We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Lindsey Chatham a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Lindsey, appreciate you joining us today. What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?

In 2022, a small group of passionate individuals began dreaming and praying about starting a nonprofit dedicated to housing pregnant women facing crisis situations. At the time, a director had been appointed, and they were seeking a part-time assistant to support her, a role I was honored to step into.

From the very beginning, we hit the ground running. We began searching for a home that could welcome the women we hoped to serve, spreading the word about our mission, and dreaming of the day our house would be filled with life, hope, and new beginnings.

Just six months in, our director made the difficult decision to relocate across the country to care for her aging parents. The Board of Directors then asked me to step in as Executive Director, right as we were preparing to open our doors to our first residents.

Within just a few weeks, our home was full. We were overjoyed to welcome women and their babies into a safe, nurturing environment. But as the weeks turned into months, it became clear that our initial 12-month program was not enough to create lasting change. These women needed more time, deeper support, and a broader foundation to truly thrive.

I brought this concern to the Board, expressing my belief that if we wanted to make a lifelong, generational impact, we needed to rethink our approach. They agreed and together, we spent the next few months completely redesigning the program from the ground up.

The result is a comprehensive, four-phase program built to support these women not just through crisis, but through true transformation. Our goal is to ensure that when they leave us, they are equipped to live independently, confidently, and never find themselves in the same situation again.

Although there have been many changes and shifts we have had to make as we continue to learn and develop, it is a true honor to walk alongside these women through the highs and lows of entering motherhood.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’ve always had a deep passion for serving others and creating spaces where people feel seen, supported, and empowered. After earning my degree in Christian Ministry from Bible College, I devoted the next several years to staying home to raise my two sons and support my husband in his ministry. As my children grew older and both began school, I started praying and searching for a role where I could combine my passion, skills, and calling to serve others in a meaningful way.

That’s when I learned about a new nonprofit launching in our area, an opportunity that felt like a direct answer to prayer. Before stepping into this role, I had the privilege of serving as the women’s ministry lead at my church. In that position, I was able to walk alongside women, help them grow in their faith, and create a safe environment for them to connect and explore their purpose.

I thrive when I’m able to connect people, foster meaningful relationships, and help women navigate hard but transformational seasons. Supporting others as they do the work to grow, heal, and find purpose is not just something I care about, it’s truly what I feel like I was made to do.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Resilience is essential when working in the world of crisis. There are hard days, unexpected struggles, and relational challenges that can leave you feeling like no two days are ever the same. I’ve had to sit across from residents and have difficult conversations—ones that are never easy but are necessary parts of the work. Hard conversations, tough decisions, and painful moments are part of the rhythm here.

As a recovering people-pleaser, this has been one of the biggest areas of growth for me. I’ve made mistakes, said the wrong thing, made the wrong call, and I’ve had to learn the humility to step back, acknowledge where I missed the mark, and seek forgiveness. Each time, I’ve experienced growth not only in myself but also in my relationships with residents and staff. I’ve learned that modeling accountability, humility, and grace helps teach our residents that they can do the same. It’s a crucial step toward building healthy, meaningful relationships.

One of the most challenging aspects of leadership is making the final call, especially when it’s not a decision someone wants to hear. But I’ve come to understand that sometimes the most healing thing I can offer is simply to keep showing up. Even when a resident lashes out, calls me names, or takes a bad day out on me, I keep showing up. Why? Because many of them have only ever known abandonment. They’re used to people giving up on them, assuming they’re not worth the effort. But when I return day after day, on the good days and the hard ones, it starts to shift something in them. It begins to teach them what real love and commitment look like. It tells them that they are worthy.

In this line of work, weekly crises are the norm. But I’ve learned that when I remain steady and consistent, the crisis often settles more quickly, and what follows is deeper trust and stronger relationships. Being the calm in the chaos is one of the most powerful gifts I can offer in this work.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Because our nonprofit is still in its early stages, adapting and pivoting has been a constant part of the journey. Sometimes the shifts are small, and other times they’ve been major. Personally, I’ve never been someone who enjoys change, but I’ve had to learn that change isn’t always a sign of failure. In fact, it’s often where growth begins.

One of our biggest pivots came just three months into launching, when we made the bold decision to completely scrap our original program structure. It felt risky and a bit overwhelming, but deep down, I knew it was the right move, one that would ultimately set our work apart and create space for true life transformation. We didn’t just rewrite the program; we redefined our mission, clarified our goals, and reshaped the very purpose behind what we were doing.

Looking back, that season was both challenging and uncertain, but it led to the creation of a program I’m deeply proud of. One that is already making a tangible difference in the lives of the women and children we serve.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.villageofhopeaz.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/villageofhopeaz/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088841106430