You’re invited to join us at Christ United Methodist Church on April 22nd, when special guests Pat Van Doren, Diane D. Nilan, Laura Franz, and Dr. Paula Yensen will be joining Pastor Ron Greene for a panel discussion sermon: “A Home in the Beloved Community” during our 10am worship service.
Pat Van Doren long-time champion for the homeless, past photojournalist for the Naperville Sun, and award-winning children’s book author of Where Can I Build My Volcano which was published in 1998 and, in 2006 was awarded the 2006 Outstanding Media by the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth [NAEHCY]. Pat is now scripting this book for a dramatic presentation 
Diane Nilan is President and Founder of Hear Us Inc. (giving voice and visibility for homeless children and youth), with over 3 decades of experience running transitional living services, advocating for improved state and federal policies; and filming and producing award-winning documentaries. Since 2005, she has lived in a small motorhome and traveled over 300,000 miles of mostly backroads across all of the lower 48 states chronicling non-urban family/youth homelessness 
Laura Franz, Executive Director of TLS (Transitional Living Services) for Veterans, McHenry. TLS has served veterans for 22 years with a variety of programs for the different aspects of homelessness, and has a residential site in Hebron, IL: New Horizons, providing short-term housing to veterans in a former motel. Counseling & employment services are provided at a drop-in center in McHenry. TLS is Christ U.M.C.’s current Mission focus during the month of April.
Dr. Paula Yensen, McHenry County Mental Health Board (the Board provides funding to Home of the Sparrow, Turning Point, TLS Veterans, and other nonprofits); Ph.D. from the College of Education and minors in Urban Affairs Programs and Family Child Science–Dissertation focused on empowerment theory at a shelter for battered women; Member LITH Rotary, Grafton Food Pantry Board, and Environmental Defenders of McHenry County.