In Sympathy: Lynn Everitt Longenbaugh
Rev. Dr. Lynn Everitt Longenbaugh, a retired member of Northern Illinois Conference, passed away on June 6, 2024.
After 34 years as ChildServ, the Chicago-based child welfare agency officially announced that it has changed its name and visual identity to Kids Above All. The transition, which took effect on June 15, 2020, marked the fifth time it has rebranded. “Kids Above All is a statement of priority and principle. It’s a defiant and powerful call-to-action, challenging every member of the community to place the safety, well-being, and education of all kids above everything else,” said Kids Above All President and CEO Dan Kotowski.
Kids Above All was founded in 1894 as the Methodist Deaconess Orphanage, in Lake Bluff, Illinois. Throughout its history, the organization’s strong mission partnership with the Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church and its congregations has helped to improve the lives of more than 145,000 kids and families. Last year, 34 churches contributed and volunteered during Kids Above All’s annual Back to School Backpack and Holiday Gift drives.
To learn more and connect with Kids Above All, visit www.KidsAboveAll.org or contact Manager of Faith and Community Relations Catherine Inserra, Deaconess, at cinserra@kidsaboveall.org or 847.224.2870.
Rev. Dr. Lynn Everitt Longenbaugh, a retired member of Northern Illinois Conference, passed away on June 6, 2024.
Rev. Dennis M. Oglesby Jr., a member of the Northern Illinois Conference, passed away on Sunday, June 16, 2024.
Rev. Cheryl Weaver, Wisconsin Conference’s benefits officer, will also serve Northern Illinois Conference in this capacity, beginning June 1.
Rev. Philip A. Bergstrom, a retired member of the Northern Illinois Conference, passed away on April 17, 2024.