Love God. Build the Home. Change the World.

What better way to live out this mission in our community than by providing needed support to families in crisis. We have a tremendous opportunity to do just that through Safe Families, supported by Illini Christian Ministries.

Safe Families at SPL is moving forward in the process of building a team. We currently have two families who have gone through the process to fill the position of “Family Friends” on our team. One of these families also has gone through the Host Family training to provide respite care for families who are hosting children when they need some personal family time.

We are still in need of a full time Host Family and a Family Coach to complete our team. A Host Family is a family who voluntarily welcomes children from a family in crisis into their home on a temporary basis (for a designated period of time). A Family Coach is someone who helps to support and encourage families in need and the host family.

We are having another information gathering at SPL on June 23rd during Pastor’s Class at 9:15am in the Dining Room. At this time we will have visiting families from Illini Christian Ministries speak about their roles and share their experience being part of the Safe Families team. Some of them have been a Host Family or served as other members of the team. Other churches from our community who our interested in joining us in this adventure have been invited to attend.

What has the Safe Families Team been up to since our beginning in Spring 2019 and what do we need?

With an outpouring love and support, the Safe Families Team here at St Paul’s was able to make and give 25 Easter Baskets to children who are currently in a Host Safe Families home this past April.

We are currently in the process of building a Resource Closet here at SPL for the children. Many of these children will come to a Host Family with only the clothing they have on at the time. We are asking for clean, gently used children’s clothing, underwear, socks, and shoes. (These do not need to be new, but please be sure they are in good condition.) We will soon designate a donation area and space for our Resource Closet at SPL – stay tuned for more details. In the meantime, please consider gathering these items:

Clothing/Underwear/Socks/Shoes (Girls and Boys) in the following size groups:

• Infant
• Toddler
• 3-5 years of age
• 6-10 years of age
• Adolescent (12-18)

This has all been so exciting! While it has been a long process, we can see that God moves at His own time and puts the right people in the right potions.

Please prayerfully consider joining the Safe Families team for our community here at SPL. Think again about our mission statement here at SPL: Love God – Build the Home – Change the World. The cornerstone of Safe Families surrounding families in crisis, hosting children before they are harmed and in need of foster care. By helping struggling families, and demonstrating God’s love for them in a real way, we help them build a safe home of their own.

Please join us June 23rd and come to hear these families share their joys, struggles and blessings from joining Safe Families. For more information about Safe Families please go to Safe-Families.org/churches

Need more information? Please contact Marla Galka, our SPL Safe Families Coordinator, at galka3@comcast.net

About Safe Families

Founded in 2003, Safe Families for Children is located in 70 cities across the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and beyond. Safe Families creates extended family-like supports for desperate families through a community of devoted volunteers who are motivated by their faith and love for Jesus to keep children safe and keep families intact.
– 35,000 Hostings to date in 70 cities across the country
– 93% of children return to their families
– 70% of children are below the age of 5
– Children stay with a Host Family an average of 44 days

Katie Dye, Family Care Specialist
Illini Christian Ministries
(217) 355-4446
kdye@icmfamily.org

Sharnell Knapp, Family Care Director
Illini Christian Ministries
sknapp@icmfamily.org

Are you a family in crisis or do you know a family in need of support?

Please contact the Illini Christian Ministries office or go to safe-families.org/get-help/ to learn more.