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Life Chain 2025 Planning Meeting Highlights Life and Child Welfare Efforts Across Brevard

Editor

04 Oct 2025 — 3 min read

Local ministry leaders represented were united in commitment to life and child welfare efforts in Brevard County.

Local ministry and church leaders gathered on Thursday, September 25 at Wings of Grace in Melbourne for the Life Chain 2025 Planning Meeting, an evening focused on uniting Brevard’s Christian community around life and child welfare efforts.

The event featured a resource fair where attendees representing churches across South Brevard connected with local organizations serving mothers, children, and families. Ministries shared literature, volunteer opportunities, and resources designed to strengthen collaboration among Brevard’s churches.

During the program, John Boyd reflected on the 27-year legacy of the South Brevard Life Chain and outlined plans for this year’s effort, which will feature multiple smaller chains at key intersections and churches across southern Brevard rather than one long route. A group for Christians without a participating church team will meet at the historic location in front of the Melbourne Square Mall, ensuring anyone can participate in the peaceful, prayerful witness for life.

*AnnMarie Gustke, Executive Director of Agape Women’s Center in Merritt Island, shares about the organization’s efforts to support women and children through non-abortive care and resources.*

*Bonnie Ferguson, Executive Director of Equipped & Encouraged, shares about the organizations effort to support local foster families and children.*

Local Leaders and Ministries

Presentations throughout the evening highlighted the breadth of pro-life and child welfare ministry in Brevard County:

Tim Geil, CarePortal – connecting churches directly with vetted child-welfare needs through local agencies.
AnnMarie Gustke, Agape Women’s Center (Merritt Island) – providing pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, counseling, and ongoing support for mothers and families.
Abby Schuiteman, Essential Pregnancy Center (Palm Bay) – overseeing client services and volunteer outreach for women in crisis pregnancies.
Pastor Rusty Thomas, Operation Save America – emphasizing the church’s call to uphold the sanctity of human life through compassionate public witness.
Paul Rosbury, TPUSA Faith Hub of Brevard – encouraging young Christians to unite faith, leadership, and service in their witness for Christian values and the cause of life.
Bonnie Ferguson, Equipped & Encouraged – providing a support network for foster parents and the children in their care.
Dwight Bell, Wings of Grace Ministries – sharing plans for the nearly-completed Capernaum Place, a faith-based housing and life-skills program for young adults transitioning from foster care.

Out of this shared vision emerged plans for the Brevard 4 Life Coalition, a new collaborative network linking local life and child welfare ministries. The coalition will work to amplify communication, share updates, and foster cooperation among organizations that serve mothers, children, and families in the county. Those interested in the effort can signup to receive updates here.

The annual South Brevard Life Chain will take place Sunday, October 5, from 2–3 p.m., with prayerful gatherings at intersections throughout Melbourne, Palm Bay, and Satellite Beach, and other South Brevard locations. Agape Women's Center will also be hosting an Open House that day from 3–5 p.m. inviting life chain attendees to tour their facility and see the impact of their efforts.

For a full list of Life Chain locations and ways to get involved, visit lifechainbrevard.org.

— Christians of Brevard is a multi-church initiative that seeks to amplify the voices of local churches and ministries for the purpose of encouraging the local body of Christ and advancing the Kingdom of God. Join our Facebook community @ChristiansOfBrevard