CHICAGO, IL (March 18, 2011) – Swedish Covenant Hospital has the highest rate of new mothers who breastfeed than any other hospital in the Chicago area, according to a report released by the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Experts believe breastfeeding helps children and mothers avoid chronic diseases.

Ninety-eight percent of the mothers who deliver at Swedish Covenant breastfeed their infants, the report says. A wide disparity exists among the hospitals that were surveyed across seven counties. Three hospitals got fewer than 15 percent of newborns to breastfeed by the time they went home.

Mothers at hospitals that succeed in promoting the practice generally begin breastfeeding within an hour following birth. Swedish Covenant offers support groups as part of its overall program.

“They give the infant only breast milk in the hospital, no bottles of formula or sugar water,” Rachel Abramson, executive director of Chicago-based HealthConnect One, told a local radio station. “They do not give pacifiers. And they give no gift packs – formula samples – to the mothers when they leave the hospital.”

Swedish Covenant Hospital is operated by the Covenant Board of Benevolence on behalf of the Evangelical Covenant Church. The board also operates Emanuel Medical Center in Turlock, California.

Two New Churches Open in California

CONCORD, CA – The Pacific Southwest Conference celebrated significant milestones involving two new churches in California.

Grace Hills Bible Church, the newest church started in the conference, officially started March 1 in Angels Camp.

About 70 people attend the church, which grew out of a Bible study begun in the summer of 2010. Dusty Bach is the church planting pastor.

Real Life Covenant Church in Norwalk held its grand opening service in February. About 120 people attended the service.

Eddie Ledesma is the church planter of this intentionally multiethnic church that conducts bilingual (Spanish/English) services.

Church Plant a Boon to Basketball Team

CRETE, IL – Lisa Orris’ decision to start an intentionally multicultural Evangelical Covenant Church congregation may have played a significant role in helping Crete-Monee High School win the first sectional boys basketball championship in school history.

When the family moved from the northwest Chicago suburb of Palatine to start Southland Covenant Church south of the city in Crete, her son, Michael, transferred to Crete-Monee (25-3) and became the school’s star guard. His talents have attracted the attention of numerous Division I programs that are giving him a look.

“He’s our glue, our stability,” Crete-Monee first-year head coach Matt Ryndak told the Chicago Sun-Times this week. “He’s selfless and he’s a leader. He makes everyone around him better. He has a knack of knowing who needs the ball, when they need the ball and where they need the ball.”

Michael told the newspaper that he would not be playing for the Warriors had it not been for his parents’ decision to move. “It was tough to leave Palatine. But coming here has been like a dream. The dominoes fell into place.”

Ryndak is glad the church is starting up. “Absolutely, I was happy they decided to come here,” he said. “It was a big family decision. They wanted to start a multicultural church. It all fit together.”

Lisa Orris left her position as director of evangelism for the denomination last year to start the church.