Lynn Rodgers: Full Circle Moments

Sometimes, God uses our deepest heartaches to lead us toward a purpose we never expected. For Lynn Rodgers, Phil’s Friends’ Addison Hope Center Manager, the journey to serving cancer patients began with the loss of two beloved family members and a desire to offer others the encouragement she wished her loved ones had received.

In 2022, a friend introduced Lynn to Cards for a Cause at the Phil’s Friends Hope Center in Crown Point, Indiana. Having lost her best friend to breast cancer and, more recently, her 27-year-old nephew to myelodysplastic syndrome, a form of blood cancer, the mission immediately resonated with her.

“I didn’t know about Phil’s Friends while my loved ones were going through their treatments,” Lynn said. “I wish I had. But God laid it on my heart to join my friend at the Crown Point Hope Center.”

She began volunteering at Cards for a Cause nights, creating handmade cards and journals to encourage people facing cancer. What started as a volunteer opportunity soon became something much bigger. As she became acquainted with the staff and the organization’s mission, another door opened. At a church event in Orland Park, she connected with Judy Earnshaw, who encouraged her to apply for an open position at Phil’s Friends. Living in Palos Hills, she was centrally located between the organization’s Hope Centers and asked where help was needed most.

She took a leap of faith and stepped into the role of Hope Center Manager in Addison, Illinois.

“The mission! To spread the gospel of Jesus Christ,” Lynn said when asked what made her want to make Phil’s Friends a bigger part of her life.

Today, Lynn’s responsibilities include coordinating volunteers, training Group Leaders, managing inventory, overseeing donations, preparing shipments, and ensuring the Hope Center runs smoothly. From packing Care Packages to organizing off-site events, every detail helps make the ministry possible.

Yet her favorite part is the volunteers themselves.

“They are coming in to serve others and be the hands and feet of Jesus, whether they realize it or not,” she said.

Lynn loves learning each volunteer’s story, discovering their strengths, and finding meaningful ways for them to contribute. Some color Cards of Hope, others count supplies, prepare port pillows, pack Care Packages, or help with shipping. Every task matters.

One experience, however, captures the heart of the ministry. A young boy once arrived at the Hope Center with his mother to volunteer. He had received a Phil’s Friends Care Package when he was younger and had returned to give back. For Lynn, these full-circle moments are powerful reminders that the hope shared today can inspire someone to bring hope to others tomorrow.

As she prepares each Care Package, she pays special attention to the Bible included in every box. She hopes recipients experience encouragement and discover the love of Jesus during one of the hardest journeys of their lives.

Lynn said her faith has grown stronger through her work, as well, particularly when supplies run low or needs seem overwhelming. Time and again, she has witnessed donations arrive and volunteers show up at just the right moment.

“Sometimes I get discouraged because there is a need that we don’t have, and then here He comes—He shows up every time!”

Working at Phil’s Friends has taught her patience and a deeper trust in God’s timing.

For her, a room full of volunteers working together is a beautiful sight, one that fills her with gratitude and awe. Lynn hopes everyone leaves the Hope Center knowing they have made a meaningful difference.

Her message to those considering volunteering is simple: come and give it a try. Whether someone has an hour to color a card or wants to help prepare Care Packages, there is a place for them.

“It takes a village,” she said.

At Phil’s Friends, every volunteer, every donation, and every Care Package becomes part of something greater: a community reminding people facing cancer that they are loved, supported, and never alone.

What does it mean to share the hope of Jesus with cancer patients? “Everything!” she said.

For her, this is more than a job. It is a calling to turn compassion into action, loss into purpose, and everyday acts of service into opportunities to glorify God.