Lifting Up Single Mothers: Inside New Beginnings with Ruth Westphal

The Life Challenges Podcast

Stepping through the doors of New Beginnings, single mothers find more than just shelter—they discover family. Case Manager Ruth Westfall shares her passionate journey of guiding these women from survival mode to stability through a comprehensive five-year program designed to break cycles of generational poverty.
"Every single girl is a success," Ruth explains, describing how each resident receives God's Word regardless of how long they stay. With daily devotions, weekly church attendance, and constant conversations about grace and forgiveness, faith forms the foundation of a program that transforms lives through six essential pillars: faith, parenting skills, education, vocation, personal development, and social skills.
The challenges are immense. Most residents arrive having never experienced trustworthy relationships, sleeping on floors with cockroaches crawling over them while pregnant, and developing survival mechanisms that initially make building trust difficult. Yet through patience, structure, and genuine love, Ruth and her team help these women recalibrate their lives. "These things that they have grown up with for years don't take just days," she notes. "It's years to break those cycles."
Success stories abound—graduates finding well-paying careers in IT, welding, and cybersecurity. But perhaps the most touching transformation is when a resident who initially responds with skepticism to expressions of love eventually whispers back "I love you too." These relationships continue even after residents leave, providing the supportive family many never had.
New Beginnings now hopes to expand their impact through their Heart Campaign, raising funds for a new facility that will allow them to serve mothers with multiple children. Learn how you can help break the cycle of generational poverty and give these families a fresh start at homeformothers.com.

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Find strength and courage in your faith at this year’s FEARLESS FAITH Conference. Inspired by Joshua 1:9, “Be strong and courageous,” join us Saturday, September 13, at Kettle Moraine Lutheran High School in Jackson, Wisconsin, for presentations on navigating life’s storms, understanding God’s peace, and engaging in crucial conversations about euthanasia, anorexia, abortion, prenatal genetic testing, and more. Hear powerful journeys of faith through loss and hope. Don’t miss this empowering event! $50 in person or $40 virtual. Register now: https://christianliferesources.com/resources/events/2025-conference/

פרקים

1. Ruth's Journey to New Beginnings (00:00:00)

2. What is New Beginnings? (00:07:30)

3. [Ad] The Balance of Gray (00:09:36)

4. (Cont.) What is New Beginnings? (00:10:23)

5. Building Trust and Showing Love (00:12:16)

6. The Six Pillars Program (00:19:26)

7. Taking Them Where They're At (00:28:56)

8. Heart Campaign: Building the Future (00:36:26)