Over the past four years, eleven different children have lived with Angela, Jeff, and Lily Vernhoff. The youngest came to live with them when he was only 9 days old, the oldest was 7. Some children stay just a few weeks, some stayed off and on for two years.
The Vernhoffs are a Safe Family: volunteers with an organization which “provides hope and support for families and children in crisis.”
Four years ago, Angela was volunteering at a faith based, life-affirming pregnancy resource center in Kankakee. Through the pregnancy resource center, Angela learned about another Christian organization, Safe Families for Children.
At the state level, most child welfare agencies can only legally rescue children who have suffered blatant abuse or neglect. This leaves a gap between families in need and the organizations which can help them. Safe Families for Children fills the gap. When a family finds themselves unable to provide a healthy environment for their children, they can voluntarily give their children to a registered Safe Family for a short period of time while they get back on their feet. This way, parents are able to heal and children are not at risk.
When Angela and her husband, Jeff, learned about the ministry of Safe Families for Children, the Lord moved their hearts to open their home. With support from their church, they began the process of becoming a Safe Family. Four years later while sitting in Pastor Cory Estby’s office at Zion, Grant Park with a four month old they’ve known nearly all of his life asleep beside them, Angela and Jeff spoke about some of the things they’ve learned as a Safe Family. Above all they responded: you learn to trust God. You trust He is in control. You trust the child is ok. You trust where He is leading you: Jeff and Angela say it has been their privilege to show the love of Jesus to people saying, ”you never know what fruits will be received.”
With a unique opportunity to maintain a relationship with the child’s family after they return home, the Vernhoff’s church, Zion, Grant Park, has been able to join them, together as the body of Christ, using every gift they have to serve others. When one child was able to return home, but his home did not have any furniture, Zion’s congregation rallied together and filled a Penske truck full of furniture to furnish an apartment for this mom and her children.
One child at a time, from kind greetings with congregation members on a Sunday to day to day care as a Safe Family, the members of Zion, Grant Park are boldly sharing Jesus with their community through radical compassion fueled by the mercy and grace of Jesus. Praise be to God.
This is our Northern Illinois District. #OurNID