SPEAKER_02 0:30

We haven't given Take the Sprecious We haven't given it to the other.

SPEAKER_05 3:56

Well, welcome to the Pro Life Team podcast. I'm Jacob and I'm here with Brandon. And today we're going to talk about centers together. So, Brandon, um, let's just dive into centers together. I think most people would know your backstory at this point.

SPEAKER_00 4:13

Yeah, absolutely. So, Centers Together is an uh virtual training event that we are putting on for pregnancy centers across the nation. Actually, I should say across North America, because we had a bunch of Canadian centers register as well that are coming into it for the training. And one of the unique parts of Centers Together is it's really designed for uh the training to be done in-house in a way that creates relationship with your team, meaning that we are building out these tools to make sure that you're able to participate in the conference, but do it as a team in a way that actually builds your relationships with each other and the speakers as well.

SPEAKER_05 5:01

Awesome. So yeah, it seems to me like Centers Together is really championing how clinics who have a hard time making it to the Heartbeat or CareNet conference based on travel, cost, hotel, um, breaking away from their, you know, with a small team and having to close their center for a few days. It seems like you're you're you're really making it accessible.

SPEAKER_00 5:27

Yeah, our goal is definitely to be accessible, especially for the smaller centers. As a fact as a matter of fact, we have a small and rural center track. Actually, we call it a ministry path that they uh walk down specifically for small and rural centers. But we're not really positioning this as an alternative uh to the main um conferences. Those are good, and the it is good to send one or two people, but it's near impossible to send your entire staff, let alone your volunteers and so on. So we are really designing this so that your entire staff and volunteers can be a part of it. And we've done that both with pricing and the format so that everyone can be involved and be on the same page. Not only that, we're making sure that it's got the uh training that will involve everyone across the board as they're uh participating and able to be a part of it so that they're going to be able to bring it all back together to your entire center and you'll be able to say, as we learned in the centers together and go from there. So it it does have the you know traditional format where we have a keynote section where there is a keynote, but then we have the breakout classes, or again, as we call them the ministry path classes that cover six different types of functions inside of a pregnancy center. And one of those isn't quite a function, it's the small and rural center uh path. But then we have all these other functions that are available for you depending upon what you do at the center that allow you to learn specifically to what you would need to learn, but again, and then bring that back to the center as a whole. Um not that you probably were gonna get there, but each day is themed so that it all that is being learned across all of the different ministry paths is themed to a specific theme for that day and will help explore um that particular theme for that particular function so that they're able to learn and grow in the same area. So again, you can bring back what you learned and you will be learning something on the theme for the day similar to say if you're a volunteer, you would learn something similar to what your medical staff might be learning. It's obviously not the same thing, but it is themed around the same idea, and that that's the keynote is themed around the same idea. So every day you're catching that theme and working with that theme as a group, and you're able to talk about it as well. Interesting.

SPEAKER_05 8:12

So, what's an example of one of the themes that you might be using if for you know in this next or this first uh centers together uh conference or training?

SPEAKER_00 8:24

Sure, absolutely. So I I think the the the way that we really are doing these themes has to do with the client journey and the way they walk through um the centers. Um but the first day is really built on the idea of who your center is, and it's built on this the the theme is build the mission. And the idea really here is what is the foundational purpose and reason and motivations for a pregnancy center? What are those things that drive you and what makes you healthy, what makes you effective? What are the things that really are um at the core of who you are and what you do? And again, the the important piece here is that we have our keynotes that are built around this, but also every single one of the classes is going to be built around this. So we have many doctors teaching, lots of nurses teaching, but also lots of uh lay people and pastors and and everything in between teaching all the different ministry paths classes that are going on. But those classes are going to be on that, you know, what is your core purpose? What is your reason? Um, the second one is the second day theme is on meeting the moment. And this really is about those early interactions that really shape the client's entire experience with the center, that that one moment as they're walking through the door. And how does that apply across all of the different ministry paths? And amazingly enough, we have found that even though not every position at a pregnancy center is uh client-centric or even at that first moment client-centric, there are ways that they what they do will make an impact in even those first moments that are really important to consider and to walk through. So we have amazing speakers coming in uh across all kinds of different um uh organizations and uh different uh emphasises to I think that's actually emphasi to be exact. Uh they would come across and will um talk through how this theme works with the different ministry paths. I'm just gonna give you the other two because it's only four days, so might as well. Uh the other one is walk the journey. And this is about walking that uh with the client and what that looks like, um, what the best ways to do that are, uh, what ways we can be encouraged to walk that journey. Um, again, it's both in the uh in the keynotes, and then all the ministry paths talk about walking that journey, what that looks like for your nurse managers, what that looks like for your nurses, what that looks like for the people who run your baby boutique, uh just everything in between, the sorting the clothes. And that's one of the big points here is like you never would have been able to bring that your volunteer who sorts the clothes. And they don't always realize that they're part of a bigger movement, and the encouragement that they're going to be able to get because that they see, whoa, man, I I sort clothes and I matter because there are people sorting clothes in in a thousand different cities inside the United States, and I'm one of those doing good work and to be encouraged by that. Uh, that is just a great um great piece for them to be a part of. And then finally, we have plant the future, and plant the future is just what are we doing to sew into the client in a way that will help them graduate and be empowered to go out and be people of faith inside of the community uh on their own? And what does that look like to move those clients on? And from every ministry path methodology, what uh every position inside of the pregnancy center, what can we be doing to uh look towards the future and work towards that moment when they graduate into uh doing amazing things out there in in the community from their own faith, from their own belief systems. So that's our four themes. That's again, our keynotes are based on those, our ministry paths. Each one of those is going to hit those, and uh it's going to be an awesome time of learning and growing. Now, I didn't mention that we don't just have um these ministry paths, we also have panels that are going to be talking, and in those panels, we're going to have experts in different areas that are going to bring information. And those are scheduled every day. We have different panels that you're going to be able to hear from and uh be able to learn from for each ministry path, for each theme. But you can tell we've got this kind of figured out to where uh each day you're hearing about a theme and you're sticking to your ministry path, or if you want to jump around, no problem. Um, and then the next day we'll be hitting a different theme and uh and the the path that you're taking will determine kind of who you're hearing from and and what you're hearing about.

SPEAKER_05 13:48

Interesting. So how much of the content will be pre-recorded versus live? What does that situation look like?

SPEAKER_00 13:57

Yeah, absolutely. And that's a good question because we are emphasizing relationship inside of this conference. And so when relationship requires interaction, right? I mean, people don't just need to be told what to think from the the uh top and and not have a way to ask questions. So when we are doing this, our keynotes are going to be pre-recorded, but our every other session, every other uh way thing that we're doing, uh, which includes the uh ministry path classes, it includes the panels, and it includes the courageous conversations, which I'm sure we'll talk about. But the uh all of those are live. And as a matter of fact, the people presenting in the ministry paths, uh I'm not sure they're excited about this or not, uh, but they get an entire hour where they're required to sit down at a table. So it's virtual table, it actually looks like a table, and anyone can take a chair at that table and just talk to them like they're in a meeting. So we are going to be one of the most accessible um presentation systems that that's out there, where you know, normally if you're at a conference, you might have 10 minutes. If if I'm the presenter, you have two minutes to ask questions and that's it because I I talk too much. So the the point is is that they are going to have an entire hour. So the the teaching is an hour, and then everyone gets off, and then you can choose which table to go sit at and ask questions. And so you will be going into each one of these uh and having that entire hour to get that interaction with whatever speaker it is, and um get that relationship with them. Same thing with the panels, those are going to be uh face-to-face, so to say, on online, face to face, where you're able to ask questions and to have those conversations. So it in general our our uh keynotes are pre-recorded and then every single class is not because you need to have the ability to ask questions and be responded to, and that's that's why we're doing it that way. Awesome.

SPEAKER_05 16:11

So, and then for those who aren't able to be there live, will they be able to just watch the recording of those who did attend live and watch that interaction?

SPEAKER_00 16:19

Yeah, good question, Jacob, because that's like the number one question that everyone asks, right? Uh the answer is yes, you can go back and watch it now. I I do want to throw out there that I think there are a lot of people with great intentions to do that that never do it. And so I don't want to um I'm not trying to uh throw shade, you have it for three months, you can go listen to it. But I think most of us know through experience that we don't actually do that, uh, and then it just moves on. But what I would make the suggestion is is that you actually set aside time to do it uh as a group. We have people uh like uh we have a center that actually has a retreat center that they're going to go and watch the keynotes together. They're gonna go into the different rooms and watch their ministry pass, and then they're gonna come back and have lunch together. As a matter of fact, one of the things we're doing is we are sponsoring lunch for three centers a day. So all you have to do is send us a picture of you having um lunch with your crew, and and we will randomly choose three centers to pay for whatever lunch they had, because that's what the the level we want, right? We want you to be interacting and being together. That's the whole point here is to grow relationships with both your team and with others. So I do understand it's imperfect world, you can't always be there, but if you can, if you can set aside time, even if you just set aside time to hit the keynotes and then come back to the classes as you see fit, I would highly suggest that we've got some uh per powerful keynotes that are going to really challenge us. They're really going to also encourage us. And I think you don't want to miss those, and I think your team isn't gonna want to miss those either.

SPEAKER_05 18:11

Yeah, there's definitely a real gravity to or or you know, a real impact, greater impact to watch something live and then to be able to participate with the questions and really just to be present with it being created more so than watching it afterwards. That does have greater impact. So tell us about the courageous uh conversations. What is that? And what do you have in line with what do you have in the and I what's your idea for that uh area?

SPEAKER_00 18:39

Well, I I think one of the biggest areas that um we could see opportunities for uh growth inside of the pro-life movement is the ability to have conversations about hard things. Now, all the time we talk about having conversations with hard things and we're talking about talking to a client about abortion. That is a good conversation to have, but it's an interesting thing that when we disagree on methodologies or when we disagree on the outworking of how we are doing something, we often create these tribes, and these tribes don't allow people who disagree with us to be in our tribe. And this tribalism, which has come to really hamper US politics, uh, has also come into the pro-life movement. And I believe this is actually hurting us as a movement. We need to be united in the fact that we are here together to do a job that God has given us. And uh I'm gonna be specific. God has given these centers a specific job to do and where they are called they should serve. And so there's a there's a bit of um how how do I say this the right way? There's a bit of lack of clarity when you uh when someone from the top says you must serve this way or you can't be a part of our group. And I think that's problematic. So I'll give you uh a couple examples and then explain how courageous conversation comes out of that. So an example would be we have many centers that we know and love who work solely inside of parenting, and they do some uh abortion-minded clients and uh, but mostly they do amazing parenting. And these tend to be rural centers run by volunteers who are doing God's great work that they have been called to do, even if it doesn't look like what uh might be a city center who does almost no parenting work and does mostly, you know, abortion-determined client um uh appointments. So the the problem isn't that these two centers exist because they should exist. Uh they are called by God to their individual moments and they should be doing whatever those individual moments are. The problem I have is when we say, you know what, these guys are doing it wrong, these guys are doing it right, what we should be saying instead is there are opportunities here. Let's talk about those opportunities together. But we recognize God's individual calling and we recognize that we are um here to uh be a part of the same movement. So what Courageous Conversations does then is actually put people who disagree on an important topic but a hard topic into the same room with a uh moderator. And the entire point of this conversation is to lovingly and with respect talk about why they believe that their methodology or their way of doing Things is the right way of doing things. And they they have a topic and they're going to talk about it. And I believe that as Christians, we are called to be able to love each other even if we disagree. I mean, and there is nothing that we should be divided on except for on the cross. I mean, that's that's literally we have a single thing uh that that is, you know, salvation through Jesus Christ alone, uh, and then the definition of Jesus Christ, of course. And then those other things are important, but they are not necessarily dividers. So I'm gonna give you some courageous conversation topics. Um, and I want everyone to recognize that I'm putting things that I believe in onto the chopping block here of ideas because I believe in the fact that we need to have conversations. And so um the the first of those is does a parenting program distract from the main mission of a pregnancy center? And we need to get uh people to be able to have that discussion without having their feelings hurt, instead, with being able to hear, listen, there are things that are incredibly positive about a parenting program that need to exist in some places, and there are things that can become a distraction for others in other places. And we need to hear the two sides from people who have thought about this, who have gone through it, and who may disagree, but still love each other because they understand God's calling on individuals. Uh, another one that is very controversial, that I still love people who disagree with me or who even agree with me on this, and that's the care kit, the care kit being a very controversial subject, and it's okay for it to be controversial. It's okay to disagree with someone. I think the problem becomes where we become tribalistic and say, if you use a care kit, you're not on our team. And or if you don't use the care kit, you're not, you don't understand the advanced ways of reaching uh the you know, the abortion pill client of today, you know, that both of those are overstatements that are unhelpful for the unity of the movement. So what we need instead is we need a discussion by doctors, by lawyers, at a level where we can see and try to understand where God is calling us specifically for our specific moment. That's something that's super important to be discussed and not dictated. And this is this is where um I think we get into trouble is that there's a decision for the movement instead of a decision for your moment. And that's a different place to be because where you are, you may never need a care kit. It may not be a discussion you should be having because you may be in that rural location where you are uh working with clients at a more parenting level, or you may be in a place where the care kit is something you use and need every day. Or it's a place where maybe you just don't feel comfortable. You don't believe that God has called you. The problem isn't the differentiation and methodologies, the problem is in the hate of others. And unfortunately, I've gotten these letters that specifically say, you know, we you what you're doing is evil and we can't participate with you in any way, shape, or form, literally uh all the way through all of the organizations I work with. They won't work with any of those organizations because of the fact that we believe this is a good tool. And that right there is actually going to hurt our movement more than it's going to help. I don't care if you disagree, but can we disagree in a loving way? Courageous conversations is designed to help our movement be able to hear differing voices without being reactionary one way or another, but to say, where is God calling me specifically on this topic?

SPEAKER_05 26:16

Yeah, the the example that I think almost everyone everyone listening could relate to would be APR, abortion pill reversal. There were, so for me, it took three months to even comprehend what Dr. Delgato was talking about with APR. And then there was a long period, let's call it four years, maybe even five, where people were trying to build awareness that APR existed. And and during that time, I remember talking to many medical directors and centers and clinics that were not willing to take on the risk. And yeah, and so all that to say is there's a really good example. And now I would say our movement has fully embraced APR as a tool, but it had a rough start. It wasn't like a light switch, it was more of like a slow roll-in. And um, and I really think that the these controversial conversations, to me, it sounds like partial, you know, what when when my wife and I um are having a difficulty and I simply clam up and don't talk, I just make it worse. I build anxiety. But as soon as I eventually uh start to talk, um, you know, the anxiety goes away. And I start to experience Philippians 4, 6, and 7, which is don't have anxiety, um, you know, pray with uh petition slash prayer and with thanksgiving, and then the peace of God will be epic. And so all that to say is, you know, talking about it is a huge step. Clamming up just simply builds anxiety and fear, and that's not what we're called to do, at least according to Philippians 4, 6. Um, and um yeah, so the care kit. I mean, I would just say I expect it might take longer than APR for you know for its roll-in. I think it might be a three-month, a six-year um experience, something like that.

SPEAKER_00 28:22

Yeah, I don't disagree. And there there are lots of cutting-edge things that I know that people are doing right now that um that I think many centers would be uncomfortable with. And I know there are national organizations that that push against these things that then become the standard practice over time, right? Uh I'll I'll give you a couple of them, but it uh abortion pill buybacks. This is uh something that is very controversial. Um, and I know some nationals have some big opinions on it, but I think that's the cutting edge of the pro-life movement. At a minimum, we should be having that conversation. And there are organizations that are actually trying to stop that conversation from being had. They're they're saying this is the absolute and it should not be discussed. I don't agree with that. Another one is uh progesterone through automated systems. I I have a a friend who has a um a little medical vault on their uh on their clinic, and you're able to go get the progesterone with outside of normal hours. They're able to unlock it for you and you get it right there. So I think there's a need to be discussing these front-end things so that we are as a movement making the best decisions for where God has called us. And you're absolutely right. APR is a perfect example of it. There are a lot of these. Um, I'll give you another one, HIPAA. Uh, you know, for a while there, uh sinners were being told from the top down that you you must be HIPAA compliant. Um, even if you aren't under HIPAA, we're going to uh say that you're under HIPAA, and then it got flipped on its head, where now it's not a good thing to say you're under HIPAA because you know there was a lawsuit about that. I wrote the the go ahead.

SPEAKER_05 30:15

Oh, so I wrote an article once about um the three positions on HIPAA that I was aware of that were coming from national groups. And so my article wasn't really my opinion on what someone should do, but it's simply saying, here's what this group says, here's what this group says, and here's another version of another group and what they say. I just want you to be aware that there's three voices talking on this position of how you should handle your posture towards being under HIPAA or not.

SPEAKER_00 30:43

Yeah, and that's exactly that that's the point of a courageous conversation is people having the guts to stand up and say what they believe without hating the person across the aisle from them. And um, I I don't know if hate's probably the wrong word, but without dismissing them, that I think that's one of the biggest problems is that cancels someone someone's motivations are evil um because you disagree with the methodology that they are expressing God's call on their life. And this is this is very, very um touchy, um, but that's why uh part of the reason that this this uh conference is exist is to allow people to actually talk through um what is I'll I mean I'll give you another one, and this one's hot topic button, but you know, advertising wording for Google AdWords, you know, there there are uh organizations that have absolutes. I think that should be talked through. I think organizations should hear from both sides. I do believe that you should make a decision based on where God has called you to be, but that should be a decision that is informed, not dictated. And I think the courageous conversation on this is going to be important for everyone to hear. So we have uh those courageous conversations are going to uh be a big part of the Centers Together conference. You don't have to go to them if uh disagreement makes you uncomfortable, uh, you don't have to be there. But I would suggest that it's good for our growth. It's good for our maturity to be able to hear people um and hear them disagree and hear them do it in such a way that they're still expressing love and respect for each other.

SPEAKER_05 32:30

Yeah. When it comes to like the uh the phrase, you know, controversial phrases in a Google ad or on a website, there's a there's a big difference when it comes to context and framing and the words that came right before and right after that will impact whether they darken a phrase or they lighten a phrase based on the posture and the context that it's within. And then and also Google, you know, gave us an example of them pushing certain words onto our movement a few years earlier when they made everyone classify as does provide abortion or does not provide abortion. But the truth of the matter is that abortion clinics don't provide abortion healing, abortion care, true informed abortion consent. Um, and pregnancy clinics do provide healing from abortion. They do provide risk assessment and you know information about abortion to help someone make a decision they're not going to regret. And it's sort of like asking someone, do you want milk or not milk? instead of understanding that there is 2% whole milk, 1% low fat, no fat, almond, etc., dairy-free, you know, chocolate milk, vanilla, you know, and so on. You know, and Google, you know, being the master of scope in front, you know, when it comes to words that go with other words, um the fact that they did that to our movement just just shows, you know, it was very abusive and not in their character. And and now we're sort of doing the same thing to ourselves with the using, you know, you can't use these words, you can use these words when it comes to pre-abortion consultation. And and it doesn't take into account the context, the framing, and it also doesn't take into account just you know, all of the variables, the scope that is involved. And it really does need to be a courageous conversation, more so than like a very short and to the point rule.

SPEAKER_00 34:30

Yeah, a hundred percent. And it this is just a common thing in the pro-life movement, is that there are um there are things that people say this is an absolute, and that's okay for for you to say that for your location, but it's very hard to in all cases apply something and say, well, this is how everyone must do it. And I I really I'm not saying that there aren't good ways of doing things. I'm not saying that there are uh there aren't excellent ways of doing things, but what I am saying is that we should be talking about these alternatives and hearing someone's heart on why they believe that way, that they're doing it differently, is is the way that they are called to do it. And we need to understand, doesn't mean you have to agree with them, but we need to understand that there is opportunity for us to be united without being absolutely the same across the board. So that's what those are about. And hopefully they they help everyone think through these topics a a little bit deeper.

SPEAKER_05 35:35

Yeah. Yeah. So when when we were talking about this months ago, or some of these Unity conversations, um, I mentioned that I had some controversy or a disconnect with Choose Life Marketing. And I may not have been happy about the fact that you told Nellie that I should have a conversation with her, but it was really good. And it was hard. I would say it was like eight and a half out of ten on the hard scale, but it was really good. I would say it's a nine out of ten on the good scale. And so when it comes to building unity, you know, having competitors have those conversations instead of maybe holding on to bitterness. And I can be an example of that. Um, when it comes to you know, privacy clinics who are competing after the same donor base and they feel like they're competing, or when it comes to nationals who feel like their ideas are better than this other group's ideas, we really just need to have more conversations and break down some of these barriers within our own camp.

SPEAKER_00 36:40

Yeah, one 100%. And I mean, in in general, and this is not always the case, but in general, understanding where someone's coming from will be helpful in healing a relationship, right? Um, that that's not always the case. So I'm not polyanning this and and saying that we all just need to get along, but at the same time, there is a reality that um understanding someone else and their heart is a very good way to um understand their ideas. And so being in those conversations, even though they are hard, as you say, uh, you know, even though they are hard, it is good for us to be able to um to have them. And I I think there are, I don't want to make this too much of a uh uh a national bash in one sense, because you know, they do have forums and places where they gather so that they are able to speak together. I'm not privy to those, so I'm not sure, you know, how those look and how much conversation actually happens. Um, but in this at the same time, there is by at least some a goal of talking um and and having those conversations. Sometimes those conversations are probably pretty darn hard. Um, but I think that needs to roll all the way down to um us having conversations between each other. Awesome.

SPEAKER_05 38:13

So through this experience of preparing and building privacy centers together or centers together, what uh where have you seen God's fingerprints? Or where, you know, how is he you know, where have you seen God in this experience?

SPEAKER_00 38:30

Yeah, absolutely. I I think one of the coolest things is seeing him bring amazing speakers on board. Um, you know, I uh and also sponsors too. We've got a a lot of sponsors, but our our speakers are just I'm so excited about that. And he he has allowed us to have, I think we have 10 doctors uh that are speaking. It's just an amazing number of of pro-life excellence uh coming to the forefront to allow us to have some um powerful people who know what they're talking about and are going to be able to bring that. And so I I thank him for that blessing of being able to um to have that uh as you know, just to to make that happen. I think the other piece where I see God working is just in the blessing of the small centers. And that's that's where my heart always is. Uh, I love small centers um because they do so much with so little. Uh I I think of them like, you know, the the widow's might, you know. They they and and I, you know, if you know my history, you know, I talk about having 24-7 coverage and I talk about all these things of excellence, but I believe that the good that's being done by centers that are open Tuesday afternoons and Wednesday mornings is still amazing in God's eyes because they are doing with what they have. Uh, and I I think they should be honored. So where I am uh seeing God's fingerprint in this is just those small centers that are able to say, hey, um, thank you for this. We love that we get to uh we get to be a part of this where we wouldn't be able to before. I mean, just just for reference, Jacob, our our pre um uh early bird special or whatever it's called, it's only 29 bucks a person if you bring four, I'm sorry, five or more people. Our goal is for you to bring your whole team. 29 bucks, that's that is a deal and a steal. And it includes uh if you bring more than 75% of your team, we send you a together box, which is just a box with a bunch of supplies and stuff in it that will help your um organization feel together. Um, we're we want everyone to attend. And so the fact that God has allowed us to minister inside of these small centers and to see those centers thanking us and getting registered for this is just fun. It's a great thing to be a part of.

SPEAKER_05 41:13

Awesome. Would you compare and contrast um centers together to like what you you know, how it how it connects or how it reflects or how it is in sync with Bright Course, Bright Training? Like how does, you know, where does one stop and one start? Or how does how does doing both of these, you know, make both better? Or what are your thoughts on how this connects with the bright training?

SPEAKER_00 41:38

Sure. Um, so first, uh, I think our plan is to take the centers together uh teaching and put it out on bright training so that you have access to it later as well. But we we're not absolute on that yet. We just have to uh get to that point. But I think second is that, you know, just our contacts with so many experts inside of the pro life movement has come through there. Um, but to be honest, we chose our speakers based on how good they were at speaking and and their the value of their ideas to the pro-life movement. We didn't choose speakers um based on anything else. And those we happen to have a inside track knowledge because of what we do with Brightcourse, of you know how people connect, what subjects they're excellent at. And so we actually invited them individually instead of having people apply, we went out to them knowing their capabilities and what they bring to the table. So there is a connection there, but besides that, it's very little. Um, we aren't like we aren't trying to make a big commercial for Bright Course. Uh obviously, love if you use Bright Course, that's awesome. Um, but if you don't, Centers Together is still for you. It's uh uh the the doctors, uh, the speakers in general are going to give you great information completely independent of Bright Course and how to use it. As a matter of fact, I would guess roughly 90% of our speakers are um, you know, at have would never uh not not that they they wouldn't recommend Bright Course. It's just not inside of their daily purview. You know what I'm saying? They they are just going to tell you the truth about whatever it is that they're speaking on. They're going to challenge you, they're going to encourage you. Um, but there isn't that connection necessarily with the Bright Course system. But again, hopefully we can get them out onto Bright Course. Those who are bringing important information, we want that training to be out there. We want it to be available to you. And I think we're going to see that as we go through all of these. Who is excellent for bringing uh that information to Bright Course that isn't already on there? Interesting.

SPEAKER_05 43:58

All right, so I'm not sure if you have an answer for this one, but you know, so centers together is obviously for pricey centers and pricey clinics. Is is there gonna be what are your thoughts about other groups like you know, the the you know, the marketing company, the the group that does legal work, the the group that is a church ministry that's you know a sister to a pricey center. What about these other groups and what you know, how might they, you know, what kind of content or education might be available for the groups on the fringe areas outside of the price center main audience area?

SPEAKER_00 44:37

Yeah, absolutely. I mean, to to some extent, you not every lesson will apply, um, but at the same time, there are going to be quite a few out there. As a matter of fact, I think day four would be an incredibly challenging thing for anyone in of your church partners. We have a speaker, actually, it's my pastor. He we our church has 8,000 people in it, and he's specifically been asked to uh talk about the church pregnancy center connection. And he's actually also on a panel, and the goal of that panel is to find out why that connection is hard and I and what sinners can do to make it easier. So, what it is that that can be done to bring that out. And I love uh my pastor, he's very well spoken, but he's also very honest and uh says things very clearly. So I hope that uh sinners are able to take that away, but also churches need to hear that. You know, what is the what is the purpose? What is the reason? Where are we trying to plant these um clients into something beyond the center and how can we do that with the church support? So throughout there is information that is going to be important for all kinds of people. So maternity homes absolutely should be a part of this. Um, their marketing companies should be a part of this to see the direction. They should be a part of the courageous conversation, to say the least, hopefully being able to uh ask those hard questions. So I think anyone who is pro-life who wants to um work through these harder issues or wants to learn from experts on whatever it is. We have someone presenting on APR, a doctor. We have a lot of different pieces where if you have an interest, we've got people talking on it. So I think altogether we have, let me do my math right now. I think we have something like 50 or 60 total sessions that you can choose from. And it's one thing about it being virtual. Um, you know, if you get an appointment and you got to go to that appointment, great, go to that appointment, help that uh client, and then come back and you can uh and you can catch up or or you can skip that one, whatever it is. You didn't see something, I don't mean to say we will ever have a session time that's not interesting, but I know I've seen at conferences people look through and they're like, oh, there's nothing I want to go to, this next block. Good news is you're right there in your center, you can go take care of business and come back the following block and catch that next one. Or you can go to any one of the tables, go talk to the speakers, ask them specific questions applying to your organization the way that you use the information and ask them because they've got an hour to fill. So we want those great questions coming uh from people uh so that they are able to apply that information to whatever specific place that your organization is filling.

SPEAKER_05 47:41

So back in 2006 to 2010, I would go to Heartbeat and Carnet and I would always go down the marketing track. I would make it a point to go to as many marketing track workshops as I could. And because I just love to, you know, try and, you know, make my ideas sharper or to know what people might come back to me with and know what you know how I can respond and process what they're you know being taught or what they might need or want. And then I started going to this really tiny uh conference, which I know you like, you know I like, is the Internationalized Services ATI with Sister Paula, and she had the entire event in a single room where everybody, including the vendors like myself, would get to hear all of the keynotes. And and what happened was I learned that I would get nuggets from the legal uh keynote, from the medical keynote, from the counseling keynote, from the spiritual keynote, and it would apply and help sharpen my craft in the marketing space. And then I was the one giving the marketing keynote, but essentially I was learning from all of these other speakers. And so I always encourage those who are listening, don't pigeonhole yourself and just into your own category, but know that if you go to a category that's outside of your area of work, you will find things that overlap into your space. And that's that was what I learned is that there's a great deal to learn, and not everything will apply, but there will be pieces that apply directly, even though they're it's in a different area of expertise.

SPEAKER_00 49:20

Yeah, 100%. And that's I think something that we all learn as we go through is that we can see applicable information uh across the board. And we hope very much that you see that. But I would definitely, because we have been so selective on our speakers, and again, I if you're not familiar with how other um organizations do speakers, normally everyone applies and then they select from those that apply. And that's not a bad method, uh, but sometimes I think it's better to pre-vet your speakers, and that's what we've done. And it allows us to say we have excellent speakers. And along those lines, I think because they're excellent, they're gonna be able to bring their information in a way that's going to be applicable to many, many people and not just their core audience. So definitely agree with you. Come to come to something and see what they have to say because I I think it's gonna be powerful.

SPEAKER_04 50:17

Well, so when does someone need to sign up by? How do they sign up? What's that process look like?

SPEAKER_00 50:22

Yeah, you just go to centers together.com and uh and then click the register button. Uh the early birds pricing ends on December 31st. That's still a long way away, but don't forget about it. Um, we are we are going to get there before you know it. So uh it you can sign up and put in who you who you want to be in there, and then you can change it later if you need to. But for now, just head over to centers together.com and uh sign up there. Uh, we also have.org, so centers together.org too. Doesn't matter. So go to either one of them and it'll get you there. Nice.

SPEAKER_05 51:00

So so what you know, what inspires you to spend time working in this movement? Like what really um what wakes you up in the morning and gets you out of bed fully energized to do pro-life ministry work?

SPEAKER_00 51:16

Yeah, absolutely. And uh for me it's an interesting one because um it's a little bit more cerebral, which if I guess if you know me, that may not be a surprise. But uh for me, I enjoy a challenge to do good. And I I have a philosophy in life that I don't have to look for God's calling in my life. And before people tar and feather me, um, I believe God's calling is where he has placed me. I I believe that we need to do the next good things that God has prepared for us to do. We know that we were created to fulfill the good works that God has prepared for us beforehand. And that being the case, uh, every day I get up with an excitement to do good, to do the next good thing that God has uh put in front of me. And He's put a plethora of things that are good things in front of me, and that's exciting. And so we do, I mean, we do so much that, you know, it doesn't even have to do with pro-life stuff. I mean, uh not that this is a big one, but it's something that I believe in and enjoy it. I I teach Sunday school at my church, or not called Sunday school, but I don't even know what it's called. Oh, gee kids, that's what it's called. Um, but I'm I'm a part of that and I enjoy doing that. I get excited to do that, and uh I get uh notifications when I'm scheduled, and and uh it always gets me excited. I'm scheduled this weekend and I'm I'm stoked about that because it's a thing that God has prepared me to do, uh, that he's given me the tools to do, that I enjoy doing, and it's a good thing. So every day I get up and I get excited about doing that next good thing that God has put in front of me. And he's a good God. He's blessed me with a just so much good that that um can be done. And I don't say that in a uh that's not a bragging way. It's just a what a blessing to be able to be a part of that. What a blessing it is that he prepared those for me to do. And it just makes it easy to go do. It's fun and um it's enjoyable. And I go to bed happy and content, uh, and I wake up the next morning exciting to uh get out there and do it again.

SPEAKER_05 53:41

Yeah, well, I gotta say you're you're remarkable because when I when you were thinking about this idea, I was a naysayer or a negative, you know, whatever it is, a negative Nancy. I'm not sure what the word is, but I was saying, you know, focus on what you've already got. You got some you know hurdles to figure out on infinite worth. There were some hard things going on. And I was I called this a distraction, but here you are, you know, I I infinite worth is now in better shape, and now Centuries Together is on the road. And so I just want to say, and I know you pretty well, and I thought I knew the situation, and I was still saying, you know, you should you should focus more so than add a whole nother plate to the juggling scene going on, and you're here you are, and you're doing all the plates.

SPEAKER_00 54:29

Well, I I want to say, first of all, uh thank you for your advice with with all sincerity, because uh I I think, and not that that was a wound, but you know, the Bible says the wounds of uh a friend are you know that it's a blessing to have someone who can speak in that way. And I don't think there is, uh, you know, I don't think you're you were wrong and you aren't, um, but there are opportunities to step into, and then you need to perfectly say, is that the next good thing that God has called me to? So um I'm enjoying this. I have uh a lot of fun um just with being able to wrestle with ideas, and it's how God made me. I don't ashamed of it. It's it's the way he's made me to do things, which is to see what things can be, and then to work through the execution of those. And um, I hope in heaven, I really do hope there are projects in heaven because I enjoy it, right? I mean, like God's gonna be like, that guy is the happiest when he's doing something. So I need you to go over there and build this city or whatever it is. I don't know. I guess technically we're supposed to rule help rule over the new earth, whatever it is. I'm I'm excited uh because that kind of stuff is is good. So I agree it is it's another thing, but um my whole team, and that's something very important that I have a great team. Uh we have about 30 employees here uh that do lots and lots of things. Um, but our team is always up for it, and um they they do great work, and um it's awesome that I don't have to do everything. I'm just uh I'm just one more cogging the wheel, turning uh grinding out whatever next good thing um that that we're on. So it's fun.

SPEAKER_05 56:24

Yeah, and you do have a good team. I've interacted with many, many of your team members, and they're they're just very um hardworking, uh amazing, good people.

SPEAKER_00 56:35

Agreed 100%.

SPEAKER_05 56:37

So I know that there's several national in-person conferences, and some have the virtual um add-on. Um is there a was there already another virtual conference for the pro-life area, or is this the first uh virtual, you know, with the virtual experience being the only slash main uh vehicle?

SPEAKER_00 57:02

Yeah, I as far as I know, this is the only one that's virtual. There, you know, Harpy does have the virtual add-on, uh, which I I know is something that um centers can get. I think uh one difference is going to be cost. We're aiming for your entire team. The second is is the the um the goal is to have your organization doing this together for relational purposes. And I think there are a lot of uh teams that have been looking for this opportunity. It's like a um uh in service that had uh a lead in service that's going to allow them to lead together. So I think it is a little different because the heartbeat, as as good as it is, and the information you get there, this is built around this idea. It's not an add-on. It's it is that is what it is. And so I think um from that perspective, it's going to be very fulfilling for anyone who participates because this is what we're doing. We are being a part of your day and we're being a part of your moment uh intentionally, and that's where we are focused. We are focused 100% on the virtual event and not, you know, putting an event on and adding on virtual if you need it. And I do want to say, uh, you know, giving pure credit over to Heartbeat, you know, they did they instituted that in 2020, and you got to give them, and I know the word was pivot, right? Everyone used the word pivot, but you got to give them credit, man. They they pivoted super fast, they did what needed done, and they made it happen. And so uh well done to them and their team uh for making that happen. And and they do good work. Uh nothing, nothing bad to say at all. Uh, I think they do good work, but I think this is going to be a little bit more focused on the moment for every single center because it's designed for that moment at home with your organization.

SPEAKER_05 59:11

Yeah. Yeah, that's good. Um I had a question I was and I just lost track of it. Sorry. I mean that's a good one.

SPEAKER_00 59:20

Happens to me all the time, as you know.

SPEAKER_05 59:24

Oh boy, it's just um oh, oh, this this podcast. So this podcast, I started three or so years ago, and part of my motivation was wow, I really love hearing people at Heartbeat and Carnet, NIFLA, these other conferences, Missouri, et cetera. All these conferences have such good speakers. And I thought, well, how can we make it accessible so that people would both have more time to talk and more time to listen without having it, you know, without having the cost of uh going to an event that's well, West Coast, East Coast, or Texas. And and so uh because I remember once I went to a workshop and it was with Lori DeVillis with Trotterhouse, and she gave this amazing talk, and she had like seven points that she fit into a 50-minute piece. And I thought, oh wow, I would love to see her take one of those points and have the full 50 minutes instead of having to, you know, switch gear so often. And so that's what that was sort of like the I was the um the basis for this podcast was to give a speaker more time to slow down and talk longer, and letting someone listen and experience it without having the cost tied to it. Um and so I I I'm I'm a big advocate for what you're doing when it comes to lowering the cost, increasing accessibility, and if and when it shows up, letting a speaker focus on a point more so than having to cram seven points into a 50-minute piece when they could amplify one of those points with more time when desired.

SPEAKER_00 1:01:07

Yeah, a hundred percent. And that's uh that's awesome, Jacob, because that's exactly where our heart is with this, right? It's let's let's get more accessibility and more access.

SPEAKER_04 1:01:19

So yeah, that's good.

SPEAKER_05 1:01:21

Um so so this is a new idea. One of the pillars of this podcast is to share things that are new, so I'll check that one off. Um, and then one of the other pillars that I have in this podcast is share something encouraging the Pranxy Clinic leadership. So I'm gonna give you a challenge. What could you say that would be encouraging that you don't normally say? You know, it would be encouraging to center directors, leadership teams that you don't normally say regularly.

SPEAKER_00 1:01:52

Well, that last part's cheating.

SPEAKER_05 1:01:54

Uh that that's like we because Let me just speak, you know, what's something that's coming to mind that you maybe yeah, you're not pulling from your, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:02:04

Well, I've argued. I'm gonna I mean, I I I know I I say it too often or you've heard it too often, but I I don't care. I'm gonna say it again. Okay. And and that is uh you should be encouraged that you are where God has called you to be. I think we too often get um caught up in in should I do this, should I do this? And it brings anxiety. And and sometimes we should stop and trust that God has put us where we're supposed to be. And we don't have to have that anxiety because he's a good God. He didn't put us into some weird wacko place that that he has no idea how to get us out of. He's put us uh in that moment for a reason. And sometimes that sounds a little, I don't know, um, you know, uh fortune cookie-ish, right? But but it's not. It it really takes you in that moment and where you are and and what you are doing in that moment. And I I think when you start from that foundation, that God has you where you're supposed to be, then a lot of stuff clarifies, right? Because you're going to be able to say, okay, now I know I'm where I'm supposed to be. Now I just need to do good. And what's that next good thing? And you know, I it doesn't mean there aren't times of hardship, doesn't mean that you don't have to, you know, spend some time on culture in your center, doesn't mean you have you don't have to make sure your policies and procedures, there's always that that grind work that has to be done, but you can start from a heart and an understanding that you're where you're supposed to be and that makes the grind enjoyable. So just from my perspective, um, you know, the the center directors, but just everyone in the center is there for a purpose and a reason. And because they are there, so I I people say that all the time, but because you are there for a purpose and a reason, rest in the fact that God knows where you are and rest in that moment of chaos. What it you know, you can have a two-year-old of a mom running around screaming and you're trying to do a lesson and and no one's hearing it, and you you feel like you feel like nothing's being heard or understood, and and you're frustrated because you know the printer didn't work, and all those things can be true, and at the same time, you can take rest in knowing you're where you're supposed to be. And maybe you're supposed to be in that place where a screaming two-year-old is screaming around and the printer doesn't work. That's where you're supposed to be. It's okay. Rest in that moment. So be encouraged because God knows where you are and God has you there intentionally. And what a great thing to know that and know that you are not forgotten in that moment. So there you go, Jacob. I say it too much, but whatever.

SPEAKER_05 1:05:09

No, no, I you know, that was a rule you're supposed to break, apparently.

SPEAKER_00 1:05:12

So uh I'm gonna say it's a rule I'm supposed to break. I broke it.

SPEAKER_05 1:05:17

Perfect. So, yeah, because sometimes I feel like um, you know, if you know, if you ever read like a small Bible verse or passage, and after you read it again and again and again, year after year, it you see something new. I think there's there's real value in getting back to the basics because and and seeing how they apply today, and then refreshing and reestablishing our our roots and our foundation. And and so honestly, saying old things or you know, true foundational brick kind of pieces um has value to be echoed and repeated because. Because it does I mean and it's provable based on the fact that we can see new insights and we need to be refreshed on old insights. Um so I I guess in that case the new piece would be the fact that we can now hear that you know 112 times instead of just 111. And now we have totally new layers on top.

SPEAKER_00 1:06:23

Yeah, that's that's right. I I don't think you're able to learn something until you're ready to learn it. And and so I think there are nuances to the deep truths that we can't understand until we're ready to understand them. And I don't know, you know, it's God's timing on when that is and uh and and what nuance we're hearing at that moment. Um so whatever that is, I hope some people heard that nuance because they know it's true. Every one of them, everyone hearing this uh knows that it's true. If you're a Christian, you know uh you are where God called you to be for serving him. If if you know that, then then the question is do you do you feel it? And then what depth of that do you understand? So Jacob, well, as you're saying it is good. I mean, yeah, there's like anyway. I I hope everyone feels that and understands it today and walks away with it and says, I know where I am, and I am in God's hands.

SPEAKER_05 1:07:27

There's different levels of like understanding. I was in a small men's group at my church, and you know, the the the pastoral leadership, you know, total or small groups, you know, many of you have read the uh the book of John many times. And so this time you know, we want all the small groups to read it backwards. We read the last chapter, second to last chapter, all the way to the first chapter, and that was actually a really fun exercise to read the chapters, but to read them in backwards order. With like Psalms 23, I tried you know memorizing it, and then I got to the point where I tried to recite it in my shower, going from the last verse to the first verse, and it was hard, but I eventually got it done a few times. But it just felt like when you know something well, you can then try and like take it to a different way or a different way of reciting it or a different way of understanding it. And for many people they'll memorize a Bible verse in three different versions and they can see the word selection and how like flipping in four or six and the um NIV says anxiety, but in the King James it says care uh care, like don't care about anything or something like that. And it and the NIV makes more sense to me when it says don't have anxiety um about anything. And um but it's just interesting to see the word choice, or in Hebrews 10 24, like you know, some versions will say spur, you know, spur on others, and some will say prod. Um there's different levels of you know friction when it comes to that word spur. Um but it's just interesting when you start to learn something greater, you get to actually get a better understanding of you know how to use it. And so yeah, I would just want to say, yeah, keep saying the good things that really are strong and foundational because they do grow, even though we we may think, oh, we know that, but really do we? Do we really know it?

SPEAKER_00 1:09:32

Yeah, it w it's like it's do you swim in it? You know what I'm saying? It's like is it is it something that is so ingrained that it it comes out your pores, you know.

SPEAKER_05 1:09:47

Well to make like resume. Awesome. Well, Brandon, thank you so much for sharing about centers together. Uh I hope that people will take advantage of this amazing educational opportunity to to really invite their whole team into unity and divide and connect with other centers who are striving for unity. And and then still to send, you know, to send those who you can afford within your budget to the in-person event for that um for that experience, which is also good. So would you wrap up our podcast with a prayer and we'll just pray for unity and whatever else you comes to mind for you?

SPEAKER_00 1:10:32

Lord, unite our movement around you. Let us all seek your glory. Um Lord, let us do it with love and grace and truth. Lord, let us see each other as um not enemies, but uh but um joyful participators in your good work. Lord, I do thank you for the opportunity to get up every day and do your good things. I ask that you would help that joy be infectious across the movement and uh may um may worry be out the window as we lift our cares to you. And uh thank you so much for being an awesome God. And uh thank you for your word and your truth in my prayer. Amen.

SPEAKER_05 1:11:20

Amen.

unknown 1:12:36

To the crimson perpetual time.

SPEAKER_03 1:12:42

Kneel down on the shore, be thirsty, no more, go under and be good, Christ to the whole mountains. Let's go on and soul in the fountain that for you and me and for the scandalous eye burnt by his buttons for everyone, and beautiful scandalous time, five and river store, I don't remember that one, and you have to the mountain mercy, to the crimson perpetual time. Kneel down on the shore, be thirsty no more, go under and be purified, follow Christ to the holy mountain story by the fall Let's go on your soul, and that boat for you and for me, I can't let me for a soft life forever wash my beautiful scandalous time.