Today we’d like to introduce you to Ann Marie Gustke.
Hi Ann Marie, We are excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I have always been drawn to people. My heart seems to bend towards the broken and outcast. It is my faith that has wired me to be that way. Psalm 34:18 says, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those that are crushed in spirit.” We all have a passion that has been God-breathed. I have a passion for reaching women. To offer women hope, encouragement, and resources for a better tomorrow. No matter what decisions they have made in their past or what situation they find themselves in today, I want them to know they are seen, valued, and loved not just by me but by their Creator. Agape means unconditional love. It is only fitting that I would be given this opportunity to be the Executive Director of Agape Women’s Center.
At Agape, we strive to have a welcoming and safe atmosphere for all our clients. Many of the women we serve are walking through difficult decisions and circumstances. They need a safe place to process and a safe person to talk to. That is the heart behind Agape. Our outreach and services have expanded in recent years. We like to say that God is growing us in our name.
Under Agape Women’s Center is our Agape Pregnancy Center, where women receive free pregnancy tests, obstetric ultrasounds, and limited STI testing (with a vision to add more). Agape Support offers parenting and pregnancy classes, a baby boutique with material items that are needed in the first two years of a child’s life, bible studies, post-abortion recovery, miscarriage and infant loss support, trauma healing, and a 12-week life skills mentorship program. Lastly, the Agape Drop-In Center supports our community outreach program. The drop-in center provides a space for women of child-bearing years/who are at risk for sexual exploitation to shower, do laundry, receive food boxes, receive hygiene products, and have safe conversations. The drop-in center was started because of the outreach Agape has in nearby adult entertainment facilities and the increase of human trafficking victims we began seeing at our center. As the director of Agape Women’s Center, I have an amazing front-row seat to see the powerful impact Agape has made in countless lives across Brevard County.
Would it have been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
On a personal note, I have been the Executive Director of Agape Women’s Center for over three years. It was a big transition for my family. For 18 years, I was a stay-at-home mom with a few part-time jobs. I was really worried about how to juggle being a mom and working as an Executive Director for a growing ministry. My husband and children have been my biggest supporters along the way. They see the importance of the work at Agape Women’s Center and continue to cheer me on.
There can be some long days. There can be some heavy stories. It has been a struggle at times for me to find healthy boundaries. At Agape, we love the women we serve. It is hard not to carry their stories home with us. It is hard not to answer that late-night or weekend text. That is still a work in progress as I balance being a present wife and mother yet a strong advocate for those hurting in our community.
From an expanding ministry viewpoint, at times, there was pushback. For years, our focus and mission were on being a pregnancy center. Although that is a core of who we are, many would say we have drifted out of our lane. Why is a pregnancy center now involved in the fight against human trafficking? Why is a pregnancy center going into adult entertainment facilities? My answer to the skeptics is that it all connects. Ultimately, it’s because we see the needs in our community, and we cannot unsee them. If not us, then who?
Thanks for sharing that. So, you could tell us a bit more about your work.
If I were to guess what I am most known for, I’m a dreamer and passionate visionary. I consider myself a pioneer that doesn’t necessarily march to the beat of my drum but the beat of broken hearts around me. Whenever I see a need not being filled, it fuels a fire within me to correct and challenge the system.
The work I get to be part of at Agape is a privilege. It’s a role that I do not take lightly. I get to lead a ministry that deeply impacts lives. I get to lead a ministry that people financially give to because they trust and believe their resources will be put to good use. It’s a heavy yet rewarding weight! I have the responsibility and honor to look at each donor given to Agape Women’s Center and tell them the personal stories they are now part of because of their generous heart.
At Agape, we specialize in being pro-abundant life. From the womb to abundant life for the mother. We are willing to join the story of the women we serve wherever they are in life. We are not there to tell women what to do. That is her own decision. We are there to love the women we serve, regardless of what decisions she has made in her past. We want our clients to know there is hope, abundant life, and help beyond their current circumstances. I am so proud of our team at Agape. Each of our staff and volunteers lives out the meaning of Agape. I love that we don’t stop services based on a woman’s pregnancy decision. We will support her through parenting classes, adoption support, life skills training, or post-abortion recovery. This is what pro-abundant life looks like. Many women will choose to parent because they feel support through our team at Agape Women’s Center. It is the heart behind Agape Women’s Center that sets us apart from others.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I love the friendliness of our community. We live in a large area with many visitors, yet it has a small-town feel. I love that! I love that we can relax by the beach, take a kayak out in the water, or head to a theme park, all within an hour’s drive! It can be frustrating when our team is working with a client, and we see the need for immediate help for a situation beyond our control, and other organizations respond with a different urgency. We are movers and shakers at Agape. It can be disheartening when others don’t share our passion.
Pricing:
- FREE
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.agapewomenscenter.org/pregnancy-resources
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/agapewomenscenter?utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/apc.helps
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@agapewomenscenter
