About Us
Since we opened in 1989, Elizabeth’s New Life Center has been committed to saving babies and changing lives.
Vivian Koob
In April 1983, I was sitting in the back row at a Life seminar with Dr. John Willke and his wife Barbara when I felt a hand on my shoulder. I had chosen my seat as close to the door as I could get —that was kind of my attitude about pro-life ministry at the time— and turned to see who wanted my attention. No one was there.
I faced forward again, riveted by the talk that the Willkes were giving and looking forward to the rest of the session. I had always been pro-life—but back then, I was an uninvolved, closet pro-lifer. My mother was involved in pro-life ministry, and watching her, I knew that it could become a passion. I felt the tap again and whipped my head around. No one was there. It was then that I heard a voice, a quiet, calming but decisive voice saying: “This is the work I have called you to do.”
I usually recognize God’s voice when I hear it, and this was it; He had my full attention. From that moment on, I understood that God’s plan for me included ministry to the unborn at risk for abortion.
I emerged from that workshop and began volunteering at community organizations supporting women and children. For a period of six years, I had my finger in a lot of pies, until 1989 when, with the help of my church, my husband Steve and I opened a pregnancy center to provide alternatives to women seeking abortion at the abortion clinic in our neighborhood. For five years, we were housed in a building in the Dayton neighborhood of Five Oaks that was donated for our use by Frank and Phyllis Dix. Although our beginning was as humble and modest as many of the lives we’ve seen rescued from the threat of abortion, Elizabeth’s New Life Center was born.
Over the years, we have experienced tremendous growth milestones and blessings, not to glorify ourselves but to rejoice over our nine women’s centers, prenatal care office, and Marriage Works! Ohio department and the many lives saved through programs and services that the Lord has allowed us to provide. For He is the life-giver.
Stronger Together in Christ, Vivian
Our Timeline
1989:
ENLC opened its doors to at-risk pregnant women in the Five Oaks neighborhood of Dayton, where it continued as an all-volunteer organization until 1994.
1994:
The organization moved its Women’s Center next door to the abortion clinic on North Main Street in Dayton. This center had medical service capabilities including ultrasound.
2000:
ENLC opened Holy Family Prenatal Care (HFPC) serving low-income (Medicaid eligible) patients with quality medical prenatal care and social service support.
2001:
The organization moved the Women’s Center, HFPC and ENLC Administrative Offices to 359 Forest Avenue, Dayton next door to Grandview Hospital.
2002:
Two independent pregnancy resource centers in Kettering and Lebanon merged with Elizabeth’s New Life Center, expanding services to Warren County.
2002:
ENLC was awarded a three-year federal abstinence education grant (SPRANS) which was renewed in 2005.
2005:
ENLC opened Women’s Center-Wright State Area in response to the nearby chemical abortion clinic.
2006:
Pregnancy Resource Center in Sidney, which opened in 1982, merged with ENLC to form Women’s Center-Sidney.
2006:
The organization was awarded a five-year grant for Marriage Works! Ohio as part of the Healthy Marriage Federal Initiative.
2008:
Upon the closing of the chemical abortion clinic, Women’s Center-Wright State Area moved to East Dayton and was named Women’s Center-East.
2008:
A five-year federal abstinence education grant (CBAE) was awarded to Elizabeth’s New Life Center.
2011:
Women’s Center-Sharonville was opened across the street from a newly relocated abortion clinic.
2011:
Awarded a federal grant to promote healthy marriage for a four years. (This included Go4theGold in schools.)
2016:
Go for the Gold to students in 11 counties was awarded to ENLC and was renewed for another three years in 2019. Funding ended in September 2022.
2017:
Women’s Center-Lebanon moved to a new location (736 Columbus Ave, Ste A) with greatly improved visibility.
2018:
ENLC opened a seventh pregnancy center, Women’s Center-Forest Park, sharing space with Healthy Beginnings, a Christian prenatal care provider.
2019:
Closed our Women’s Center-Sharonville (at end of August) and began operations 5-days/week at Women’s Center-Forest Park.
2020:
ENLC opened Women’s Center-N. Dixie in North Dayton which is known for both its poor neighborhoods and large Section 8 housing.
2020:
During Covid-19 lockdowns, we maintained serving women, as we were considered an essential service.
2021:
ENLC opened its eighth pregnancy center, Women’s Center-Mt. Healthy, in a low-income neighborhood in Cincinnati with a high abortion rate.
2022:
POINTS system was instituted in eKyros, replacing physical and online “baby bucks” (June 13, 2022).
2022:
The Marriage Works! Ohio department moved into its own space at 4945 Riverton Dr. (Aug 2022).
2022:
The Dayton Boutique moved from Five Oaks Avenue to inside our building at 359 Forest Avenue.
2022
ENLC opened its ninth pregnancy center, Women’s Center-Western Hills in a Cincinnati area with high abortions.
Board Members
ROBERT BEDINGHAUS
Investment Committee - Financial Advisor, Edward Jones
ROBERT BRINKMAN
Board Secretary - Retired, Woolpert, Inc.
CHERI CHAMPAGNE
Executive Committee - University of Dayton
LOUANN GEEL
Vice Chairman - Retired, Children Services
DAVID HUGHES
Board Treasurer - Financial Officer, SI International
PETER MARCELLO
Strategic Planning - Retired, Wright Patterson AFB
EDWARD PONDER
Board Chairman - Retired, United States Air Force
TIMOTHY TEPE
Board Member - Judge - Warren County Common Pleas Court
