Life is often unpredictable, filled with moments that can leave us questioning our strength and direction. For many like Barb, life’s challenges can compound, making it feel like the world is crumbling all around them.

Faith, perseverance, and the right support systems can be anchors that hold someone through the most difficult trials.

This is Barb’s story.

The Breaking Point

Just as life should have been at its most fulfilling, Barb found her reality marked by hardship and pain; she was at a crossroads. What once began as a loving marriage spiraled into an abusive relationship, forcing Barb to make the heart-wrenching decision to leave, not only for her sake but for the well-being of her three children.

The emotional toll of living in, and then leaving, a toxic relationship left her feeling broken and desperate. With nowhere to go, she and her children sought refuge in a women’s homeless shelter. “It wasn’t worth my children being exposed to that,” Barb recalled, reflecting on her decision to leave. She struggled with deep feelings of uncertainty, fear, and isolation. Finally, with no clear direction for the future, Barb and her kids moved in with her mother, living in a trailer home for two years as Barb battled the crippling effects of depression.

Increasingly, Barb found herself numbing her guilt, deep shame, and pain with alcohol. Her guilt continued to grow as she distanced herself from her church community. Her once-strong faith and sense of purpose had eroded, and she was left wondering how she could lose control over her life so quickly.

Moving Forward with Grace

Tired of what her life had become, Barb decided to attend a class through New Hope Ministry, a program offered by Love INC Lake County.

This program was familiar—Christian Neighbors Church (Waukegan), where Barb was a member, is a regular partner and strong advocate of New Hope Ministry’s offerings. However, Barb resisted seeking help until she felt truly ready, which was only after she underwent therapy and worked through the deep pain and trauma of her failed marriage and the struggles that followed.

It was through the classes, the unwavering support of her church community, and the renewal of her faith that Barb began to regain a sense of self-worth and hope for the future. “The experience was transformative,” Barb shared. “It allowed me to look inward, confront the demons that were holding me back, and find a way to move forward with grace.”

Rebuilding Faith and Restoring Strength

Most profoundly, Barb’s faith was restored, transforming every part of her life. She had felt immense guilt for distancing herself from her church, for her struggles with addiction, and for her failed marriage. However, through the power of God, prayer, and counseling, Barb’s marriage was reconciled and healed. Today, her relationship with her husband is stronger than ever, and they will celebrate their 12th wedding anniversary this year. This restoration of her marriage was a testament to the power of faith and the possibility of healing, even after experiencing deep challenges.

Her healing journey extended beyond her marriage. During a two-year, harrowing battle with cancer, Barb experienced firsthand the overwhelming love and support of the Christian Neighbors Church and Love INC communities. “We would not have survived during that time without the community of God rallying around us,” Barb shared. Love INC, in partnership with Christian Neighbors Church and several other church partners, arranged meal chains, chemo rides, food and household supply drop-offs, gift cards, and even bill payments during that difficult period.

Barb emphasized how vital this support was, explaining, “It’s important for people to understand the Love INC community and how we mobilize churches to support the community.” She and her family were living examples of the organization’s mission: to “mobilize local churches to transform lives and communities, In the Name of Christ.”

A Future Filled with Promise

Today, Barb’s life is transformed. She is no longer defined by her struggles but by her resilience and her ability to overcome them. Her experience with New Hope Ministry has equipped her with the skills and confidence needed to build a better future for herself and her children.

With her newfound confidence and community supporting her, Barb felt empowered to pursue new opportunities. Ministry staff helped her secure stable housing while the classes gave her valuable job training and the tools she needed to build financial stability. More importantly, Barb found a sense of purpose in helping others as she’d been helped.

In what can only be considered God clearing the way and opening doors, after she graduated from her final session with New Hope Ministry, a staff position opened up which fit her newfound passion to serve others in need. Today, Barb serves as the coordinator for New Hope Ministry and is thrilled to be able to give back to the ministry that gave so much to her while giving forward to a community in need.

Barb’s story is a powerful testimony that no matter how insurmountable life’s challenges may seem, redemption and transformation are possible.

A Beacon of Light

While New Hope Ministry plays a crucial role in the lives of countless individuals like Barb, the work they do could not exist without the partnership of local churches. Barb shared, “New Hope Ministry cannot exist without the Church—the entire ministry is led by the Body of Christ. Our facilitators, discussion leaders, childcare providers, meal providers, safety team, and incentive providers are all different branches of God’s Kingdom working together. I’m just the person that God has blessed to coordinate His ministry by bringing the branches of God’s Kingdom together under one roof in 12-week increments.”

The churches involved in New Hope Ministry go above and beyond to serve their community. Every week, volunteers from various churches provide meals for up to 65 people. Community churches host drives to collect necessities like utensils and paper goods for the meals. In addition to supplying needs, area churches provide hands-on support—from First Presbyterian Church Waukegan hosting the ministry to community leaders facilitating classes and financial coaching sessions, and volunteers serving meals and cleaning up. Local pastors, elders, and church leaders open each evening in prayer.

“Last semester, we had 15 different churches represented by the volunteers,” Barb reflected. “We also had participants from 17 different churches. It’s truly the Body of Christ in action, serving together to transform lives.”

In addition to Barb’s testimony, Sara Weibel, an active member of Barb’s church, Christian Neighbors Church, and the church’s administrator, shared her admiration for Barb’s journey and servant leadership, “It has been beautiful to see Barb and her family experience transformation through the NHM classes. What’s even more beautiful is how she and her family have applied what they learned by giving back to the community that formed them. Every semester they pour themselves out in service to NHM, so others can find community and be transformed, too. I am so inspired by their servant leadership and devotion to the flourishing of people and families in the Waukegan area.”

This tight-knit collaboration between churches, New Hope Ministry, and Love INC ensures that those in need receive the emotional, spiritual, and practical support necessary for lasting change. For Barb and many others, the church is not just a support system—it is the foundation of transformation.

Barb’s transformation in every area of her life is a testament to how God works when the Church commits to being His hands and feet together without ego or agenda. Today, Barb ministers to those in need in partnership with these New Hope Ministry churches: