Hill Country Pregnancy Care Center among Faith-based Sister Project’s grant recipients
JOEL MORRIS
Star Intern
Fourteen years ago Debbie Ledoux, a grant writer for a domestic violence nonprofit organization, realized she can do more to follow her Christian faith. She, Ellen Yarbrough and Carrie Friesenhahn came together to form The Sister Project — a faith-based women’s giving ministry committed to making local and global impact.
The all-women organization, motivated by their religious values, is making a huge impact in their community, in San Antonio and beyond, having reached out globally with contributions to ministries in Ethiopia, Haiti and Pakistan.
Assisting many organizations has helped increase the number of applicants, presenting members of the Sisters Project with more opportunities to provide financial assistance to good causes.
The Sister Project is built off the ideology of Christian churches in the first century, when the members of a church would use their resources to take care of one another. Ledoux used this model to frame this organization with each member willing to pay $1,000 yearly to contribute to grants and assist other organizations.
“One ministry knows 10 more, that knows 10 more,” Ledoux said. “Through their networking, that’s where we really got most of our grant applicants.”
Each year starting Jan. 1, The Sister Project opens application for the grants. They ultimately settle on three organizations to split their yearly contributions. This year, $80,000 was awarded to Matthew 10 International, to support its mission to liberate debt slaves in Pakistan.
Boerne’s own Hill Country Pregnancy Care Center received $10,000 for additional ultrasound equipment. The third grant, also for $10,000, supported Y-Knot Ministry in its continued outreach work in Haiti.
Ledoux said her faith was tested early in the process, understanding this was a new idea people may push back on. Reaching out to Yarbrough, Ledoux admits she was skeptical of the response she’d get. But the vision aligned perfectly as Yarbrough welcomed the idea.
“I’ve been praying for something like this,” said Yarbrough.
Membership in the organization grew as members reached out to friends and family to participate in a good cause in the name of their faith. The membership stands between 110-120 with hopes to expand.
“ We’re open to growth,” said Ledoux. “I would love to see it (memberships) double so we can make double the impact.”
Ledoux said the group’s mission goes beyond financial aid — it’s about broadening perspectives and encouraging people of faith to step into service.
“I would encourage people to enlarge their world, find out what’s going on,” Ledoux said. “Become aware of the need that’s out there and the opportunity to be part of solution.”
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