The History of
Modesto Pregnancy Center
1988:
Founder Lynda Jost formed a steering committee after she connected with a young, pregnant mom who just needed help. She couldn’t find local resources to help her, and she needed community.
1990:
After two years of hard work, Modesto Pregnancy Center officially opened its doors. Staffed with a group of volunteers, MPC’s first location was near F&M Bank on McHenry Road, and it was “converted from an old bar to a place where Jesus came!" said Lynda Jost.
The ministry steadily began to bring clients in with the offer of free resources, a loving advocate, and a message of truth. This included the starting of our very first “clothes closet,” where moms could get new and gently used baby items for free, all of which were provided by the Modesto-area community.
2001:
By 2001, MPC was serving dozens of pregnant women each month, and it was time to become a licensed medical clinic. This allowed MPC to offer ultrasounds to patents—a light inside their womb!
2004:
One of MPC’s favorite friends, Arleen Peters, joined the ministry as a volunteer. She runs the “clothes closet” (now known as the “Bumps & Bows Boutique”) and has helped thousands of women find the supplies needed to help prepare them to bring a baby into their home. As of 2026, Arleen is STILL faithfully serving every week!
2010:
MPC spent the first 14 years leasing small suites. But in 2010, commercial property prices plummeted, and it was time to purchase a building! This felt like a big step for the ministry, but God brought in faithful friends, and the building was paid off in only a few years. This location (2801 Coffee Road, Modesto) continues to be one of our medical clinics and holds our administrative offices.
2011:
The ministry faced a BIG change when longtime Executive Director Delores Wolterstorff felt it was time to retire. Chrissy Aguiar stepped in as the new executive director, and the team and ministry grew under her leadership.
2018:
The leadership torch was passed from Chrissy Aguiar to Erin Koolhaas, who remains our current executive director. Less than a year after Erin took the reins, God opened the opportunity for us to lease a small suite directly across the breezeway from the largest abortion clinic in the county.
2024:
Time to grow again! MPC opened its third medical clinic, converting an autobody shop in downtown Modesto to a beautiful, comforting space for patients to receive care.
If you would like to “meet” some of our past Directors, check out this video from 2015, when we celebrated our 25th anniversary!
Ministry Challenges Through the Years
Praise the Lord we haven’t been physically attacked like other pregnancy centers have experienced.
We have, however, walked through a few challenging seasons.
In 2015, California lawmakers passed a bill (AB775) requiring pregnancy centers to advertise abortion services. This, obviously, went against our beliefs and we stepped in to a lawsuit with NIFLA (National Institute of Family and Life Advocates), who represented pregnancy centers across the state. Thankfully, the case ended up in from of the Supreme Court, who ultimately struck down the California law, stating that it violated free speech.
In 2024, California’s Attorney General (Bonta) targeted pregnancy centers across the state. These attacks included centers who offer Abortion Pill Reversal (APR), non-medical clinics, and ours. The AG targeted Modesto Pregnancy Center because we had a very healthy and well-utilized Sexual Education Program. That investigation scared schools, and they stopped using our program. However, after submitting our entire program to the AG’s office the AG’s office found nothing wrong or incorrect (at least we can assume, as we haven’t heard a reply after 2 years).
Of course, we have not fully avoided attacks altogether, but we have stayed true to who God has called us to be: unashamed and standing fully on the Word of God. Therefore, we get to step in to each of those with full understanding of who God is and what he’s capable of.
We face regular criticism from our adversaries, but as a whole, we are well respected and loved by our community!
