When I (Randy) stepped into the role of Executive Director at Assurance, I brought with me a background in teaching through a local undergraduate school. I have been and probably always will be something of a teacher, whether in the classroom or out. Over the years, I’ve come to see education not just as intellectual preparation, but as a form of discipleship—one that requires real-world experience beyond the classroom and a reliance on Jesus to teach you how to enhance His kingdom through our respective career callings. All that to say, when we had the opportunity to welcome an undergraduate social work student to our program for our Spring semester, I jumped at the opportunity!
Over the past twelve weeks, Riley has worked alongside us, learning about our organization and client-centered ministry at every level, but most specifically in our BRIDGE program which aims to help clients acquire community resources. As she prepares to graduate and head out into the real world of helping professionals, I invited her to share her reflections in this blog post. I hope you enjoy her perspective.
My name is Riley, and I am a senior studying Social Work at Asbury University. This semester, I am honored to be a practicum student at Assurance and get to learn about all the inner-workings of a non-profit and serving a population I am very passionate about! Not only has this practicum experience grown me educationally, but it has also been personally formative in many ways–a couple of which I would like to share today. 
Throughout my time here, I have learned a lot more about the heart of God towards our clients. I have learned that no matter what situation the clients that walk into Assurance find themselves in, the love of the Father runs deep for them. He is a God of deep compassion and grace who covers His beloved with righteousness. He is the defender of each client and is near in each situation they are facing–whether it is emotional fear regarding an unplanned pregnancy or a lack of resources, support, and education for how to raise a child! I have been reminded every day that each client we interact with is made in the image of God.
I have also learned the importance of making sure that clients receive accurate information about all the options for their pregnancy. At Assurance, we desire to provide a space for clients to take a deep breath, become informed about their options, receive the support they need, and feel empowered to make informed decisions! Alongside that, I have also learned more about the Church’s role in providing long-term care, love and discipleship for these mothers and families. What a beautiful opportunity the Church has to reach people in this place of life. This mission not only provides support and resources for the journey; it provides testimonies of God’s love!
Through hearing more directly from clients about their stories and experiences, I have also begun to understand the complexity of the issues they are facing and have a much greater understanding of the compassion and empathy those facing unplanned pregnancies need. An example of this is when I heard a client talk about how she desired an abortion partially because all of her other children had been taken by Child Protective Services and she didn’t want that to happen to the child she was now carrying. Experiences like these have helped me understand that the issue of abortion is always connected with the complex (and often painful) stories people live and that we must approach conversations with clients with understanding, compassion, love, and a willingness to help.
Another client I shadowed shared how she had moved to the U. S. about two years ago and felt like she needed a community to come alongside her to help raise the child. Through advocacy work and our BRIDGE program we were able to provide her some resources to make this possible! This experience reminded me that we are called to care for clients holistically and who need to be cared for on every level–relational, physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.
Another part of my practicum experience has been working on a project aimed at partnering with local churches to start Embrace Grace small groups in Lexington. Embrace Grace is an organization whose mission is “to inspire and equip the church to love on single and pregnant young women and their families”, and their vision is “for every girl with an unplanned pregnancy to have a church to go to for spiritual, emotional, and physical support”. Through Embrace Grace small groups, moms are able to get connected to that community and hopefully also get plugged into the local church as well. Currently, the closest group for our clients to go to is in Frankfort, KY, but our vision is to expand these groups to the greater Lexington area and make them more accessible. We have had some serious conversations about this “continuum of care” approach and we would deeply appreciate your prayers for open hearts to make this happen in Fayette and Jessamine Counties.
Overall, I have loved and gleaned so much from my time here at Assurance! This practicum experience has also helped me grow in my confidence and knowledge of non-profit ministry work and has also further confirmed my passions to serve clients and join in the redemptive kingdom work of God! My heart longs for clients to know the freedom and hope that Christ offers, and I am abundantly grateful for my time spent alongside others passionate about the work at Assurance!
