ELIZA LABELLE
Executive Director, Kindred Life Ministries
Eliza joined the Kindred Life family in 2019 serving as the Gurnee Program Director. She is passionate about walking with and equipping young parents and helping them connect their story to the redeeming work of God in their lives. She is a team builder and believes that together we can help set teen parents up for future success by increasing the high school graduation rate, providing important life skills and introducing them to Jesus along the way.
Eliza’s home church is The Chapel Libertyville, where she served on staff over a decade leading teams in Chapel Kids, serving as Executive Assistant to the Campus Pastor and Director of Campus Communication and Integration. She holds a B.A. in Communication from the University of Illinois, Chicago.
Eliza and her husband have three children. She loves spending time with her family and enjoys traveling, biking, reading, and a good cup of coffee.
A Note from Our Executive Director
We would love you to meet the amazing, behind-the-scenes staff that supports our direct-service team. They are made up of passionate, talented and mission-minded individuals who propel our ministry forward, and allow each of our young families to thrive.
NIKKI BEHLER
Business Manager
Meet Nikki
Nikki has been with Kindred Life Ministries since December 2016. She enjoys being able to bring her passion and gift for administration to this ministry in her position as Office Manager. Before she joined Kindred Life, she had been aware of the ministry for a few years through enjoying the Chili Cook-off event at her church and contributing via the Sippy Cup campaign.
Nikki has enjoyed a varied career life which includes scientific research, teaching, IT management and administration. She holds a BSc in Zoology and a PhD in Marine Biology. She spent much of her life in her native England, moving to the states 20 years ago. She is married to Gary and mother to daughter Laurel. Nikki and her family attend Gurnee Community Church, where she is also the Director of Administration. In her spare time she enjoys photography, nature, hiking, knitting, genealogy and baking.
DIANA SANDRU
Development Director
Meet Diana
Diana joined Kindred Life Ministries in 2020. She has a servant’s heart for youth and young adults and spent many years working at a Bible camp in Wisconsin where she mentored Chicago’s at-risk youth and shared the love of Jesus with them. She also served with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship in college and taught Sunday School at church.
Diana holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Marquette University where she studied Marketing and International Business. She also studied International Relations at the Strasbourg Business School in France. She has spent more than 15 years in financial services with a focus on marketing and wealth management.
Diana enjoys spending time with her family and has traveled to more than 20 countries.
ANNE SOPIARZ
Client Services Director
Kindred Life Ministries – Main Office
Meet Anne
Anne has a passion for seeing families grow closer to each other and deeper in their faith as they journey together. She has worked in various roles in the church for 17 years and has a master’s degree in Family Ministry from Bethel Seminary. She holds a degree in Professional Coaching from the Professional Christian Coaching Institute which is through the International Coach Federation. Anne lives in the Chicagoland suburbs with her husband, Chris, and their three daughters. For fun, Anne loves to be with friends, be outside, run, play tennis, cook healthy meals, sing, read, and drink coffee.
KIMBERLY LURVEY
Supervising Counselor
Meet Kim
Kindred Life Ministries – Antioch
Meet the Antioch Area Group
We are friendly, funny, easy going, and loving. Mostly we are passionate about supporting each other and being the awesome moms and women God created us to be!
Join other teen moms and their children, each Tuesday during the school year from 6:00pm-8:00pm, as we grow together and work towards accomplishing our educational, emotional, and practical goals! Belonging to Kindred Life Antioch means you’ll have access to free services which can include counseling, financial support and life education!
Let us help support you to finish school, navigate family and community resources and meet some other terrific moms!
Howard Polirer
Teen Dad Program Director
Kindred Life Ministries – Antioch
Meet Howard
Howard joined Kindred Life as the Program Director for our Teen Dad Ministry after a successful career as a high school teacher, motivator, trainer and corporate spokesperson for a large privately held automotive marketing company.
After retiring from the corporate environment in 2018 he enrolled in Trinity Evangelical Divinity Seminary and received his MA in Educational Ministry with a focus on Intergenerational Ministry. He believes that we must not only teach our younger generations about our Lord Jesus Christ, but that we older Christians can learn so much from the younger generation also; “We will not hide from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might and the wonders he has done.” Psalm 78:4.
Howard mentors a group of young men at The Chapel in Libertyville where he and his wife Meredith attend. He also works with the leadership at River Ridge Church in Spring Grove Illinois, organizing their mentoring program. Howard has two 20-something daughters, Mandi and Molly and a son Fred, who with his wife Jen has blessed them with twin 5 year old grandsons, Jacob and Jackson who live in New York.
Howard enjoys the outdoors, especially the beach, gardening, golf and in general enjoys all the glories of God’s creation. He is a real foodie and thought he might become a professional chef at one point in his life but now just enjoys cooking for friends and family. He and Meredith live in Lindenhurst, Illinois.
Kindred Life Ministries – Gurnee
Meet the Gurnee Area Group
Kindred Life Gurnee is a safe place where teen parents feel empowered through opportunities to develop as individuals and parents in a friendly and supportive environment. Our compassionate staff and dedicated volunteers come along side young families as they create and accomplish their personal goals towards independence and self-sufficiency. Enrolling in Kindred Life Gurnee means you’ll have access to free services which can include counseling, financial support, and life education! Join other teen parents and their children each Thursday during the school year from 6:00pm-8:00pm if you’re seeking a fun place to belong.
Melissa Hall
Gurnee Area Site Director
Kindred Life Ministries - Gurnee
Meet Melissa
Melissa specializes in implementing purpose driven programs, seamlessly bringing multiple generations plus resources together, and fundraising.
Kasia Freeman
Professional Counselor
Meet Kasia
Coming soon!
Kindred Life Ministries – Wheeling
Kindred Life Wheeling is a fun, encouraging, and supportive place to be! Join other teen moms and their children, each Wednesday during the school year from 6:00pm-8:00pm, as we grow together and work towards accomplishing our educational, emotional, and practical goals!
Belonging to Kindred Life Wheeling means you’ll have access to free services which can include counseling, financial support, and life education! Are you a teen parent interested in joining us? If so call or text our Program Director at 224-280-8286 for more information, don’t wait!
Christina Greer
Wheeling Area Site Director
Meet Christina
Christina has a background in teaching, counseling and Human Resources. She received her MA in Teaching from George Fox University after completing her student teaching in Ecuador and with the Migrant Summer School. Christina has served as a counselor with Care Pregnancy Center. While there, she and her husband Tony welcomed homeless teen mothers to live with them as a Shepherding Home. She continued her training at Western Seminary where she received a Graduate Diploma in Biblical studies with an emphasis in counseling. Afterwards she served as a counselor with Good Samaritan Ministries.
Christina loves an adventure and has led two tours to Israel. She loves to hike, raft and sea kayak wilderness areas with her husband. Her greatest passion though, is helping others to discover their great worth and to experience the love of God in Jesus Christ.
PAIGE NEUHAUS
Professional Counselor
Kindred Life Ministries - Wheeling
Meet Paige
Board of Directors
Kindred Life is immensely grateful for the thoughtful guidance, wisdom, and caring commitment of our trusted Board of Directors.
Gail Leiber
Board Chair
RoseMary Cairo
Board Member
Candice Lovett
Board Secretary
Mona Boelens, MPA
Honorary Board Member