Crossway Church to offer fellowship event for Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month

Crossway Church in Vicksburg is recognizing Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month this October with a fellowship event called Made Known.

Made Known is a pregnancy & child loss event that acknowledges the babies in our community who were made by God, known by their parents and will be made known through remembering and honoring their short, but significant lives. Families coping with all types of perinatal loss are invited to gather for support and community.

(Crossway Church)

An estimated 1 in 4 families is affected by the death of a child during pregnancy, at birth, and in infancy. Nationwide, about 24,000 babies are stillborn and another 3,400 infants are lost to sudden unexpected infant deaths (SUID) every year, according to the CDC.

“It is part of my story,” said Angela Marshall, children’s pastor at Crossway Church. “I’ve had two miscarriages and my husband and I have struggled with several years of infertility.”

(Crossway Church)

Marshall was inspired to hold the event at a ministry conference in 2017. The first gathering included decorating rocks that were placed on gravesites. Another year, attendees wrote the names of their loved ones on balloons, along with other messages, and released them.

This year, Pastor Jennifer Wennekamp from Elevate Church will serve as a keynote speaker. A memorial activity is planned as well, Marshall said.

(Crossway Church)

“I don’t want to give it away, but it is going to be really good,” she said.

Light refreshments will be served and childcare will be available for parents that would like to attend.

Previous Made Known event. (Crossway Church)

Made Known will be held on Sunday, Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. in the Student Building at Crossway Church, located at 1825 Hwy 61S in Vicksburg. Please register for the event at the Crossway Church website.