I have met some extraordinary women in my life... and I count Catherine high among them. She is a beautiful role model to us all... especially to those of us (and we are many!) who dreamed of the perfect road to Motherhood... but found ourselves confronting the pain of loss, disappointment, and dreams shattered. Through "Thursdays Babies"... Catherine has courageously provided a place where women can express themselves, their pain and future hopes while she herself was dealing with her own losses. To find a voice of hope, faith and understanding, in the midst of numbing loss... is where Catherine's love & understanding can be heard. I love her to bits and now am proud to be counted in her life, as "Mama-Chris".
With Highest Regards,
Pastor Chris Pringle (CCC Oxford Falls)
We wholeheartedly endorse Catherine Sylvester and "Thursdays Babies". Catherine has a passionate faith in God and is very real in her expression. "Thursdays Babies" is a great way to bring support to those feeling the pain of infertility/miscarriage but also to offer hope and encouragement along the way.
Sam and Kathy Monk - Senior Pastors
Equippers Church Auckland
Catherine Sylvester is one of my dearest friends. I know her journey. And I therefore know that "Thursdays Babies" is born out of her honest disappointment yet tenacious hope and faith in the midst of real heartache. Whether yours is the same journey or you are walking it with someone else, this ministry will inspire, encourage and uplift you.
Libby Huirua - Worship Pastor
Equippers Church Auckland
Thursday's Babies is an amazing ministry. I first heard Catherine talking about it on the radio when my daughter was a baby and I immediately felt a sense of attachment as I had gone through two years of infertility and a miscarriage before my daughter was born. So every Thursday I would fast & pray for all those couples out there struggling through this enormous trial. A year or so later when we decided to try for another baby, Thursday's Babies was there to encourage and strengthen me every week as I went through another two miscarriages including the loss of a twin pregnancy. As a Christian experiencing infertility and the loss of babies, I often struggled with how God's good plan for me could include such heartache and loss. But reading how other Christians dealt with the same things I was going through and how they were strengthened by God's Word, I would feel such encouragement. It also helped me to feel like I was not alone (as I think you can feel so isolated at times), and I had the privilege of being able to e-mail someone through Thursday's Babies just to talk about how I was feeling, my doubts and frustrations - a woman who was going through the same thing, and who understood exactly how I was feeling. I praise God for how he has helped me to grow personally through this trial and how he has since opened the door for me to help and encourage some of my friends who are going through the same thing. I'm now 6 months pregnant and my husband & I and our now 3 year old daughter are looking forward to meeting another very special "Thursdays Baby" soon! Thank you so so much to everyone who has prayed and fasted for babies like mine.... God bless you richly.
Rochelle
Thursday's Babies has been a great support to us over the past few years; it was so good to know that other woman were coming along side each other to pray for our unborn babies. We had four loses in one year and desperately needed prayer support as we were so tired physically and emotionally. I used to look forward to my Thursday email from Catherine and praying for other woman during the day, it helped me to take the focus of myself and think of other woman’s pain too. God has been awesome with the support He has given us and the answered prayers. In September 2008 God blessed us with a beautiful baby girl.
Jayne
I cannot more highly endorse Catherine and Thursdays Babies who came into my life at just the right time during our 5 year battle with infertilty. Catherine's friendship and the network of prayer support gave me such a boost in faith to continue to believe for our miracle. The weekly emails were a life line to me... honest and real but always pointing us back to the hope we have in Jesus Christ. It was so good for my soul to begin to fast & pray for others who were struggling with infertility and as a result is a passion that continues today. Thursdays Babies was an incredible support to us during our IVF cycle in 2008, to know we had people standing with us in prayer was just so special. In March 2009 we became the proud parents of a little miracle girl...a gift of God's grace to us
Amy