Happy 10th Birthday, Charis Childbirth!!!

Sometimes it seems like just yesterday that Charis Childbirth was “born”; but at other times, it feels like forever ago!  When I think about the amazing people who have come into my life through Charis and all the incredible work they are doing around the world, I have a hard time remembering what things were like when Charis Childbirth was just a small, local doula training and certification.

I’ll never forget the day Charis was conceived.  It was early 2002 and I was tired, very tired.  Trying to fall asleep one night, I asked God if it was time for me to move on, to start another chapter in my life.  I wanted to know if it would be OK to put the “childbirth stuff” behind me.  Those were my thoughts as I fell asleep.  When I awoke the next morning, however, instead of feeling free to move on, I had received a new vision for the “childbirth stuff”.

Several women I helped when they gave birth asked me to train them to be doulas so they could do for others what I had done for them.  They were not interested in the existing certifications; they wanted a Christian perspective and they wanted to be trained specifically by me.  I had very informally started training them, but this new vision included a way for them to receive training and certification.  Ideas flooded my mind that morning for how the training and certification would work, what should be included, and a timeline for implementation.  The goal was to launch the new course in January of 2003.  By training others, I could work myself out of a job!  But first, I had lots of work to do.

I spent the next 9 months or so writing the curriculum.  It was a slow process since I was a homeschooling mother of four children (ages 2 to 15) and was working part time as a concierge at the Founders Inn.  After hundreds of hours of work on the curriculum, my computer crashed, I lost everything, and had to start over.  Should I give up and quit?  It was tempting.  That was the moment that tested my resolve to make this course a permanent thing.  If certification was involved, then what was growing had to stand the test of time.  I was in it for the long haul and made a commitment in my heart to provide what this baby needed to grow and thrive and eventually outlive me.

Even with the computer crash setback, I reached my goal of finishing before the end of 2002.  Charis Childbirth was officially “birthed” in January of 2003 when the very first students got started.  If I had known then what this adventure would hold, I may have told God he had picked the wrong girl for the job.  I didn’t see myself as the kind of person it would take to launch an international work.  I’m glad God only gives me bite-size pieces!

Now, here we are 10 years later, with childbirth educator and doula dual certification, lactation counselor certification ready to be launched, and a comprehensive midwifery academics course with students on four continents!  So thankful for how tenderly the Lord has led us and I look forward to seeing what He will do in the next 10 years!  To God be the glory!!!

Happy New Year, Charis Family!!!

Blessings,
Kristin Schuchmann, CPM, LM
Executive Director, Charis Childbirth, Inc.