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Word of Hope Prepares for 14th Year of
Ministry
 Lombard,
Illinois – Word of Hope, the healing ministry of Lutherans For Life
(LFL), held its Annual Meeting on Thursday, November 18, 2004.
Members of the Board of Directors are: Grace
Kern (Oak Brook, Illinois), Executive Director; Linda Bartlett (Iowa
Falls, Iowa), Director of Outreach; Diane Schroeder (Lombard,
Illinois), President; Kristin Wassilak (River Forest, Illinois),
Vice President; Mary Means (Edmund, Oklahoma), Secretary; and new
members Blair Hoy (Lombard, Illinois), Treasurer; and Rev. Ryan
Matthias (Davenport, Iowa). Appreciation was extended to Ed Goss for
his years of service as treasurer and faithful board member.
The mission statement of Word of Hope
(formerly known as LFL Healing Hearts) is:
To
bring the healing of Jesus Christ to those whose hearts are broken
by abortion.
The Psalmist writes: “He is the Healer of the brokenhearted. He
is the One who bandages their wounds” (147:3 GOD’S WORD).
With this mission in mind, Word of Hope provides the following
services: a toll-free hotline (888-217-8679) and web site (www.word-of-hope.org);
crisis intervention; support groups and Bible studies; spiritual
care and pregnancy assistance; resources for pastors, parents, and
teachers; the Faith, Love, and Sex program for Lutheran
schools; and Titus 2 for Life, a model for mentoring Biblical
manhood and womanhood.
The year 2004 offered Word of Hope a variety
of challenges and opportunities. Grace Kern, Executive Director,
received an average of 200 hotline calls per month from women and
men in congregations, communities, prisons, and military
institutions across the country. A significant number of those
hotline calls were from youth and counselors who attended the
Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod Youth Gathering in Orlando, Florida,
where Word of Hope had an exhibit and was invited to be a part of
one of the mass media events for the 36,000 in attendance.
On a weekly basis, Grace leads two sexual
abuse support groups for approximately 20 women and a number of post-abortive groups with approximately 75 women. More Lutheran schools
in the Chicago area welcomed Word of Hope’s teen program entitled
Faith, Love, and Sex.
To help meet the needs of a growing pro-life
mission field in Russia, Grace is directing the translation of
selected brochures and assisting in the start-up of a satellite
ministry in Russia. She continues to assist satellites in Montana,
Oklahoma, and Alaska with their growing needs and activities.
 A dozen or more mentoring events called Titus
2
“Teas” or weekend retreats have been led across the country. Linda
Bartlett, Director of Outreach, started this outreach ministry as a
way of exposing the half-truths of worldly ideas, contrasting them
to God’s Word, and offering hope to all women (and men) who have
been influenced by the lies of humanism, feminism, and
“choice.”
This ministry seeks to help Biblical men and women build a culture
of life using the model of Titus 2:1-8. The first training event for
Titus 2 leaders was held in Linda’s home November 5-6, 2004. More
training events, as well as
“teas” and retreats are scheduled for
2005-2006. The web site may be viewed at:
www.titus2-4life.org.
Outreach and education by way of
seminars, workshops, and seminary visits continue to be among the
priorities of Word of Hope. Both those in need and those who care
will find a wealth of information at
www.lutheransforlife.org.
Hopeful ideas are on the table
for 2005 and beyond. As we enter our 14th year of
ministry, Word of Hope is exploring a series of
“practical
counseling” mini-courses for seminarians, encouragement of clergy
wives, visits with pre-sem students, Titus 2 training weekends, and
expanded outreach into Lutheran schools.
To learn how you can reach out to the
women and families who mourn the loss of a child to abortion,
inquire about sponsoring A Day of Hope and Healing seminar
for pastors and laity, or help fund this life-changing ministry,
call toll-free 888-217-8679.
To inquire about hosting a Titus 2
“Tea” or Retreat, or being trained as a Titus 2 leader, e-mail
lindabartlett@mchsi.com.
For information, counseling, or
support, call Grace on our 24-hour hotline at 888-217-8679 or (630)
990-0909. |
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