This month we want to tell you more about the Illinois Expansion of Redeeming Life Maternity Home, a program of Redeeming Life Outreach Ministries, recipients of an $100,000 grant from Lutheran Women in Mission (LWM) in the 2021–2023 biennium.

Redeeming Life Outreach Ministries operates maternity and transitional homes for single, at-risk mothers in Florida. The opportunity has arisen to use their successful model to expand into the northern Illinois area. Illinois has some of the most liberal abortion laws in the country. In 2018, 42,441 babies were killed by abortion in this state, an increase of seven percent from the previous year (Illinois Department of Health).

Expanding Redeeming Life’s reach to the Chicago area will save women and babies by offering single, pregnant women in crisis an option to choose life for their unborn children. The success of Redeeming Life maternity homes is dependent on the nurture, mentorship and life skills learning offered to the residents by a caring deaconess devoted to their spiritual care. Residents learn to cook, parent, run a household, create and live within a budget, finish their education and find a way to become self-sufficient. Most importantly, residents are shown the unconditional love of our Heavenly Father with ample opportunities to grow in love, security and faith in Jesus, many for the first time.

While teaching life skills and supporting residents in furthering their education and job skills is a vital part of what Redeeming Life does, the heart of the ministry is Jesus Christ, crucified and risen. The nurturing and mentoring of a professional church worker who guides the residents on a daily basis is essential to the success of the women at Redeeming Life. As an organization with RSO status in The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod, Redeeming Life may call rostered workers.

This mission grant will help Redeeming Life Outreach Ministries support a called deaconess to serve in the Chicago area. With the loving ministry of a deaconess, the needs of the residents, especially in the area of critical spiritual care, will be met. In addition to providing funding for diaconal service, the grant will help offset costs during the first two years, offering a safe and stable home (rent, utilities, food) and will provide program services for the women living there.

To learn more about this ministry go to rlom.org.

Lutheran Women in Mission (LWM) is the official women’s auxiliary of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Since 1942, LWM has focused on affirming each woman’s relationship with Christ, encouraging and equipping women to live out their Christian lives in active mission ministries and by supporting global missions. For more information on each month’s mission focus, visit LWML.org. Saint John’s Lutheran Women in Mission (Mission Guild) meets the first Tuesday of each month at 10:30 AM in Room 301. All ladies of the congregation are invited to attend.