“Serving others prepares you to lead others.” – Jim George
The following Life on Life story was submitted by Life Members, Ken and Kim Herman:
On Sunday, December 10th, 2017, in conjunction with our team Christmas party, we held a Life on Life Initiative and collected donations for A Place of Refuge.
A Place of Refuge is a Christian organization that offers a wide variety of services to women facing crisis pregnancies and their babies. We gathered contributions for the Place of Refuge women’s home and food pantry located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Pregnant women in need of a place to stay can choose to enter A Place of Refuge and receive the services they need to have a healthy pregnancy and baby. Moms and their newborns can stay for up to six months after the baby is born. They are assisted in getting all of the supports in place prior to discharge.
Our teams were super excited to participate in this amazing organization by collecting items needed for the moms and their little ones! The generous donations came pouring in during the Christmas party. We collected diapers, wipes, sleepers, onesies, baby shampoos, soaps, powders, baby bath tubs, baby blankets, laundry supplies, crib sheets, and a variety of food donations for the food pantry.
Below is the mission statement for A Place of Refuge:
A Place of Refuge Ministries is a network of volunteers who are committed to life and to caring for women facing crisis pregnancy in South Wisconsin. Through our Advocacy Program our volunteers:
- REACH women with needs during pregnancy. Telephone hotline volunteers identify the callers’ needs and
- RECEIVE them into God’s care through His people. Volunteer Advocates then work one on one with mothers and…
- REFER them to community resources available for their physical and emotional care…and congregations throughout South Wisconsin…
- RESPOND by providing what is not available in the community, and by sharing God’s love for us in His Son Jesus Christ. And every day we…
- REJOICE in the opportunity to share the gospel and share in the joy of a baby born.
Rev. Steve Scharnell and his wife Angie, who are Team Stealth Life Members, brought this charity and its good works to our attention. Steve recently began serving on the board for A Place of Refuge and is well aware of the needs that the women and their babies face. This is what attracted Steve Scharnell to becoming a board member of A Place of Refuge, “Many times when an expectant mother has to decide on whether or not to keep their baby, it’s based on finances. When I found this out, I knew I could help by teaching financial literacy. This ministry is not a hand out, it is a hand up.”
Being able to bless others in need is in and of itself a huge blessing. The people in our organization were very generous and excited to participate. Here are a few of their comments:
“I love Life on Life events. It was great to lend a hand up to women and children. To help support a life that may never have been a little bit better is a great opportunity. Especially around the holidays when so many people feel extra pressure from different situations.” ~ Jamie Fassbender (Life Member)
“The Place of Refuge is an awesome foundation. I think every community should have one. They help women get on their feet so they can financially keep their children, then teach them to become financially stable and raise their children on their own. If it wasn’t for a Place of Refuge these children would either have been aborted, placed for adoption, or end up in foster care. We already have a tremendous number of children in the foster care system. It felt wonderful being able to donate just a little bit. I wish there was a whole lot more I could do. I know one time soon there will be a whole lot more I can do.” ~ Jean Sukkert (Life Member)
“I love this ministry because it gives the moms that are in crisis, a choice to give their babies life and also the opportunity to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ.” ~ Angie Scharnell (Life Member)
“Through this ministry many babies have been born that may not have been. In addition, these being a Christian organization, many mothers and children have come to have faith in Jesus Christ.” ~ Rev. Steve Scharnell (Life Member)
Thank you to everyone from Team Stealth who participated in this Life on Life Initiative. Your service and contributions are truly making a difference.