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| Bible study is part of Saturday activities at Kum Bah Yah House, a well baby clinic operated by Ebenezer Lutheran Church. |
by Larry Ulrich
March 2006
When mothers and young children visit Kum Bah Yah House, they are greeted by Jesus Christ pictured on a mural in the first room they enter. But the presence of Jesus Christ goes well beyond His physical depiction in artwork. It shows up in many ways at Kum Bah Yah House, a Well Baby Clinic—and more--in Chicago’s North Lawndale neighborhood as a ministry of Ebenezer Lutheran Church.
On a recent Saturday morning, when Sparks visited Kum Bah Yah House, a Bible study of Hebrews 11 was being led by Earetha Winton, a ministry volunteer and long-time member of Ebenezer Lutheran Church. Ministry volunteers and client mothers read the verses as Earetha and others willingly shared their personal faith and gave witness to their faith in Jesus Christ.
As the study of Hebrews 11 progressed, Earetha spoke eloquently on the meaning of ‘by Faith’ as she linked the Old Testament faith of Abel, Enoch, Jonah, and Abraham, first to New Testament Christianity and finally to the individual lives of the young mothers served by Kum Bah Yah House. “We are all brothers and sisters in Christ,” Earetha boldly stated to the mothers present for the study.
The ministry also regularly shares tracts and other Christian materials with client mothers and their children.
Earline Hamm, the well baby clinic manager, estimates that while the ministry has served up to 2,000 children and mothers in the past 18 years, only a handful have ever worshiped at Ebenezer. Many attend other churches, but many are also unchurched. In some cases, the young mothers express reluctance to attend services because they don’t have acceptable clothes to wear, regret sinning against God, or don’t have the economic means to give to a church.
Earline, who first became a Lutheran through the ministry of Christ the King Lutheran, a South Side African American congregation, credits Ebenezer’s former pastor, Rev. Ken Young, for helping her assimilate and become a leader at Ebenezer. “He was so diligent. He visited me every week,” Earline recalled.
Today, Earline is proud that Ebenezer, though small in membership, is visible in its neighborhood through the ongoing outreach and Christian witness of Kum Bah Yah House to the young mothers and children of the predominately African American North Lawndale community.
Earline also expresses gratitude for the support received from individuals and congregations throughout northern Illinois, including members of local LWML groups who so willingly supply baby care items for the ministry.
She also stressed that Kum Bah Yah House volunteers serve clients, first and foremost, because of their love for their Savior Jesus Christ. “We are only vessel servants being used to the glory of God,” Earline noted.
Earline also speaks proudly of another visible presence of the church in North Lawndale.Both the Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod, through the Northern Illinois District, and Thrivent Financial Services for Lutherans are showing Christ’s love through two affordable housing initiatives. Click here for an earlier Sparks story about Ezra Homes in North Lawndale. Visit www.thriventbuilds.com for information about Thrivent’s partnership with Habitat for Humanity which has included new home construction in North Lawndale.
Larry Ulrich is Director of People Ablaze!
More on this ministry:
Well Baby Clinic Equips North Lawndale Mothers
Volunteers are the Lifeblood
Profile of Ebenezer Lutheran - contains prayer requests and volunteer opportunities
Well Baby Clinic photos in the Photo Album
To make a gift to this ministry click here, and indicate "Ebenezer, North Lawndale" as the ministry you wish to support.
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