Swedish Hospital recently unveiled its new History Display, a comprehensive visual narrative timeline that traces the hospital’s journey from its humble beginnings as a Home of Mercy in 1886 to its current role as part of Endeavor Health. The unveiling ceremony brought together Covenanters, hospital staff, community members, board members, and donors to celebrate the milestone.
The evening began with a welcome from Eric Hillabrant, Covenant minister and director of Swedish Hospital pastoral care, followed by an invocation from retired Covenant pastor Art Nelson, emeritus trustee of the hospital, who spent much of his childhood on the hospital’s campus while his father served as an administrator there. The gathering represented what Jonathan Lind, president of Swedish Hospital and member of Edgebrook Covenant Church, described as “a beautiful tapestry of our shared history.”
A Story Rooted in Compassion
The year after Swedish immigrants gathered in Chicago to found what would become the Evangelical Covenant Church, delegates to the second annual meeting voted to start The Home of Mercy. With funds raised through door-to-door appeals, Covenant churches, and individual donors, a three-acre site was purchased for $5,500 at the corner of Foster and California in Chicago. The property included a small frame house, a two-story brick house, and a barn, surrounded by farmland and fields. The Home of Mercy opened its doors on April 1, 1886, serving as a combination orphanage, home for the elderly, and hospital.
While the Home’s early residents were Swedish, a policy soon stated that “admissions will give no heed to nationality.” From its earliest days, the institution demonstrated its commitment to serve all who needed care. The Home’s 1898 annual report noted that 105 of 114 residents were unable to pay for their care—a principle that remains central to the hospital’s mission today.
Preserving the Legacy
The History Display project was made possible through funding from the Swedish Hospital Foundation and the hospital’s board. Marit Johnson Awes, director of operations and administration for Covenant Ministries of Benevolence, worked closely with Janis Anderson Rueping, whose work as vice president of quality improvement and risk management at Swedish Hospital helped to shape the hospital’s identity and “whose passion for preserving our story is the reason we have this wall today,” Lind said.
In her remarks, Johnson Awes acknowledged the crucial contributions of archivist Andy Meyer, who provided helpful information, shared relevant donations, and even came to the hospital to sift through boxes of historical files. She recognized the Commission on Covenant History, which was established by the denomination in 1935. “Their foresight provided us a rich library of resources to pull from when conducting our research for this wall,” she noted, expressing gratitude to commission members for their fact-checking, proofreading, and enthusiasm for the project.
A Testament to Partnership
Speaking to the gathering, Jonathan Lind emphasized the significance of the hospital’s evolution and its partnership with Endeavor Health. He recognized several key figures in the hospital’s ongoing story, including Kurt Anderson, chair of the hospital board and member of Naperville (Illinois) Covenant Church, and JP Gallagher, president of Endeavor Health.
Lind shared a pivotal story from the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic: “I vividly remember a phone call in the early spring of 2020. We were on the line with JP, facing unimaginable uncertainty for our employees and our community, with no end in sight. And in that moment, JP said, ‘Don’t worry about the cost. You focus on the mission, your team, and keep them whole.’”
That commitment, which cost tens of millions of dollars, enabled Swedish to become one of the highest-volume COVID hospitals in the city. “When it mattered most, JP and the Endeavor system stepped in and said that this story, this mission, was not finished, and they ensured it would not only continue but thrive,” Lind reflected.
Continuing the Mission
In early 2020, Covenant Ministries of Benevolence acknowledged the changing financial realities for hospitals and entered into an agreement with NorthShore University HealthSystem to acquire Swedish Hospital. After a merger, NorthShore was renamed Endeavor Health in 2023.
In the midst of his presentation, Lind added, “A word to my Covenant friends: You may be wondering if this is still our story. My answer is a resounding yes. In my opinion, the ministry of this place was never about the name on the door. It has always been about the good work happening inside—work we are blessed to be a part of.”
And the work continues. Lind announced that the State of Illinois, through the Capital Development Board, has awarded Swedish Hospital a $7 million grant to expand behavioral health services and transform the former Immanuel Covenant Church across Foster Avenue into a new community center. This center will house mission-driven programs under the CARE initiative, including Food Connections and Pathways, which provides support for survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking, as well as a partnership with North Park University’s school of nursing and health management.
While celebrating this milestone, Lind acknowledged that a $1 million funding gap remains for the project. He announced that Covenant Ministries of Benevolence has stepped forward with a leadership gift of $250,000 toward the creation of the community center, with representatives Todd Slechta, Scott Hanson, in addition to Marit Johnson Awes, present at the unveiling.
The History Display is more than a record of the past. Lind concluded, “This wall behind me tells our story. It’s a story of hope, healing, faithfulness, and mercy. But these images are not just artifacts of the past. They are an inspiration. They are here to remind us that, like our predecessors, when we see an opportunity, we can act. When we see pain, we can respond with compassion.”
