El Paso woman celebrates 20 years since the opening of her maternity clinic in Cebu, Philippines

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Twenty years ago, Hilary Overton took the leap of faith and opened a maternity care clinic in the Philippines.

Overton is an El Paso native who graduated from Loretto Academy. Throughout high school, Overton was exposed to international mission trips, seeing different missionaries in action.

She also got to see a birthing center and the behind-the-scenes of how it operated. Overton's interest in midwifery grew after seeing the need to share care and hope with others.

After graduating high school, Overton pursued her future career and moved to the Philippines. She was able to learn about midwifery and how to start her own maternity clinic.

Some Filipinos living in the poorest parts of the country face hunger and extreme poverty. Overton said cost and distance are both barriers most residents face.

After receiving her degree as a midwife, Overton opened Glory Reborn which provides compassionate and holistic care in Cebu.

In 2003, the first Glory Reborn baby was born inside Overton's apartment.

"So in 2003, we started with the basic wanting to bring prenatal care and health education to mothers in Cebu. We started opening our living room, myself and other Filipino women to offer classes, checkups and snacks," she said.

Two decades later, the facility has largely expanded. Now, it's a fully licensed maternity clinic.

Overton told ABC-7, a small commitment turned into a lifetime.

Glory Reborn has delivered over 6,300 babies. Each month anywhere between 40 to 50 babies are born in Overton's center. Over 56 staff members are working on both the ground and inside the clinic.

"It’s an amazing journey to watch, you know, the vision of starting with one baby and growing into all of these," the CEO said.

At Glory Reborn women are provided with prenatal care, ultrasounds, laboratories and health education. After birth, babies receive the necessary care to start a healthy life. Overton said care is available before, during and long after birth.

Apart from physical needs, Overton also deeply cares about providing women hope.

"Viewing patients as people, people who have holistic needs not purely health needs, but obviously also emotional and spiritual health needs," said Emma Sarcol, Glory Reborn's public health director.

Overton said Glory Reborn goes into the community and in doing so they are reaching marginalized mothers and babies.

The CEO of the organization said they have been able to continue the work because of the faithfulness of supporters and team members.

One of those supporters is the Great American Steakburger on Mesa Hills in West El Paso.

Theresa Green the co-owner of the restaurant has known Overton for over 25 years. She has traveled to the Philippines and witnessed the work Glory Reborn is doing firsthand.

“She is amazing. She not only provides healthcare for them, but she provides spiritual healthcare to them as well. They not only provide the medical side, but they also give them the word of Jesus Christ," Green said.

She said the clinic has expanded since her first visit. She is proud of how it's grown throughout the years.

“It has transformed. They are serving so many people in the Philippines not only in the midwifery area but helping them take care of their babies, helping them just move through difficult things, just helping young women to understand and plan their futures and have a healthy experience with having a baby.”

She knew she wanted to get involved and help support Glory Reborn in a larger fashion.

Green created Mission Pie Month at the Great American Steakburger! Mission pies are sold each month at the restaurant year-round. All the proceeds from mission pie slices sold go to that month's charity.

The month of October all of the funds collected will go to saving the lives of moms and babies in the Philippines. Glory Reborn was the first mission the restaurant ever supported.

“I want to do something, it has to be for God at that point for me to want to do it. 23 years later, it’s still on the menu. It’s very popular," Green said.

Overton said the vision for the clinic is still growing. She hopes to expand the facility and add a second location to help reach more people.

"I think the biggest satisfaction that I have seen is that the vision of Glory Reborn has come alive. It’s an amazing journey to watch, you know, the vision of starting with one baby and growing into all of these," she said.

If you would like to learn more information about Glory Reborn, click here.