A HEART
By the prompting of the Holy Spirit and with her love and concern for minority babies, in 2008 she founded AHEART Ministries, the non-profit organization dedicated to assisting families with infants in crisis. AHEART was initiated in response to court observations that revealed the sad cases of infants in need of permanent homes. Some babies were not developing or thriving normally in the hospital environment that they were “signed over to.”
To help correct this problem, the Special Hearts Boutique was created to locate and support the families and/or individuals who step up to care for these special babies. This program was led by Robbin Hargrove, a former Case Supervisor of CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem Counties. She thought of how many babies were suffering from having the lack of a family connection. AHEART is open to families with infants and children under age 2 that are in serious need. Participants must bring in their child and a referral to receive assistance. We provide educational classes on a variety of topics because our aim is to build our participants up and not just be a family service agency that gives “hand outs”.
United States
Infant Mortality Rate
In 2010, the U.S. infant mortality rate was 6.1 infant deaths per 1,000 live births, and the United States ranked 26th in infant mortality among Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries.
AHEART’s main focus is to mentor and support teen mothers. Often these young girls find themselves homeless and in desperate need of daily support. Many times infants fall subject to government welfare programs due to long waiting lists, waiting periods between birth and assistance, and the lack of providing basic baby supplies. Our future goals are to provide housing for homeless, pregnant participants and single mothers of children 2 and younger. There we will provide young and lower income mothers the type of support that was once available solely to middle and upper-class women who hired private doulas. AHEART plans to provide doulas at the 7th month of pregnancy and continue to provide support until the baby is two to three months old. All expectant teens will also be paired with an AHEART mentor, who works with them until they turn 21 or their child turns 2. Our educational goals are to teach the parenting skills that are necessary in raising healthy, happy, and well cared for children.
Partners
BETHESDA FELLOWSHIP
Bethesda Fellowship of Churches and Leaders is a prophetic/apostolic fellowship which comprises like-minded Churches, Ministries, and Marketplace Ministers: leaders of various spheres influence whom are committed to a loving partnership, and assisting one another in fulfilling the Great Mandate (Commission) for the purpose of the advancement of the Kingdom of God in the earth.
The body of Christ is commanded to be one (John 17:21). It is the focus of Bethesda Fellowship of Churches and Leaders to ensure that our partnering churches, ministries and leaders of all spheres of influence form meaningful peer relationships with one another. In proper relationship/fellowship they will find the assistance necessary in every area of ministry which promotes effectiveness collectively and as a whole.
The direct result of meaningful peer relationships, Pastors, & Ministers of both the church and the Marketplace will not only find personal successes but success that impacts all areas of their lives and the lives of those whom are reached by their influence.
As you consider joining the Bethesda Fellowship of Churches and Leaders, know that everything we do is based on relationships and partnerships. Under the leadership of the Chief Apostle Eugene Smith the gifts are stirred up and released to operate in their various operations. This is the very core of Ephesian 4:11 in action, as it is the operation of these various gifts which equip and in turn prepare the saints to fulfill the purpose of their calling. The whole body fitting together, every joint supplying its part is the goal that the world may be able to identify that we are the disciples of the son of God because of the love (unity) we have; love stemming from the knowledge that “We’re Better Together!”
