Central Texas | Council for Life

CFL Central Texas

Council for Life is blessed and proud to have a new affiliate in Central Texas. CFL Central Texas is based in Waco and includes Bell, Bosque, Coryell, Falls, Limestone and McLennan Counties. CFL Central Texas has formed an outstanding Board of Directors consisting of well-respected Waco community leaders and hosted several events. On May 17, 2023, CFL Central Texas will hold its biggest fundraising event ever with their Celebrating Life Luncheon. For Additional Information Click Here and To Sponsor Click Here

Email CFL Central Texas at cflctx@yahoo.com or mail them at: 208 Hewitt Drive, Suite 103, No. 147, Waco, Texas 76712.

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CFL Central Texas Fall Evening Event - Overturning Roe: What It Means for Texas Women

What a difference a year makes. So is the case for Council for Life Central Texas’ 2021 and 2022 Education Events, which occur every November.

Our 2021 event happened to be on the eve of the U.S. Supreme Court’s hearing of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. That night and many days and years before, we prayed fervently that the U.S. Supreme Court would overturn Roe v. Wade.

Fast forward to our November 3, 2022, event, set in the same glorious lake-view home as in 2021. God answered our prayer. Individual states now have the full power to regulate abortion, making abortion illegal in the Great State of Texas except in rare instances.

To educate Central Texans on what overturning Roe means to Texas women, Council for Life Central Texas convened a panel moderated by Harris Creek Baptist Church Lead Pastor Johnathan Pokluda (JP).

JP asked Dr. Zachery Pettis what circumstances a Texas physician can perform an abortion. Dr. Pettis read from House Bill 1280, “The patient has a life-threatening condition and may be at risk of death or poses a serious risk of substantial impairment of a major bodily function.”

Dr. Pettis said a severe uterine infection or severe uterine bleeding are considered life-threatening conditions. He also said the new law has not changed how ectopic pregnancies and miscarriages are treated.

JP asked Care Net Pregnancy Center of Central Texas CEO Deborah McGregor Caperton how the new law impacted her work and what changes she has seen in clients, donors, and volunteers. Caperton said there were 1,200 abortions in Waco in 2021 and the years prior. She said, “Now, the babies are coming. The babies are coming!” Caperton says Waco will see many more babies born, with only a short window to figure out how to care for them and get the moms and dads ready, so the babies are born into a safe and stable home.

She suggests a return to “neighbor helping neighbor” rather than depending on the government because the current generation of moms feels isolated because they are coming out of COVID-19 and dealing with inflation.

“Roe is gone, but the work to build a culture of life in this country is far from finished, and the needs for women, men, and babies in Texas have skyrocketed,” said Lisa Chenot, president of the Council for Life Central Texas Board of Directors. “We pray our discussions will help educate and motivate us.”

Vincent Carpenter, Elder and Director of Pastoral Care at Antioch Church, led the group in prayer.

Approximately 75 people attended the event, many of whom brought baby essentials and gift cards donated to Care Net.

TFNB Your Bank for Life provided audio/visuals.

CFL Central Texas Celebrating Life Luncheon: May 2022

The announcement of our 2022 beneficiaries was one of the highlights of our May 17, 2022, Celebrating Life Luncheon, which was held at the Baylor Club at McLane Stadium in Waco, Texas. It was Council for Life Central Texas’ fourth event since beginning in November 2019. Nearly 400 Central Texans filled the Baylor Club, making it our most attended event.

Proceeds from the Luncheon will fund the vetted projects of our 2022 Beneficiaries, which are 40 Days for Life, Bears for Life, Care Net of Central Texas, Highland Baptist Wellness Center, and Nightlight Christian Adoptions.The goal of our annual Luncheon is to raise public awareness of the complex issues surrounding unplanned pregnancies and to provide financial support to local agencies that share our mission.

Before lunch was served, our Honorary Luncheon Chairman, Margaret Brown, blessed the event by citing three prayers that were harmonious to CFL Central Texas’ mission.

Following Mrs. Brown’s beautiful prayers, featured speaker Dr. Anthony Levatino and his wife, Cecelia, teamed up for the keynote address.Dr. Levatino is a Board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist who retired after 40 years in the medical field. In the early years of his career, he performed nearly 1,200 abortions as a routine part of his practice. Cecelia is a former nurse who has been actively involved in state politics.

The couple shared their perspective about why a physician who has been trained to give life would take it away. They told the story of his conversion to pro-life. They also shared what it was like to perform abortions and the toll it took on his family until a personal tragedy occurred. Many attendees said the Lavitino’s story was unforgettable.

A warm thank you to Luncheon Co-Chairs, Kay Bond, and Valerie Robinson as well as CFL Central Texas board members and other volunteers who provided tremendous assistance before, during, and after the event.

The luncheon closed with a heartfelt prayer by Pastor Derrick Watley of the Mighty Wind Worship Center.

CFL Waco Reception: November 2021

What a beautiful setting for the November 30, 2021 Council for Life Central Texas education event. Dozens of supporters filled the home of Carol and Kirk Townsend in Waco to learn about Council for Life, witness the presentation of funds to our beneficiaries, and meet the newly appointed board for Council for Life Central Texas.

We have many individuals to thank, including our featured speaker, Amy Ford. Ford is the founder and president of Embrace Grace, a non-profit that inspires and equips the church to love single and pregnant young women and their families. More than 700 churches across the nation and world utilize Embrace Grace. Ford is also the author of “Help Her Be Brave: Discover Your Place in the Pro-Life Movement” and “A Bump in Life.” She shared several stories of how churches, pregnancy centers, and the body of Christ have come together to impact communities. Ford brought a fresh perspective of how one life can make a difference by stepping out of our comfort zones and just loving people.

A warm thank you to John Durham, lead pastor at Highland Baptist Church, for his beautiful opening prayer, and Dale Wallace, executive director at Vertical Ministries, whose prayer closed the evening. And the support we receive from our mentors at Council for Life Dallas is such a blessing, and we appreciate several members of Dallas’ Board of Directors for attending.

Council for Life Central Texas introduced its Board of Directors: Crystal Robinson, Kristin Hill, Missy McReynolds, Keith Brown, Jackie Johnson, Amy Fields, Liz Anderson, Valerie Robinson, Kay Bond, Sally Bledsoe, Tommye Lou Davis, Christy De Leon, Susan DeWitt, and Lisa Chenot.

Announcing our 2021 beneficiaries highlighted the evening. Council for Life Cental Texas presented funds to three local agencies — Care Net of Central Texas, Nightlight Christian Adoptions, and 40 Days for Life.

CFL Waco Luncheon: June 2021

Not even a global pandemic could diminish the enthusiasm for the Council for Life Central Texas Luncheon, which was postponed more than a year due to COVID-19. On June 24, 2021, nearly 300 Central Texans attended the lunch to learn more about the life-affirming organization that expanded to Waco in 2019.

The goal of securing 25 table hosts to fill tables of eight was exceeded before invitations were mailed. Perhaps that’s a testament to the demand for standing up for Life in the Heart ‘O Texas. Keynote speaker Lisa Luby Ryan shared her personal testimony, taking us on a powerful journey of trust and forgiveness. Rebecca Key Lutz, who grew up in Waco, provided a heartfelt description of Council for Life’s mission. Many attendees were not familiar with Council for Life, so an understanding of the organization was a goal of the luncheon. Both Ryan and Lutz have served many years holding key Board positions for Council for Life Dallas.

Luncheon Co-Chairs, Liz Anderson and Lisa Chenot, felt updates from the two Council for Life Central Texas beneficiaries, Care Net Pregnancy of Central Texas and Nighlight Christian Adoptions, were important. Nancy Rothe, Executive Director of Nightlight, and Care Net CEO Deborah McGregor reported how the Council for Life Central Texas funds were used to help women and families facing the complex issues of an unplanned pregnancy.

Following Ryan’s testimony, several attendees asked about the next Council for Life Waco event. Although unknown at this time, more Council for Life Waco events are in the works.

It was Care Net CEO Deborah McGregor’s suggestion that Council for Life expand to Waco. In a 2017 email to the Council for Life Board, McGregor said having CFL in Waco would support her efforts and the efforts of all pro-life agencies there. Council for Life’s connection to Waco includes Board member Rebecca (Key) Lutz and Margaret (Brown) Lewis, who both grew up in Waco.

Central Texas Chapter Begins

In November 2019, more than 100 Waco residents braved the rainy weather to learn about Council for Life at the home of Betsy and Clifton Robinson. Forty-three event host couples, as well as others, generously contributed seed money to launch the Waco affiliate, all of which will aid Waco area efforts and agencies as they relate to unplanned pregnancies.

The Waco gathering ended beautifully when Chairwomen Lisa Chenot and Sally Bledsoe and TFNB Your Bank for Life CEO and President, David Littlewood, presented checks to Care Net Pregnancy Center of Central Texas and Nightlight Christian Adoptions.

Attendees were inspired by Council for Life Founder Emeritus Ann Carruth’s introductory remarks about Council for Life’s founding 18 years ago in Dallas by a small group of Christian women who were deeply disturbed and grieved by the devastation of abortion.

Attendees were further inspired by two poignant stories from Claudia Jones and her husband, Philip, an attorney turned minister, and Le’yandria Ratomski.