Life Experiences Birth the Vision

 Rachel and Paul met while attending college in New Hampshire. Country Maine boy falls for New York City girl, and the rest is history. It was there that Paul began serving at a local church, and Rachel first met Jesus as her Lord and Savior. In 1992 they tied the knot and began their life of service together in Lewiston, Maine. Rachel and Paul raised three beautiful children, with love for the Lord, service to others, and an appreciation for God’s beautiful creation. Family time was always a priority. Whether in camping trips, beach days, game board nights, or school concerts. For Rachel and Paul, involvement in Life House is the culmination of their life experiences. Serving their community, advocating for children, and fighting for healthy homes and marriages. We are excited and feel extremely blessed to part of what God is doing here in

 mid-coast Maine. 

Rich and Cheryl first met in Brunswick Maine in the spring of 1991. Cheryl was a single mom of a four year old boy 

and working in home health care and hospice care. Rich was a diesel mechanic and leading a bible study for his local church when Cheryl visited that meeting. It did not take long for Cheryl and Rich to realize that their meeting was by God for them to share a life together as one. They were married the following summer and have been serving in that same church where they first met ever since. Rich soon adopted Cheryl's son as his own and together they had three more children before bringing another into their home through foster care; filling their home with God, love, laughter and a lot of noise. They loved camping as a family and spending time with family and friends. Cheryl has a great love for people of all ages and particularly has a tender heart for single moms; knowing the struggles she had been through herself. God placed a great desire in her to one day have a home for single moms. With their 5 kids now grown and 5 grandkids added to the family the time has come to step into that calling. The long held dream is now becoming a reality. It is a blessing, a privilege and an honor to serve God and His people by offering Hope and the Love of Jesus to all who will pass through Life House.

Mary Rose Pray experienced an "unexpected pregnancy" between her sophomore and junior year of college while working the summer at Glacier National Park in Montana. As she says, "It changed her life!" Mary Rose and her boyfriend, John Pray, married in Glacier National Park on December 8, 1973, and welcomed their daughter Amy who was born in 1974. They moved to Maine in the spring of 1975 where they raised their five children and welcomed 14 grandchildren before John passed from this life to his eternal home in 2021.

Before John's death, they both were involved in pro-life ministry. Amy's birth blessed their lives beyond measure and gave them a heart for other mothers and fathers facing the same situation. Mary Rose now serves as Executive Director of Care Net of Mid-Coast Maine, the local pregnancy center in Brunswick. Before his death, John did maintenance work at the center. Working with single mothers who were homeless brought home the need for a maternity home in the mid-coast area. Mary Rose and John were both  members of the steering committee that helped birth Life House Maine. Mary Rose continues to serve on the board and volunteers at Life House providing parenting classes through Care Net of Mid-Coast Maine. 

David and Jodi Swasey were married in 2021 and made their home in Oxford, where they have raised two daughters and faithfully served their church in a variety of ministries. David has long been involved with the church finance team, while Jodi has invested in children and families through Sunday School, AWANA, Vacation Bible School, and the praise team. For many years, they also opened their home to foster animals through their local animal shelter, many of whom became permanent members of their family. Over time, God transformed that passion for nurturing and providing shelter into a calling to support women, babies, and families in need. In 2024, David and Jodi joined the Life House Maine team, where they continue to live out that calling with compassion, faith, and a heart for helping others. 

Becca is blessed to be married to Michael for six wonderful years, and together they built a beautiful blended family with six children and two precious grandchildren. Becca has a heart for children—both born and unborn—and feels incredibly grateful to serve on the board of Life House Maine, where she comes alongside moms and babies with compassion, hope, and the love of Christ. She believes every life is a gift from God and every family deserves to be supported and encouraged. In her spare time, she enjoys baking, gardening, spending time with our children and grandchildren, traveling, and taking motorcycle rides.