Area Women Join Together in Support of Maternity Home

A northern Illinois maternity home for single expectant mothers is preparing to open and women from the western Chicago suburbs are pretty excited about it.

"I first found out about Redeeming Life Outreach Ministries in the summer of 2019," shared Glen Ellyn resident Lori Solyom. "I met Deaconess Liz Borth at a Lutheran Women's Missionary League convention in Mobile, Alabama, where she told me about the maternity home they operate in Florida - a safe space for single expectant mothers, to live, learn, and find support during and after their pregnancies. I thought, wow, we need one of those in our area."

Within a year, Solyom's hope had become a reality, though she claims no credit for that, explaining that it happened without any instigation on her part. With support from the Northern Illinois District of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod [https://www.nidlcms.org/], Redeeming Life Outreach Ministries [https://www.rlom.org/expansion] began seeking a site for expansion into the Chicago suburbs.

In December 2021, the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod [https://www.lcms.org/] announced to its two million members and 6,000+ churches a "Million Dollar Life Match" grant program to support "beginning-of-life mercy work," offering compassion for mothers and children in a nation polarized by the heated abortion debate.

The Life Task Force at the denomination's Northern Illinois District approach Trinity Lutheran Church of Lombard, Illinois, with the idea of spearheading local participation in the grant program. The 163-year-old church and its preschool through eighth grade school jumped on board to do so.

"First up was a series of holiday craft shows," explained Kris Blackwell, who was on the Life Task Force and a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Lisle. "Trinity in Lombard has a successful craft show they've hosted for over 40 years, so we approached them asking for a complimentary booth space at the November 2022 craft show, where supporters of Redeeming Life Outreach Ministries could sell donated items."

Blackwell then arranged for the same at St. John Lutheran Church in Lombard, Bethany Lutheran Church in Naperville, and St. John Lutheran Church in Schaumburg.

That was followed by door collections and chapel offerings through the winter and spring, culminating with a fundraiser luncheon at Trinity in Lombard.

Deaconess Lori Trinche of Redeeming Life Outreach Ministries updated supporters and shared the news that the Illinois maternity home will open later in 2023. In addition to providing financial support, women from twelve area Lutheran churches attended. They assembled a dozen fleece baby blankets and put together two dozen "pamper me" packages for the new and expectant moms who will reside at the new Redeeming Life Outreach Ministries maternity home in West Dundee, Illinois.

The gathering was also part of SHINE [https://www.nidlcms.org/shine/], the Northern Illinois District's two weeks of area-wide service projects. Lunch was donated by Thrivent Financial [https://www.thrivent.com/], through a Thrivent Action Team grant.

"We are thrilled at the opportunity to support this ministry delivering hope and help to moms and babies," said Blackwell. "And the matching grant from the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, is such as blessing. Along with that, we raised more than $10,000 and are excited for the service that Redeeming Life Outreach Ministries will provide to the surrounding community and pray for the women and children that will be blessed through this."