Even though they had stiff competition from the
2002 Winter Olympic Games Opening Ceremony, First Choice Pregnancy
Center’s fourth annual Caring Hearts Happening still got
a decent-sized turnout on Friday evening, Feb. 8, at the Bob Rudd
Community Center in Pahrump. The happening started a little late,
however once it got started, things began happening.
This year FCPC went from a banquet to a happening, which meant
rather than serving a dinner to everyone then a show; attendees
got the show, then lined up to serve themselves from a collection
of delectable goodies ranging from miniature pigs-in-a-blanket
to cakes, and spent the remainder of the evening socializing.
The shows MC duties fell to Kirk Vitto, who welcomed the people
to the show and led an opening prayer. He acknowledged “How
very blessed we are” with having Rochelle Brown as the center
director and the volunteers that staff the center. Kirk also gave
a brief overview of what the center is and the impact of this
mission in the community.
Suzette Vitto, Stephanie Markley (keyboard)
and Joanne Bainbridge started the entertainment with the song
“Celebrate Jesus,” and were joined by Water from
the Rock dance team; Maria Flint, Maxine Thrasher, VeAnn Merrill
and Suzy Davis. Their second song, minus the dancers, was “Can’t
Stop Talking,” which was a fitting intro for Christian
comedienne Nancy Korica.
Nancy started off serious, at least as serious as she gets, by
presenting Rochelle Brown with a bouquet of chocolate roses in
appreciation of her efforts in running FCPC.
Then, Nancy took off running (at the mouth of course) on the subject
of holidays, especially Valentines Day. She read some letters
from husbands to their wives and asked for people to pray for
those 
husbands (as they were very apt to need all
the help they could get after those letters).
Nancy then tackled the subject of television shows and music,
giving examples of how things would be different if God were the
focus of shows and songs.
The singers. . . No, the sisters. . . Wait a minute, the singers?
Although it couldn’t quite be decided what to call Suzette,
Stephanie and Joanne; they filled the hall with their music again.
This time around the numbers were “This is How We Overcome”
and “Doxology.”
The key note speaker for the evening was Jack French, founder
of the KILA SOS Broadcasting Network, and DJ for the 100,000-watt
Christian radio station. KILA consists of five radio stations
and 40 translators covering Southern Nevada.
When told by Rochelle that this would be a very
casual crowd, so “don’t be stressed,” Jack replied
with “Do you know what that means to me. . . Don’t wear
a tie.”
Jack started out by taking the name of the event, Caring Hearts
Happening, and gave an his interpretation of each word.
Caring – “Because He cared, we are offered eternal life,”
said Jack and “Thank God you care” about the volunteers
of FCPC.
Hearts – “It takes heart for God” to save lives
for God as the FCPC volunteers do.
Happening – Every event (visitor to FCPC) is a happening,
brought to you (the volunteers) by God.
As Jack talked about the trails and tribulations of running a
non-profit ministry, using examples from the KILA ministry, he
repeatedly acknowledged God’s help with the words “Our
God is real. . . Isn’t He.”
“Focus on the ministry, God will take care of finances and
supplies,” Jack told the audience. Jack then quoted 1 Corinthians
15:58, “Therefore, my beloved brethern, be ye steadfast,
unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch
as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”
Jack then closed with a prayer for the center.
New Hope Fellowship’s Pastor Keith Markley said, “Tonight,
once again, we (the audience) have the opportunity to smile,”
and he invited the audience to give or pledge support for the
center. You can’t be “happy givers” until you realize
it’s God’s money, not yours Keith reminded the people.
Keith noted that “so often, our test of faith has to do with
our finances.”
Keith said that the volunteers were blessed with “not having
to stress for ministry finances” because people had been
so giving in the past.
He closed with a prayer of thanks to God for keeping the center
financed so that the volunteers were able to concentrate on ministering,
rather than fundraising.
The show ended with Suzette, Stephanie and Joanne singing “Worthy
is the Lamb” and “This is my Desire.”
Suzette added her voice to the request for center support with
the words, “Help us be their voice,” for all unborn
children.
A buffet of sandwiches, cheeses and desserts
was offered after the show while the people socialized. All in
all, an enjoyable evening for the people in attendance.
First Choice Pregnancy Center is a non-profit Christian organization
dedicated to saving unborn children from abortion. They only operate
from donations and do not receive any government grants or funding.