SUNDAY- JANUARY 15
Rev. Michael Salemink
Rev. Salemink began serving as executive director-elect of Lutherans For Life in August 2015 and became executive director on January 1, 2016. He received a BA in theology from Concordia University Chicago, River Forest, Illinois, in 1999 and a Master of Divinity from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana, in 2003. He has served as pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Webster, Minnesota, (2003-2005) and as associate pastor of St. James Lutheran Church and School in Lafayette, Indiana (2005-2015). Pastor Salemink and his wife, Heather, have been married since 2000 and reside in St. Louis, Missouri, where they attend Immanuel Lutheran Church, Olivette, with their three sons: Christian, Nathan, and Luke.
MONDAY- JANUARY 16
Steven Cholak
Steven grew up in Akron, Ohio as an only child. He attended Concordia University in River Forest, Illinois for college and was an athletic training student in the Exercise Science and Fitness management department. He majored in exercise science and minored in biblical languages (Hebrew and Greek). He learned American Sign Language in the seminary’s Deaf ministry program and worked with Deaf churches in Fort Wayne and Denver, Colorado. Steven did his ministerial internship (vicarage) at Memorial Lutheran Church and School in Houston, Texas. During that yearlong vicarage, Steven met Stephanie Blake, a pre-kindergarten teacher at Memorial Lutheran and began dating. He asked her to marry him in May and they were married once he graduated from seminary the following year. He has served the church as pastor and classical educator in Nebraska, Indiana, Texas, Missouri, and New Mexico. He has served as pastor, pastor to the Deaf, teacher, and headmaster. Stephanie grew up in Houston, Texas as the eldest of three girls. Her father, being in oil, moved the family around a lot. Stephanie lived in Houston, Dallas, and Indonesia before starting college at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. She graduated with a degree in Interior Design. Stephanie was asked to teach preschool at Good Shepherd Learning Center in The Woodlands, Texas after graduation. She loved teaching and returned to SFASU to complete a second degree in early childhood education. Stephanie has taught in a public school on the Lakota Sioux Indian Reservation South Dakota and in classical Lutheran schools in Indiana, Texas, Illinois, and New Mexico.Steven and Stephanie have been married for 18 years. They have always desired to be parents. They have been licensed foster parents in Texas and New Mexico. They have been in adoption situations in New Mexico, Texas, and Michigan. They have one child that they lost to miscarriage. They are strong advocates for adoption and foster care reform. They pray continually for an end to abortion and rejoice in the gifts hat God gives in Christ.
TUESDAY- JANUARY 17
Delores Desemone
Chosen by God to be His daughter. Raised by a pair of loving, Christian parents, with whom I still enjoy life. Most thankful for my husband, Bob, and our 44-years of happy marriage. We have been gifted with five children by means of adoption. Now we celebrate nine grandchildren. Connecting people and relationships is my hobby. Be it with family, birth moms, church and Bible study friends, or Lutherans For Life friends, I thrive on talking about Jesus and how He has richly blessed me. Sharing about our adoption journey and encouraging others navigating theirs is a joy!
WEDNESDAY- JANUARY 18
Deaconness Chrissie Gillet
Chrissie joined Lutherans For Life to serve as the Word of Hope Director in April of 2017. As a military Veteran staff psychologist and certified deaconess, she has an acute understanding of both the secular worldview and a Christ-centered identity. Her vocations as pastor’s wife and mother of seven further motivate her compassion for life. Chrissie oversees the Word of Hope ministry, which includes writing articles, public speaking along with her service dog, Phoebe, and responding to hotline calls and emails. She listens without personal judgment while responding in Christian truth and love. Through Word of Hope, Chrissie connects those she serves with pastors, local services, and natural supports; her two favorite roles are networking with other life-affirming organizations and participating in the spiritual care of people who are broken-hearted by life issues.
