Kansas City Maternity Services Adoption Services

Don’t miss out on this wonderful opportunity to shop for a good cause!

Come to a Garage Sale being put on by a group of nurses from the Intensive Care Nursery at Children’s Mercy Hospital to benefit the life-saving work of the Light House of Kansas City.

WHEN: Saturday, June 5th 2010 at 8am

WHERE: Wornall Road Baptist Church parking lot at 400 W Meyer., KC MO (corner of Meyer and Wornall in Brookside)

For more information about this event, or to donate items for the sale, please contact Jennifer Leeper at 816-361-2233 x216.

All proceeds from this sale will directly benefit Light House clients.

Click to download a Garage Sale Flyer to post at your church or pass out to your friends!

IT’S ALMOST HERE… Walk for Life 2010

Click HERE to see more information about how you can join us as we Walk for Life on Saturday, May 15th!

“[We] want to take this opportunity to let you know how much we appreciate all that the Light House has done for ‘Mary’ and us. 

“Mary’s story began two weeks before her 18th birthday. She had been working at her first job at Taco Bell and had started a relationship with her 29-year-old boss. Later, on her 18th birthday, she dropped out of high school and again moved in with this man. 

“During the course of the next three months she became pregnant and realized her mistakes. When she begged to move home, we refused. In the period she was gone we had connected with a parent support group at our church. That organization along with the Light House helped us deal with her situation. We gave Mary a choice… find a friend to move in with or call the Light House. She briefly moved in with friends and soon realized she needed serious support. 

“When Mary was in 2nd or 3rd grade, we as a family volunteered at the Benedictine location of the Light House to remodel a room. We knew that it was a loving, caring place and it’s staff was the best. Mary was accepted and moved in; she was enrolled in high school and Medicaid, and was given counseling and much information and education about her impending pregnancy. It was difficult for her to be there for such a long time but she grew as a person, from child to adult. Mary had chosen adoption from the very beginning; no one forced her to make that decision. Being adopted herself, she had grown to understand what adoption can mean to all parties involved.  With the help of the Light House, Mary picked a family for her child and has had no regrets.  

“We let Mary move back into our home. She will start Junior College in the spring, she’s looking for a job and will be buying a car. She is back dating her 18 year old boyfriend and planning a future. None of this would have been possible without the love and help of the Light House staff. My wife and I feel that we have our daughter back; she’s more respectful, helpful and kind. I asked Mary what she learned from the Light House, and she said it has helped her be a better person.  Again, many thanks to all of you.”

“I am a mother of a child who gave birth and chose adoption. Or should I say I am a mother whose baby had a baby. That is the only thing that went through my mind for a long time… that MY baby was going to have a baby. How could this be? She was fifteen [when] she gave birth. 

“Choosing adoption may be the ‘responsible’ decision to make, but that doesn’t make it an easy decision to make. It wasn’t a question of, ‘Could my daughter be a good mother?’ I knew she could. But, it was a question of, ‘Is it the best time for my daughter to be a mother?’ But, after all we have been through, I can honestly tell you now that I rest each night without guilt, worry or anxiety. I am actually at complete peace. With God’s help of course. 

“One of the most promising things that God showed me was that we were not losing a baby, but rather we were gaining an entire family. I know that some day we will not only be reunited with our grandchild, but also with her entire adoptive family who loves her just as much as we do. God has just chosen them to be a sort of permanent babysitter for us until the timing is right for our daughter and her daughter to meet. I cannot say enough about how much I love our adoptive family we chose. They are precious to our family; not just to my daughter, but to our entire family. We really bonded with them.  

“There is a HAPPY ending to all of this. It has only been four months since the adoption, but I can say that we made it through ok and we are moving forward.  My daughter is back to herself again. She is moving forward with school and sports and regaining her social life that she abandoned. I truly think we are moving on to the ‘better place’ we focused on during the entire process.”

“I enjoyed staying at the Light House. It was a great experience where they taught me how to be a great mother.

 ”One of the things I enjoyed most was the College Coaches. If not for [them] I would never have dreamed of a college career. They helped me with financial aid and class selection and all the issues related to going to college. I know that my college degree will change my life forever. 

“Now for the big news! My baby was a real Light House baby. You see, my baby was not born at the hospital like the other thousands of Light House babies. No, my baby was born AT the Light House! 

“After a trip to the hospital and careful monitoring by health care professionals, I was instructed to return to the Light House for the evening. Later that night, my baby chose to be born, and to be born very quickly! 

“I cried out for help and in seconds the trained Light House staff was right there with me, helping me and calling 911. Within minutes, before the ambulance arrived, my little baby came into the world. 

“My baby and I are just fine! I have no idea what might have happened to me and my baby if I had not been at the Light House. I can’t imagine what would have happened if the Light House staff weren’t seconds away when I needed them. 

“Thanks to your support of the Light House I had a place to live, and my baby was born safe and healthy! So you see, my baby is a real Light House baby! 

“Please continue to support the Light House so young moms like me can always have a safe place to live when they need it most.”

Another Life Being Impacted by God Through the Light House
Barb’s Story

“Have you ever dreaded something with all your being to learn that it was one of the best things you could have ever done? I felt that in full force during my experience with The Light House. If asked now, I would say my time at The Light House impacted me greatly. However, when I first came to the maternity home at 17 years old, things were a little rough. I didn’t want to be at the house. I spent many of my first days crying and kept to myself. Within two to three weeks, I got into trouble, which made me not want to be there even more. I just wanted to be home so I refused to participate—I was not going to give in.

“All the other girls kept telling me that things would get better so I finally decided to stop being mad and just have fun. Within a few days, I began to see changes in myself. I began to see how much the staff and the other girls really cared about me so I let my guard down a bit and began to participate in the daily devotions and prayer time. I enjoyed it. I began to make friends and worked with my therapist, Nicole, to help me with the issues I was dealing with. In time, I met many of my goals, including getting a job. I had a great job which I really liked.

“In addition to my job, the Light House helped me find a great doctor. He was the same doctor that so many other Light House mom’s used and that made me feel comfortable. I really liked him and liked that I was getting such great care—both for myself and my baby.

“When my baby was born, I was so overjoyed to know that I had a healthy baby. Even now that my baby is born, I still attend the Outreach Program at The Light House. Because I met the goals Nicole and I laid out for me, I was able to return home and  I continue to grow as a person and as a mother. I recommend The Light House to others I know who may need a place that provides unconditional love and support during their pregnancy.”

-Barb, age 17

Due to the assistance she received through the College Coach program, Barb received a full-ride scholarship to Avila University. She began classes in the fall of 2009; despite a tough courseload, she finished with a 3.8 GPA! Barb was also gifted a car to drive to and from work and school, thanks to one of our generous donors.

The following is yet another story of lives changed through an experience at the Light House. The best part is that there were THREE lives changed - a beautiful young woman, her loving mother… and this young woman’s baby, who was welcomed into a wonderful adoptive family.

Andrea’s Story
“My experience at the Light House has been life-changing.  I’ve learned to love myself but most importantly, I’ve learned to love God.  Being here helps you to respect yourself as well as others.  Also learning to get along with different people that have different personalities.  I have learned how to appreciate my home and my family.  I think God put me here for a reason and put these wonderful people in my life for a reason.

“I missed home a lot and thought I was alone until I finally realized that God was here with me all along.  It just took me some time to realize it.  I’m thankful for having a chance to be here and meet all the new people.  If I have learned anything valuable at all, it’s to love God and have faith in all things are possible through Christ.”

Andrea’s Mom’s Story
“To me, The Light House is exactly what the names reads: the light.

“When I found out that my sixteen-year-old daughter was pregnant by a boy that I had forbidden her to see, a shadow of darkness fell upon my life.  I prayed day in and day out for an answer on what to do about my situation.  Being a single, ill parent, I could not support two children and a grandchild.  So the thought of adoption (for my grandchild) and an all-Christian, girls’ home (for my daughter) came to mind; actually I know that God put it on my mind.  I went on the internet and searched for a place like this.  I did research on several homes before deciding on The Light House.

“I called and spoke with representatives of The Light House.  After talking to them, I knew this was the place.  The staff was and still is a group of very friendly, Christian people.  They let me take my time on deciding what to do.  They did not try to force anything upon me.  I hate to imagine what would have happened to me or my child if I had not found them.  This was to be a learning process for my daughter, but they helped me also.  They were always there for me.  I now believe that I have a transformed child.  I wish this on no family (single or two-parented), but should it happen to you, please try The Light House. Along with God, they put the light back into my house.  I owe them my life.”

Did you know that Missouri has a special Tax Credit for Maternity Homes?
If you have Missouri income, you may be able to get back 50% of your qualified donation to the Light House, AND still deduct the donation from both your state and federal taxes. Call us for more information at 816-361-2233 x208.

Just a reminder: To count as a qualified donation for your 2009 tax return, your donation must be postmarked by December 31, 2009. You may also donate right here on our website, or call us to make a credit card donation over the phone!

December 2009

Dear Friends,

“Hi! I’m the Delivery Boy.” How often have I responded this way to people when they ask what I do at the Light House. But, that is exactly what I have done for the last 25 years. Wow! TWENTY-FIVE years!

Because of donors like you, I have had the privilege of delivering the babies of mothers who were desperate and considering abortion as their only option. It is still a thrill after all these years to be involved in God’s plan. Since that first baby miraculously arrived on July 2nd, 1985, more than 1,200 young women have discovered the Light House despite the odds against this discovery. Like many other women in the same situation, the mother of the first Light House baby was referred to an abortionist by her own doctor before she found the Light House.

Because of you, young women find compassion and hope at the Light House at a critical juncture in their lives. They are provided for materially, emotionally, and more importantly they are offered spiritual nourishment. Your support has delivered young women from as far away as Brazil and as close as the apartment next door to the Light House. Some are already homeless or on the verge of homelessness. Their vulnerability is embaced by Godly house parents, counselors, nurses, administrative persons, and hundreds of volunteers and supporters like you.

Because of you, young women have chosen to place their babies in Godly, Christian homes through adoption. Others have chosen to take the lifelong journey with their babies and learned important life skills that emphasized parenting through the Light House program. Meeting some of those mothers and babies, some of whom are fully grown, has been a special privilege for me. It is more than gratifying to hear about the life-altering experiences of these young women, who experience the love of their neighbor and God, sometimes for the first time, because of you, our generous donor.

What does the future hold for the Light House? Another 25 years of the Holy Spirit working through this ministry to benefit desperate young women? I certainly hope this is the case. Because of you, I know that I can continue to work to relieve the societal wound. I can only do so much, though. I need your support as I continue to bring new life into the world. Without you, my hands can only do what two hands can do. Please consider a gift of $25, $50, $100, or even more if you are capable. The need is great. Please ask God to guide you in your decision to continue your support of young women and their babies. I am only a “delivery boy,” but I am honored to deliver this message to you and hope you will renew your support of the cause of LIFE!

Please send a gift today. Your help is needed!

In Christ’s Love for Young Women and Babies,

Donald E. Philgreen, MD
“The Delivery Boy”

Just a few reminders about year-end giving…

The New Year is just around the corner! As you begin to think about year-end giving, we pray you will remember the Light House.

We rely completely on support from people just like you!

Here are a few ways you can donate:

Online. Click on the pink icon up at the top right corner that says “Click here to make a secure online donation.” You can donate this way 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! You can even save your credit/debit card information and set up recurring (i.e. monthly, etc.) donations. Easy!

Mail in a check. Our mailing address is: PO Box 22553, KC MO 64113. Just make sure your donation is postmarked by December 31st, 2009, for it to count towards 2009 giving.

Call us. We can process credit card donations from our office, too. Call Stacey Stark at 816-361-2233 x208.

Did you know that if you have a Missouri tax liability, your donation may be eligible for a tax credit equal to 50% of your donation? Call us for more information, and learn how you can make your charitable dollars go even further!

“Emily’s Story,” in her own words.

Hi my name is “Emily” and I have had two kids born within the past two years that I chose to be adopted. Through all my pain and heartache I never did get an abortion… I give them to the people who need them the most.

The Light House helps you find out what you can do for your family and yourself. It is a place that does not put on anything that you could not bear. They actually work with you to help you find that right family for your baby. The first time I was there I gave my son to this family who has many different racial cultures. I didn’t want my son to be the only child; I wanted him to have brothers and sisters so that he won’t grow up by himself. I was going through the toughest time possible but feel confident that he is in the perfect family.

Just recently I had a baby girl… her biological father wanted me to get an abortion. I never did and he kept asking me,  “ Did you get rid of that baby?” I never did reply. This time when I went to the hospital I wanted nothing but to give her to the Light House because I knew that she would be safe in their arms. My little girl was adopted to a family that couldn’t have any kids and wanted a baby more than ever. I wanted them (to have her). I just had the feeling that they were the right (parents).

When I was pregnant with my daughter I had gotten in to a car accident and damaged my car so I had to start all over. That was stressful. Now I have a new car, I recently started a new job. All that I prayed for has come true and I’m happy.

All-in-all, with prayer anything can happen. The more you stay close to God, the more God will continue to bless you unconditionally.  God never puts anything on you that you can’t bear and I can say…

THANK YOU JESUS FOR WHAT YOU HAVE GIVEN ME.