God’s Plan for Redeeming, Transforming, and Changing Lives in Northern IL

January 2024

God’s Plan for Redeeming, Transforming, and Changing Lives in Northern IL

By Julia Heinz, Director of Mission Advancement

“All in God’s perfect timing” is the phrase Deaconess Lori Trinche is familiar with using to describe progress on Redeeming Life Outreach Ministries’ new maternity home in suburban Dundee, IL. This plan to help single, pregnant women began with the LCMS – Northern Illinois District leaders and the NID Life Task Force envisioning a safe place for women in crisis pregnancies to live and learn while connecting to a Lutheran church as their spiritual home.

Redeeming Life Outreach Ministries, headquartered in Sanford, FL, joined forces with the NID to open an Illinois home. Bringing a decade of practical experience, RLOM’s leaders knew the time was right to expand the ministry. Next, came the lengthy process of finding the best site, which was eventually purchased from Immanuel Ev. Lutheran Church in East Dundee. The project plan pointed to a prospective opening date, yet the reality of the project included delays and surprises which slowed the progress and ultimately delayed the opening date to early 2024. Deaconess Trinche has used the extra time to make more community connections which will assist in her role in leading the women in the maternity home as they live as a family and pursue their goals.

As sawblades whirred indoors, President Allan Buss and a small group gathered outside of the maternity home in early December for a Rite of Blessing. “When we planned this service, we thought we’d be indoors in the finished space,” explained RLOM Executive Director Sheryl DeWitt. “We didn’t know whether to laugh or cry when we realized there’d be no way the renovations would be done! But we trust in God’s plan for this home and this ministry. So we just held it outside.”

Each pastor present spoke about the maternity home ministry. Pastor William Yonker of Immanuel, East Dundee read about being a new creation from 2 Corinthians 5:17, and said that for the maternity home residents, “Their old way is over. It’s finished! A new way, a better way, a hopeful way, a healthy way, a holy way has come.” Pastor Kris Whitby, of the NID, spoke about how God settles the solitary or the lonely into a home and a family, and prayed the RLOM home would “serve as that home and welcoming family of those who know Jesus.” Pastor Steve Maske of Good Shepherd, Elgin proclaimed that with God nothing is impossible and prayed for blessing and protection for the moms and babies. President Buss reflected on this ministry, saying this partnership together is “not just to do nice things, but to…live the Gospel, proclaim the Gospel, be empowered by the Gospel. The Gospel is for you and Jesus is for you!”

Immanuel, East Dundee’s Pastor Joe Glombicki recalled God’s plan in Immanuel’s decision to buy property where the maternity home now stands, not knowing its use or how they would pay for it, simply knowing that the Lord was calling the congregation to buy this land. “In His sovereign wisdom, things did not work out in other places where this maternity house could be. But it worked out right here! It seemed Satan in his power was trying to stop this place from being, but the Lord continued….This is an answer to prayer…that people have been praying for something different to start with the Lord on the Life issue. May this home be the first step!”

“As God’s plan for opening this home unfolds, we look forward to inviting all of our partners in the NID to visit and celebrate together what God is doing here,” Sheryl DeWitt summed up. “We are planning an Open House and party and can’t wait to welcome everyone!” Visit rlom.org for more information.