A Message from Dr. David Anderson, Executive Director
At LYDIA, we are continually seeking ways to extend our reach close to home and around the country. For instance, this year we are working with churches in Georgia to launch Safe Families in that state, and hope to do the same in Indiana and possibly New Jersey. We are also expanding Virtuous Reality, our Abstinence Education Program, thanks in part to a large five-year grant from the Community-Based Abstinence Education Project.

These and other initiatives take time, money, prayer and perseverance. We appreciate your partnership in all of these areas! If God is leading you to become even more invested in LYDIA, I hope you’ll consider making a monthly donation to the ministry. Funds can be automatically withdrawn from your checking account when you sign up via our website at www.lydiahome.org/monthlydonations.

Another giving opportunity exists for those who want to help children in our Residential Unit attend Covenant Harbor, a Christian camp in Lake Geneva, Wis., during spring break. This getaway was a wonderful experience for the 41 residents, ages 7-17, who attended last year. They participated in activities that included a high- and low-ropes course, archery, arts and crafts, hikes and more. On the last night, 17 responded to an altar call and accepted Christ as their Savior.

To provide a $300 scholarship for this life-changing experience, please contact Kristin Etter, Development Associate, at or (773) 736-1447, ext. 223. Thank you!


Josh McDowell to Serve as Gala 2007 Speaker
We are pleased to announce that well-known evangelist and author Josh McDowell will serve as Featured Speaker at LYDIA’s 2007 Benefit Gala! We hope you’ll plan to attend this special event, to be held December 3 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill.

Event sponsors, table hosts and other volunteers are needed! To learn more, please contact Erica Postma, Associate Director of Development, at or (773) 736-1447, ext. 249. To read about Josh’s background and ministry, please visit www.lydiahome.org/Gala2007.

Now, That’s Dedication!
Would you shave your head bald to reward struggling high school students for their efforts? LYDIA Urban Academy teacher Travis Satterlee did, and it worked!

The story began last spring when Travis saw that three of his students were beginning to give up in Earth Science. “I knew that with the proper motivation and some after-school help, they could succeed,” Travis says. “So I told them, ‘you guys get a B on your Earth Science final, and I’ll let you shave my head.’”

The boys studied hard, and all three received A’s! “When I announced their grades, their faces lit up the room,” Travis says. “I had never seen them so happy.”

Within minutes, Travis — true to his word — pulled out clippers from his desk drawer and allowed the boys to shave him bald. “I think the experience helped them see that they can do something they never thought possible,” Travis says. “That belief will take them a long way in life.”

For the Wrights, Volunteering is a Family Affair
By Katy Wright, Safe Families Volunteer
My family began volunteering with Safe Families about three years ago. The first children we took in were sisters, ages two and four. Their mom, Donna, had been leaving them at night to party, and she was also dealing with depression and a lot of anger about the abuse in her past. She needed time and space to go through intensive therapy, so her girls lived with us for four months.

During that time, Donna visited our home and even stayed for weekends to spend time with her kids. She saw how we disciplined our own children — who were then ages 10 through 15 — and how we respect each other. It gave her a vision of something different for her family.

Donna became a Christian before they returned to their lives in Chicago, and she’s now involved with a Home Group Bible Study, meeting regularly with a mentor, and ministering to the youth in her church. Donna has become a devoted mother, too.

I think what amazes us most about our involvement with Safe Families is how much the experience has blessed us as a family. Taking in at-risk kids has pulled us out of our comfort zone and forced us to stick together through the challenges. My kids have grown spiritually, and we have all been tremendously blessed.

To volunteer with Safe Families or learn more, please call (773) 736-1447 or e-mail

Last Call for Cookbook Submissions!
Production is underway on a LYDIA Cookbook , which will commemorate LYDIA’s 90th year, raise money for the ministry and share the LYDIA story with people across the country. Submissions are needed in the following categories: Beverages, Family-friendly entrees and desserts, Side dishes, Breads, Soups & Salads.

The deadline is Feb. 28. To submit a recipe, please contact Erica Postma, either by email at by mail (4300 West Irving Road, Chicago, IL 60641) or by phone at (773) 736-1447, ext 249.