RACHEL rachel@itspowerful.com

I started working with Pregnancy Center West in the 2005-2006 school year and have really treasured every minute of my time with the In Control program and with Cincinnati's Catholic youth. Since I like nerdy activities like reading and writing, before I came to the Center I was working on a PhD in Theatre History and Aesthetics at Ohio University (which I am still finishing up). I was also teaching an Introduction to the Fine Arts class at OU which was fun in a lot of ways (lots of analyzing paintings and discussing "what is art?"), but I realized that most of the students didn't have much of a clue about God's plan for their lives or about how much He values them. (It was discouraging not to be able to talk about these things because I think they are the really fundamental issues. We can't make much headway in life if we're not in a relationship with our Creator and Redeemer.) Although chastity is only a part of God's plan for us, I've been amazed at how powerfully this one choice and one virtue can bring grace into the whole of our lives. Pope John Paul II wrote a lot about the Theology of the Body—about how much we can learn about the ways of God through understanding how our bodies are designed to work—and I have become increasingly excited by the chastity message as I have been teaching it to others, discovering God's love for His people built into his plan for their relationships.

BOB bob@itspowerful.com

Hello, my name is Bob (which can be spelled both forwards and backwards), and I just jumped on board the In Control! Program at Pregnancy Center West. I am honored and humbled to work here and look forward to working with the youth next school year!! Anyhow about me. I hail from Dayton, OH where I graduated from Alter High School and later on graduated from Franciscan University of Steubenville with a degree in Theology. From my experience in college I gained three wonderful things. The first is a love for God and His Church here on earth. Every one of us is created out of love by God and are created to love God. From an early age I possessed a love for our Lord. I am eternally grateful that college was able to foster my love for God enabling this love to bear fruit and be extended to others. The second is that I met my beautiful girlfriend, now fiance in college. We will be getting married in January 2008. The third is that I was able to grow in chastity. Living a chaste life is a battle that only can be won through the grace of God. One of the Church's greatest advocates for Chastity is our late Pope John Paul II who was a warrior on this spiritual battlefield. In Poland he faced persecution from the Nazis and would later fight Communism most of his adult life. It was during these almost literal battles of his life that he also sought to reaffirm the ChurchÕs teaching on human sexuality; a teaching which is truly liberating. Unfortunately we live in a society where virtues such as chastity are under severe attack. By dedicating oneÕs entire life to Christ and living a chaste life we are fortified by God's grace thus redoubling our efforts to "Fight the good fight," as St. Paul tells us. I hope to live this model out as a member of the In Control program and through my vocation as a husband to be. God Bless!!

AMY amy@itspowerful.com

Howdy! I'm Amy, or Aimee or ~aimee~, which ever you run into first. I've been speaking now for the Pregnancy Center West since the summer of 2005 and absolutely love my job! A little blurb about me... well, I am actually from Florida and relocated myself to Ohio almost 3.5 years ago. While in Florida, I was an avid soccer fan and played for over 13 years, along with every other sport in the book, except golf, badminton and shuffle board. But it was at the age of 19 that my life totally changed. After becoming a teen mom at the age of 19, I realized some things in my life needed to change. I had always been a straight "A" student, had a great soccer career and had earned numerous scholarships to go and play in college, but my life was chaotic and empty due to my sexual decisions of the past. Then for the first time in my life at 19, someone started to explain to me the "whys" of life, chastity, and God's ultimate plan for my life. After much prayer and emotional debate, I realized I needed to give my life over to Christ and His plan. But part of that plan was to share His message of chastity to as many people as I could and use my story to help others realize that if a lowly sinner like myself is worthy of the happiness He has planned for us, then so are you. So that is why I am here, and that is why I love what I do. Now as I look forward to my son turning 4 this year, I realize how awesome God's plan is for us and if we say "YES," He will never abandon us and will always provide. I am now married to a wonderful man who has been a best friend to both Dominic and I. I have learned that my decision for Christ and to follow God's plan for chastity has changed my life forever, and I have never been more blessed. And I want each of you to find and know that peace that frees us to true happiness.

Meet the Volunteers

PAM

DONNA

KAELI

APRIL

AARON



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