BURLINGTON, N.C. — Even before its formal dedication, a newly installed ultrasound machine at a local pregnancy resource center was already fulfilling its purpose.
On Wednesday (Jan. 14), staff at Arms of Grace Pregnancy Resource Center in Burlington, N.C., met with a teenage couple facing an unplanned pregnancy, uncertain about their next steps. Before leaving, the couple was able to see an ultrasound image of their baby, made possible by the new machine.
“This was their second time coming to us,” said Sarah Dove, founder and executive director of Arms of Grace. “They had been undecided up until they were getting ready to walk out of the door today. And they chose to keep their child after seeing it.”
The meeting with the couple delayed the start of a formal dedication ceremony for the machine, but those in attendance for the event didn’t mind.
“That’s the entire reason we’re doing what we’re doing right now,” Dove said.
Dove and members of her staff were joined by leaders and representatives from the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, Provision Financial Resources of N.C. Baptists and the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) of the Southern Baptist Convention for the dedication of the ultrasound machine, which was provided through the Psalm 139 Project, a pro-life ministry of the ERLC.
Rachel Wiles, director of the Psalm 139 Project, said the timing of the appointment with the couple to start the day highlighted the importance of the ministry.
“I’m just in awe of what the Lord does,” Wiles said. “The story this morning of the client you were already seeing is absolutely incredible.”
Wiles noted the dedication marked the 97th ultrasound machine placement by the Psalm 139 Project nationwide since 2001. The ministry provides ultrasound machines and training for workers at pregnancy resource centers across the country, which are funded entirely through financial donations.
Funds for the machine placed at Arms of Grace were provided through a partnership with N.C. Baptists and Provision Financial Resources. The dedication marked the eighth ultrasound machine placed in a pregnancy resource center in North Carolina since 2021 through the efforts of N.C. Baptists.
Seth Brown, N.C. Baptists’ director of convention relations, has helped coordinate the ultrasound placements across the state and said N.C. Baptists are thankful for the work of pregnancy resource centers in general and Arms of Grace in particular.
“N.C. Baptists love this work,” Brown said. “We love you, and we want to support you however we can.”
Kevin Qualls, executive vice president for ministry impact strategies with Provision Financial Resources, called the partnership to help fund the ultrasound placement a “no brainer.”
“This was one of the first projects that we had earmarked and wanted to be a part of and stand for life,” Qualls said.
Qualls also shared a personal connection with Arms of Grace. Prior to joining Provision, Qualls served as president of Christian Adoption Services (CAS), which later became a ministry of the Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina. Qualls said he recently learned that CAS had received an adoption referral from Arms of Grace.
“It was just a confirmation from the Lord,” Qualls said.
Todd Unzicker, executive director of N.C. Baptists, said this latest ultrasound placement is in a key location in the state’s Piedmont region.
“Arms of Grace is a vital ministry in a strategic region of North Carolina,” Unzicker said. “This ultrasound placement will help save the lives of precious children made in the image of God. I personally can’t say thank you enough to the staff and volunteers at Arms of Grace, along with our partners at Psalm 139, Provision Financial Resources and generous N.C. Baptist churches across our state.”
During the dedication, attendees prayed over the ultrasound machine, the pregnancy center’s staff and those the staff will minister to, both now and in the future.
Based in Alamance County, Arms of Grace is a Christian nonprofit whose mission is to educate, encourage and empower individuals through their journey of parenthood. Dove says the center views itself as an extension of the local church as it seeks to serve families.
“The ministry and the work that we do is all about the family unit,” Dove said. “You never know who a client is going to be, and we want to be an extension of the church, and the way to do that is to partner with churches.”
With the new machine, the center can now expand its ministry and service to the community.
“Being able to have an ultrasound room means way more than you will ever know,” Dove said. “We’re just thankful to the people who have helped make this happen.”
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