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Happening ... in the Local Church
 Melissa
McAtee started as the new executive director of Matrix Lifeline
Pregnancy Center in Lafayette on June 1. (Photo by Kevin Cullen) |
By Kevin Cullen
The
Catholic Moment
LAFAYETTE — The Matrix Lifeline Pregnancy Center, housed in a modest white house at 1824 Maple St. in Lafayette’s North End, represents the pro-life movement at its grassroots best.
Since 1978, the Christian, not-for-profit organization has given thousands of expectant mothers the emotional, financial and practical support they needed to choose life over abortion.
Melissa McAtee started as the new executive director of Matrix on June 1. She knows, first hand, how important it is for women to have access to pregnancy counseling, baby clothes, education and adoption referral.
Four years ago, she was unmarried, pregnant and lonely; working in Indianapolis, far from her family.
“Every day was a struggle,” she said. “I didn’t have a place like Matrix. I didn’t have someone to say, ‘It’s OK. God loves you,’ or to give me a hug or help me figure out where to start out — what help I could get, what daycare I should use, those kinds of things.
“The only thing that saved me was God,” said McAtee, now 28. “I got down on my knees, and especially toward the end of my pregnancy, I prayed to God, and cried. I said, ‘Help me. I don’t know what to do.’ I was so hurt emotionally. My heart was broken.”
But “everything worked out the way it was supposed to,” she said. Ella was born. McAtee converted to Catholicism and married Ella’s father, Kyle. Their two sons, now aged 2 years and 5 months, followed.
McAtee gave up a seven-year banking career to lead Matrix. She formerly was a bank manager for Old National Bank.
“Every day I come here, I am so happy,” she said. “I get to see little miracles every day. How can you not love that?”
Her career path took some odd turns. Originally from northwest Indiana, she majored in law and society at Purdue University, hoping to go to law school, but went into banking instead.
She and Kyle moved to Lafayette, his hometown, and they attend St. Boniface Church.
A TV ad for Matrix, which she saw one day at 3 a.m., changed everything. Old National Bank stressed the importance of community service, so she decided to volunteer.
She stuffed envelopes and did other routine tasks. She liked the center so much that she told her husband that she would love to someday work there. But she became pregnant before she could finish the training needed to become a volunteer pregnancy counselor.
Then fate intervened again. While still on maternity leave, she went to Mass at St. Boniface, but was surprised to find everyone leaving as she was entering. Amid her confusion and embarrassment, it hit her … she had forgotten about the time change.
She headed over to St. Ann Church, a few blocks away. After Mass, she picked up a parish bulletin, and happened to spy an ad for the executive director’s job, to replace longtime Executive Director Sallie Janowiak.
McAtee applied, and got the job. She said it took a “leap of faith” to forsake her banking career, but she put her trust in God, and followed her heart.
Roger Bennett, Matrix board chairman, said that McAtee brings many strengths to the executive director post, including personal experience and business acumen.
But “what was really interesting to us was that she really had a heart for the ministry of Matrix and was willing to give up a probably more lucrative career in banking,” he said.
Bennett said McAtee is interested in social networks and already has launched a Facebook page.
“We’re excited. I think she’s going to be pushing the board more than we are accustomed to be challenged about the growth of Matrix. We’re looking forward to that,” Bennett said. “She’s a high energy person, the kind you need for growth.”
Matrix board member Father Dan Gartland is pastor of St. Lawrence Church and the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception, both in Lafayette.
“Melissa is a lovely person who certainly has a passion for crisis pregnancy ministry,” he said. “That is a phenomenal foundation, but she also has a real sense for development and business management … I think she’ll be good for us.”
Helping expectant mothers choose life, McAtee said, “is something I’m really passionate about.”
During her time as a Matrix volunteer, she said, “things would pop into my head about what we could do here to help it grow and give it vision.”
She plans to redesign the center’s logo, and do more outreach to promote key services. She’s pushing fund raising, too.
McAtee said she wants to tell her own story, to give other women hope. She also plans to take the message of chastity to schools. She wants to tell church congregations about Matrix, and the need for individuals, churches and groups to support it.
The recruitment of volunteers is a priority, too. There are approximately 100 now, but only 25 work there regularly. The center serves approximately 600 families a year.
Matrix is housed in a modest frame house that is owned by St. Lawrence Church.
“We would love to have a new, bigger location,” McAtee said. “We are running out of space to do things. We’d like to have more counseling room, and an ultrasound room. Seventy percent of women who see the ultrasound, if they are abortion-minded, are more likely to not have the abortion after they see the baby.”
She said she’s dismayed by how many people know nothing about Matrix.
“We’re a resource for the community, and not just for women after they have had their baby,” she said. “We are committed to love women before, during and after pregnancy. After pregnancy could mean parenting, adoption, miscarriage or abortion. If they have had an abortion, we want to help them heal. When they think no one will help, we need to let them know we are here.”
Many of her high school friends have had abortions, Mc-Atee said. Often, they’ve regretted it, turned to alcohol, and struggled with depression. One friend cried as she talked about the fact that if she hadn’t aborted it, her baby would be a year old.
“Having the abortion has made them something completely different from what they wanted to be,” McAtee said.
She believes in her mission, and is no longer afraid to speak out. “The more I talk to people, the more I realize how friendly they are about being pro-life and how much they want to hear what I have to say,” she said. “Maybe it’s just God working through me, God keeping me going so I don’t get discouraged.
“I used to be afraid to say, ‘I don’t think you should do that. You’ll be hurt and it’s hurting the baby,’” she said. “I was afraid of what people would think of me. But now, I wish I had told my friend, ‘Don’t do that. I’ll do whatever I can to help you.’”
She said she hopes others feel compelled to help the center. “It may be God’s way of reaching out to them,” she said. “We hope they will listen and open their hearts to answer God’s call.”