“Every Child Needs to Be Welcomed into This World”

When David Ross steps into a family’s home carrying a pack-and-play, he knows he’s holding more than a place for a new baby to sleep.

He’s holding relief. Hope. And a tangible reminder that someone sees this baby—and this family—as worthy of celebration.

That belief has shaped the Baby Shower Ministry at Bethel Lutheran Church for more than a decade. What began as a simple response to a community need has grown into a deeply relational Gap Ministry—one that meets families right where they are and fills a space no one else could.

A Baby Shower, Reimagined

At Bethel, a “baby shower” doesn’t happen in a decorated fellowship hall. It happens in living rooms and apartments, during daytime visits carefully arranged with new parents.

Each baby shower happens because someone reached out to Love INC, which then identifies and verifies needs through its Connection Center. Love INC then reaches out to Cindy Daluga, Bethel’s Disciple Care Coordinator. Cindy activates the team, which is supported in every way by the entire church, all who pitch in with donations of one or more needs, including time, items, finances to make purchases, and volunteering.

Bethel’s volunteer team prepares what they lovingly call a mini baby shower—and delivers it personally.

Each visit includes:

• • A brand-new pack-and-play, assembled on site
  • Sheets, blankets, diapers, wipes, and baby toiletries
  • Clothing and essentials for newborns
  • And often, thoughtfully chosen books—not just for the baby, but for older siblings, too

But what families remember most isn’t what’s in the basket.

It’s the conversation. The prayer. The way volunteers slow down, sit on the floor, and take time to truly see them as people worth knowing and celebrating.

A Gap Identified—and a Church That Said Yes

More than ten years ago, Love INC began noticing a consistent gap: families calling in need of safe sleeping spaces for their babies. Because of safety recalls and regulations, the organization couldn’t distribute cribs, but the need remained urgent.

That unmet need was shared with partner churches.

Bethel Church listened.

Instead of asking what program already exists, Bethel asked a better question: What could we do that no one else is doing?

Their answer became a Gap Ministry, a ministry focused not just on providing baby supplies, but on welcoming new life with dignity and care. Over time, the ministry evolved from delivering items to building intentional relationships. Today, Bethel volunteers don’t just drop things off. They stay. They listen. They pray.

As David Ross, one of the ministry’s longtime volunteers, puts it:

“This has been really transformational for me. It’s helped me grow a great deal. I’ve learned how to be less judgmental, and that everyone is a child of God.”

Ministry That Feels Like Family

David Ross and Sue Bandman have served with dozens of people from Bethel Lutheran in this Baby Shower Ministry for years. They estimate the ministry has helped welcome 75–85 babies over the years—and they’ll tell you quickly that no two visits are ever the same.

For Sue, a retired teacher, those visits often begin on the floor.

She’ll sit with older siblings, pulling books from a carefully collected stash, reading aloud, and helping each child feel noticed in a moment that could easily revolve only around the newborn. It’s intentional—and deeply rooted in her conviction that every child matters.

David, also a retired educator, remembers a visit with a young couple staying in a relative’s home. They had very little, but their joy was unmistakable. Other visits carry a different weight—quiet rooms, parents overwhelmed by job loss, trauma, or uncertainty about what comes next. In each setting, the approach is the same: listen first, love without judgment, and meet people where they are.

One tradition that has grown out of those visits has become especially meaningful: family photos. David noticed early on that many homes had no printed pictures on the walls—memories lived only on phones, if at all. Now, volunteers often offer to take a family portrait during the visit and return later with printed copies. What begins as a photo becomes an invitation to reconnect, to check in, and to continue the relationship.

Prayer is always offered—but never forced. Sometimes families ask for prayer. Sometimes they quietly decline. And sometimes, unexpectedly, they turn the tables and pray for the volunteers.

Reflecting on years of visits, Sue sums it up simply:

“Every child needs to be welcomed into this world.”

Through this ministry, that welcome happens—one home, one family, and one relationship at a time.

When the Church Shows Up

This story isn’t about Love INC running a baby shower program.

It’s about Love INC doing what it exists to do—identifying needs, walking with families, and mobilizing the Church to respond.

Love INC of Lake County serves as the bridge, ensuring families are cared for wisely and relationally. Bethel Church is the hands and feet—organizing volunteers, rallying donors, and stepping into homes with compassion.

This is the Love INC model in action:

• • A need identified
  • A church empowered
  • A community transformed

This is just one example of how the Church shows up in Lake County when it’s needed most—responding not out of obligation, but out of love.

What Gaps Are Waiting to Be Filled?

The Baby Shower Ministry exists because Bethel Church responded to a clear gap in the community—and trusted God enough to step into it. The entire congregation gives wholeheartedly to the needs represented through this ministry.

Every community has gaps like this. Some are obvious. Others quietly surface through phone calls, conversations, and moments of listening.

As you reflect on this story, we invite you to ask:

• • What unmet needs do you see around you?
  • What kind of gap ministry stirs your heart?
  • How might God be inviting you or your church to respond?

When the Church says yes, families are strengthened, lives are changed, and hope takes root—one loving visit at a time.

If you’re interested in supporting or learning more about Gap Ministries through Love INC Lake County, we’d love to connect with you. Together, we can continue filling the gaps with love, In the Name of Christ.

Are You or Someone You Know in Need of Help?

This Baby Shower ministry (along with our other Gap Ministries) is coordinated through Love INC. Please contact our Connection Center at 847-782-8630 or info@loveinclakecounty.org. Volunteers from our partner churches would love to get you connected into this or other local resources to support in this time of need.