Edgebrook Covenant Church - Covenant Enabling Residences (CER) of Illinois is a ministry devoted to serving individuals with developmental disabilities.  This ministry is both challenging and rewarding. At CER, our goal is “to enable” – to help our residents attain an independent lifestyle.  This is the first step to independence for most of our residents.  Our around-the-clock staff provides the help they need to be successful.  

Our staff, including a registered nurse, encourages residents to seek “individualized independence.”  For many residents, this means doing many of the things most of us normally do every day.  For one resident, it may be doing the laundry, cleaning or cooking.  For another, it could be grocery shopping, using public transportation or working at a nearby packaging company.

One of our current residents, Helen, is a perfect example of an adult who has been helped to realize her potential.  She was extremely shy when she moved into Bjorklund House.  Both of her parents are deaf, so she was very self-conscious about her own voice and barely spoke.  Soon she had gained enough self-confidence to initiate group conversations and join in group activities.

And there is John, who, at first, spent most of his time watching television.  These days, he’s more interested in participating in the Special Olympics – and he has lost 100 pounds!

In 1988 the Covenant Women's Ministries (CWM) of the Evangelical Covenant Church determined there was a need for a home for people with developmental disabilities.  Over the next five years, the (CWM) completed the arduous task of raising money, obtaining the proper licenses, completing working drawings, and selecting the 16 clients from a five-state area that were going to live at Bjorklund House. By January of 1994 the building was ready for clients to move in.  

As you walk into Bjorklund House, you will see a piano and a computer in the inviting living room and large windows that overlook the house’s lush lawn.  The spacious bedrooms reflect the lives of each resident; the little things that make a house a home.  There’s a pile of freshly laundered clothing on one bed, stuffed toys, puzzles, board games and books, books, and more books.  Most important, though, you will see the residents enjoying themselves and each other – it is their time in their home.

Since then, we have added another program, Independence Place. Independence place opened in 1998.  It is a community setting for our higher functioning clients that need less supervision and can do more for themselves. The facility as eight apartments that are completely self-contained with their own bathroom and kitchen.  A live-in staff member is on site 24 hours a day with up to two additional staff members also assigned.  At Independence Place, our mission is to build on the independence already achieved by residents, enabling them to step closer to independence.

Our Board of Directors is overseen by the Covenant Ministries of Benevolence (CMB).  While we do not receive any regular financial assistance from CMB or other Conference churches, we are able to share certain resources that positively impacts our ministry.

As our organization grows, we want to ensure that the individuals we serve have the best services and programs available.

Covenant Enabling Residences of Illinois currently serves 24 very special individuals.  Sixteen of these individuals reside at Bjorklund House and eight of them reside at Independence Place.  Each individual has their own dreams and desires for their lives and we are committed to building the proper foundations for them to continually succeed.  As an organization that is committed to providing quality living experiences, we are working diligently to provide the necessary balance of independence and assistance.

Our need is simple.  There are three areas you can help CER of Illinois continue their ministry for the developmentally disabled:
·  Continual prayer and prayer support for discerning and patient leadership and wisdom in decision making
·  Volunteering time and volunteer support as a Board member, development coordination, and providing Bible studies
·  Financial giving and financial support through one-time gift contributions, regular donors, building project donors

If you are looking for a place to grow spiritually or cultivate new relationships, then you will find CER of Illinois a challenging and rewarding place.  Currently, CER of Illinois is in the process of building an addition to Bjorklund House.  Any extra help would be greatly appreciated.

For more information on CER of Illinois, contact us:
15841 Terrace Drive
Oak Forest, IL  60452
708-687-2038
jschrotenboer@cerofillinois.com
jsmith@cerofillinois.com
www.cerofillinois.com