A Message from Dr. David Anderson, Executive Director
¡LYDIA está expandiendo sus servicios a las comunidades que hablan español!

Those of you who know Spanish already understand what I am trying to communicate: LYDIA is expanding its services to the Spanish-speaking community!

In fact, LYDIA has been serving Spanish speakers for many years. But now, we’ve added Héctor E. Cólon to the Safe Families staff to better meet the needs of the community. Héctor, who moved to Chicago from Puerto Rico with his wife and son last summer, has a great heart to serve God and people and does his work with enthusiasm and energy. He also has personal experience in giving and receiving hospitality, hallmarks of the Safe Families program. The need for Safe Families within the Spanish-speaking community is so great that we anticipate it will be a challenge to meet client demand.

Meanwhile, Safe Families’ expansion into Indianapolis continues — staff members have been hired, churches are getting on board and volunteer families are signing up. It is exciting to see God continue to open doors for Safe Families and provide financially for this program’s expansion through ministry partners like you!

By now, many of you have already received your economic stimulus check from the government. As you think about how to spend this money, I hope you’ll consider using some, most or even all of it to make a gift to LYDIA. This is both excellent stewardship and a worthy investment in the lives of the people we serve. Your generosity will make an impact in the lives of children and families, and you will not regret it!

Q&A with Héctor E. Cólon, Spanish Specialist for Safe Families
Why is Safe Families reaching out to the Spanish-speaking community?
These families need support, just as English-speaking families do. Many of them speak English well, but Spanish is their heart language, the one they feel most comfortable using, especially when dealing with a crisis situation. We need more Spanish-speaking volunteer families to meet this need.

Are you able to serve families now, even without enough volunteers?
God is using the local church to do this. For instance, a couple came to us for help and we were only able to find an English-speaking volunteer family to take their child in. But they agreed to attend Moody Church, where members of the Spanish Ministry have connected with them on a personal level. Now this couple is really growing in the Lord.

How are you working to expand the ministry’s reach to Spanish speakers?
Recruiting volunteers is very important, so I am working with local churches in the Spanish-speaking community to help them understand how Safe Families can be part of the outreach they are already doing. I am also translating some of our materials into the Spanish language.

How did you come to work at LYDIA?
I was a business owner in Puerto Rico for many years, but through prayer I felt God was calling me and my wife, Tamara, to something different. I began to get more involved with youth, parenting classes and marriage counseling. Eventually we decided to close our businesses and move to Chicago, with the blessing of our church elders. The first church I visited in Chicago was Moody Church, which has become a great blessing to my family. The congregation and staff have provided us with love and encouragement, as well as furniture and even a car. Through the church, I learned about LYDIA’s interest in expanding its ministry to Spanish speakers.

God led me here, although I never saw myself doing something like this. I have had opportunities to share God’s word with families, and lives are being changed. One couple is working to save their marriage and their family; another woman has asked to be discipled so she can grow in Christ. It is exciting.

From Worst-Case to Best-Case Scenario
God has a way of turning worst-case scenarios into stories of grace and redemption. This is certainly true for Rosa and her children, whose lives are being transformed through an encounter with Safe Families.

Rosa’s husband was a violent man who abandoned his family after physically abusing her. While his departure provided physical relief, it also caused turmoil because Rosa was financially and emotionally incapable of providing for her children, ages 11 and 2. Her extended family offered to take the children back to Mexico, but instead she turned to Safe Families for help.

During their first meeting, Héctor E. Cólon spoke with Rosa about many things — her difficult circumstances, her children’s needs and, most importantly, her relationship with Jesus Christ. That day, Rosa asked Jesus to forgive her sins and trusted Him as her Savior. Her new life had begun.

Héctor was able to place Rosa’s children with Safe Families volunteer Elida, a single mother who cares for four children. Now Rosa could concentrate on finding work and a place to live. Within the week, she was able to bring her children, Bryan and Rosa, to the shelter with her.

Rosa began attending Moody Church with her children. Their story has motivated others at Moody to volunteer with Safe Families, and caused people to marvel at how God cares for people in their time of need.

Get involved with the 2008 Benefit Gala!
Table hosts, event sponsors and other volunteers are needed for LYDIA’s 2008 Benefit Gala, to be held December 1 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL. We will be welcoming as our Featured Speaker Crawford Loritts, Senior Pastor, Fellowship Bible Church in Roswell, GA.

Event sponsors, table hosts and silent auction items are needed as we begin planning the details of our 2008 Benefit Gala. To learn more, please contact Erica Postma, Associate Director of Development, at or (773) 736-1447, ext. 249.