus, which he talked about in Matthew.”
“He says the two greatest commandments in all the world and the earth are Number 1, Love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength. Number 2, Love your neighbor as yourself.”
If this is the model conveyed by Jesus, said Hatcher, “we will not wait for a person to become a member of the church to decide whether we want to bathe the newborn.”
“By doing this, he can make them understand God’s love through our love for them, and just help them in a situation where they need help,” he said.
“This is really where our heart is. We want to reach all people because that’s what we know we are called to do.”
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