Embrace Grace

 Purpose

Since 2008, Embrace Grace has inspired and equipped the church to love and encourage single and pregnant young women and their families through educational support groups. Embrace Grace envisions every girl with an unplanned pregnancy to have a church home for spiritual, emotional, and physical support. They have also added a support group designed to equip the church to empower young, single fathers.

 Pricing Overview (subject to change)

There are no startup costs, membership fees, or monthly/annual dues to start a group - you just purchase your leader and group materials:

Leader Guide and videos: $40 - $55 for facilitator guide and accompanying videos

Cost for 10 participants: $120 - $280

For more information, check out the pricing guide at www.prolovechurch.com.

 Perspective

Embrace Grace is under the direction of founder Amy Ford, who had an unplanned pregnancy as a teenager. Her shame, loneliness, and lack of support fueled her desire to equip the Church to walk alongside young women with loving guidance.

 Structure

The three support groups available through Embrace Grace are listed below. Each group is led by a leader and co-leader and consists of weekly 1.5-2 hours lessons, which include a video testimony and Biblical teaching (DVD or streaming available) followed by group discussion. There is no requirement for support group size, but the typical group is 3-5 participants. If the group is larger, the leaders may divide into smaller groups for the discussion portion. The preferred method is in-person, but they make a virtual option available if needed. 

Embrace Grace is a 12-week group focused on helping pregnant, single mothers find a place of belonging. Topics include salvation, identity in Christ, faith, God’s Word, sin, forgiveness, repentance, and grace. Each participant receives a study guide and a freedom bracelet, with an optional tiara. Events for participating mothers include: 1) A group baby shower hosted by the church, 2) An optional special princess day focused on identity in Christ, and 3) A celebration of life event for moms who make the brave sacrifice of choosing life by deciding to place their baby for adoption.

Embrace Life is a group for young single moms. Often used as a follow-up to Embrace Grace, this 20-week curriculum helps single moms find hope, experience joy, and build community. Participants receive a study guide and ministry journal. They learn spiritual and practical ways to help navigate their way through life. Lesson topics include identity, dreams and goals, growing in God, budgeting, dating, parenting, sexual integrity, and more.

 Best For

Embrace Grace is a practical tool for churches with the mission to strengthen local families. Any staff member or volunteer interested in leading a group may do so with the express commitment of the church leadership. With their digital and print curriculum for the moms and their online training for leaders, every leader is equipped with everything they need to lead. 

Embrace Grace is designed to reach a broad spectrum of young, single or expecting moms and young, single dads from any location or socioeconomic status. While most participants are between the ages of 15 to 30, there is no hard and fast rule. They suggest welcoming the younger or older mom or dad and allowing them to decide whether the group is a good fit. 

Expecting moms may attend even if they have older children. In these cases, the church may offer childcare to make it easier for moms to attend. Some churches host the groups on a Sunday morning or Wednesday evening when childcare is available.

 Evidence That It Works

As of 2023, Embrace Grace spans all 50 states and seven countries with 1,100+ support groups. Almost 1,500 new leaders were added in 2023 who ministered to nearly 2,500 new parents, with a total all-time impact of 14,500+ moms and dads. Of those, 89% reported accepting Christ as their Savior or growing closer to God. There were 1,523 Embrace Grace babies born in 2023 and 200+ new pregnancy center partnerships.

 Cost and Resources

As a donor-supported organization, there are neither start-up nor recurring fees for Embrace Grace Support Groups. The only cost is for the leadership guides/videos and materials for each participant. The participant materials average $30 and cover the cost of the materials. Support group leaders receive the teaching videos, a leaders’ guidebook, and digital training materials. The leader training is self-paced and approximately 3-4 hours. 

Embrace Grace provides promotional materials, tips for identifying attendees, and event planning guidance. Leaders must also have a committed co-leader willing to attend all classes.

Because church leadership commitment is required, Embrace Grace offers a guidebook on presenting the information to achieve buy-in.

 How to order:

To get connected, call or text 817-755-8487 or go to prolovechurch.com.

 What We Love

The missions of Embrace Grace and True Charity go hand-in-hand. Material poverty is closely tied with relational poverty - unhealthy relationships with God, ourselves, and others - which often results in a woman’s unplanned pregnancy. Like True Charity, Embrace Grace emphasizes participants entering into right relationship with their Creator and building healthy relationships with leaders and mentors in the church. Having loving people walking alongside is vital to both individuals navigating the challenges of an unexpected pregnancy as well as those escaping material poverty.

Embrace Grace gets to the heart of the bonding principle taught in True Charity’s workshops and on True Charity’s online learning platform. Often, young single mothers have nonexistent or insufficient natural relationships; they need the Church to step in, model healthy relationships, and show love and guidance.

Embrace Grace provides robust support every step of the way, starting with personal staff support for getting started. There is a guide to achieving leadership buy-in and sermon notes for pastors. There are informational videos, free marketing materials, training for leaders, a private social media group for leaders to share and ask questions, and assistance with planning events. Embrace Grace also assists in connecting the local church with pregnancy centers. 

 Considerations

While there is no requirement for the host church size, smaller churches may consider partnering with other local organizations or churches to have a broader reach.

The pastor should communicate the Biblical foundations of love and grace woven into this ministry to the church to achieve support. In addition to the leaders, church members are needed to volunteer their time and resources for events like the baby shower. The young mothers and fathers will need to be well-loved by the church. 

Finally, to avoid any barriers for participants, Embrace Grace suggests having churches cover the cost of materials as part of their outreach budget. To ensure buy-in, participants must attend 9 of the 12 group sessions to be eligible for the baby shower. An alternative suggestion from a group experienced in running other types of developmental programs is to charge a nominal fee to increase commitment levels.

Links Reviewed on 6/24/24

*Prices Subject to Change