A Celebration of Life:

Sharing Banquet 2007

Possibly the most inpirational Sharing Banquet of the past 17 years will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 23rd at Romer’s Celina Westlake Facility...you won't want to miss it!
        Although no fee is charged for admission, seating is limited and requires an advance reservation. If you're interested in attending you can inquire by calling either (419) 586-9029 or (419) 668-4400, ext. 102, or by email at rsvp@harborhouse.org.
        Doors open at 5:30 PM, with dinner at 6:30 PM and the program following, concluding at 9 PM.

Lori DeVillez began her career in helping women in unplanned pregnancies by answering a call to volunteer at the local Women’s Resource/Pregnancy Center in Evansville, Indiana in 1992. In fact, her first day on the job made her realize how much the pro-life movement needed her. The director gave her a key to the clinic, left town and left Lori alone to administer a pregnancy test to her first client. The rest is history.
        With a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from the University of Southern Indiana and a background in social work, public administration and missions, Lori has since served in the pregnancy centers serving women in Indiana, Texas and, on a nationwide basis. In Evansville, Indiana, she worked for the Women’s Health Center from 1992-1994, where she received on-the-job medical training and then served as the Director of New Life Pregnancy Services from 1994-1997, directing both a pregnancy center and a maternity home. During that time, she also acted as the Teen Coordinator for the Vanderburgh County Right to Life and Coordinator for the Junior High Ministry in her local church. She also directed the Pregnancy Care Network Annual Tri-State Abstinence Outreach in the Junior High, Senior High Schools and universities in the tri-state area.
        Since moving to Austin, Lori has had a heart for the University of Texas. UT has a student enrollment of 51,000 and over 20,000 faculty-the largest university in the nation! Lori began praying in 1997 for a pregnancy center to reach out to the campus of UT. In January of 2005 God brought that prayer into reality. In March of 2005 the opportunity arose for Lori to serve as the Executive Director. This is an opportunity to reach the nations through the pregnancy center at the UT campus!
        Lori has been featured in the Focus on the Family September 2002 and April 1998 Editions of Heartlink, which is an outreach to Women’s Resource/Pregnancy Centers.
        Lori currently serves, in addition to her directorship of the Austin Pregnancy Resource Center, as the National College Ministry Task Force for Care Net, Coordinator for Texas Life Connections (a partnership with the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention), Public Relations for Legacy Republican Women and Coordinator for the Austin Area Life Affirming Coalition, Field Representative for Loving Alternative Adoption Agency, Mentor for Judge Staudt’s Mentoring Program in Williamson County.

        Many area businesses have been willing to underwrite this year's Sharing Banquet so that people can attend without cost. They include:

K & K Tours, Inc.,         Celina Citizens National Bank,         Celina Romer's Catering & Entertainment Facility,         St. Henry RCS Construction,         Celina Cooper Foods, Inc.,         St. Henry Dr. James Schmit, D.C.,         Celina Pax Machine Works, Inc.,         Celina Stammen Insurance,         St. Henry The Gardens at Celina,         Celina Stammen-Paragon Insurance,         Celina Rep. Jim & Sharon Zehringer,         Fort Recovery The Gels Home,         Coldwater Vanderhorst Wholesale,         St. Marys Bud's Chevy-Olds-Buick,         St. Marys St. Marys Foundry,         St. Marys Americas Best Value Inn,         Celina First Choice Credit Union, Inc.,         Coldwater Hair Expressions & Tanning,         Coldwater Maria Stein Animal Clinic,         Maria Stein Bair Pharmacy,         Celina		Owen Hall Realtors Auctioneers,         Celina Signature 4,         Coldwater St. Henry Tile & Concrete Co.,         St. Henry Celina Aluminum Precision Technology Inc.,         Celina Stammen-Paragon Insurance,         Celina St. Marys Surgical Associates,         St. Marys Leis Realty Company, Inc.,         Greenville Roessner Energy Products Inc.,         Coldwater Dickman, Kettler & Bruner,         Coldwater Celina Wine Store,         Celina Mike Kahlig and Son Inc.,         Fort Recovery Schockman Lumber Co.,         St. Henry St. Marys Chrysler-Plymouth Dodge, Inc.,         St. Marys Metzger Oil,         Fort Recovery Thobe Body Shop,         Maria Stein Reliable Business Solutions,         Fort Loramie Murotech Ohio Corporation,         St. Marys Identity Salon,         Celina Knous Machine Inc,         St. Marys Geise Chiropractice Office,         Celina

The Sharing Banquet

Since 1991, sharing banquets have been a part of bringing together—and envisioning and inspiring—the body of Christ and the friends of Harbor House Maternity Home.

Over the years, many friendships have been started or renewed through our banquet:

• Sarah Huffman, who celebrated her 16th birthday together with us, along with her father John Huffman, Lima (Ohio) adoption attorney (2006)
• Coach Shaun , high school basketball coach of an Indiana state champion team and HH/EPS adoptive parent (2005)
• Mike Williams , award-winning Christian comedian (2004)
• Ryan Dobson, youth speaker, author, and son (adopted) of Dr. James Dobson of Focus on the Family (2003)
• David Meece, Christian musician and recording artist (2002)
• Dr. Jeff Kephart, adoptive father and pastor at Trinity Missionary Church near Cleveland (2001)
• Eileen Roberts, advocate for parental notification (1999)
• Steve Camp, Christian singer/songwriter/preacher-teacher (1998)
• Rev. Pat Mahoney of the Christian Defense Coalition (1997)
• Anne Pierson of Loving and Caring, Inc. (1996)
• "One Voice" Huntington College (Ind.) music ensemble (1995)
• The Fleagle family (1994)
• The "Little Fiddlers" (1993)
• Dr. John Willke of Life Issues Institute, Inc. (1992)

We've also been blessed to have made other friends during events that were held locally to benefit Harbor House: Toby Travis, a Christian illusionist; Gianna Jessen, the survivor of a botched saline abortion; and Carol Everett, a former abortion provider and clinic owner.

Previous Sharing Banquets have also included unique aspects like a silent auction, or the year of the "non-banquet" Sharing Banquet, where guests were invited to stay home for simplicity sake.