Ruth Harbor Ministries provides a Christ-centered home & life-skills coaching for mothers experiencing pregnancy or parenting young children.

The ministry was originally founded in 1996 by three women who believed God called them to provide a safe place and fill a service and support gap that existed when a young woman decided to continue her pregnancy, but before she gave birth.

Ruth Harbor opened its doors and welcomed its first maternity residents at the Des Moines home in 2001. After years of serving young moms facing unplanned pregnancies, we began to recognize another “gap” that needed to be filled – young moms who have chosen to parent and are struggling to thrive and provide a quality life for their children. In 2016, we started a Mother-Child Program and also began accepting young moms who were parenting one young child.

Purchase of the second home in Carlisle, Iowa

In the fall of 2017, Ruth Harbor was approached by Kenny and Bobbi McCaughey (parents of the “McCaughey septuplets”) to prayerfully consider purchasing the family home they had loved for nearly 20-years, but had outgrown its need. After much prayer and discernment, touring the home, meeting with the McCaughey’s neighbors and working with the city of Carlisle to have rezoning approved, in February 2018 we signed an agreement to purchase the McCaughey’s home in Carlisle, Iowa. This purchase allowed us to open a full-time Mother-Child Program at a second home in Carlisle, Iowa, returning the original Des Moines home back into a full-time Maternity Program for young moms facing unplanned pregnancies. Not only did purchasing the Carlisle home provide more beds and enable us to serve more women and babies, it allows us to dedicate each home to the specific needs and training that are unique to each program.

Join Us In Praising God For His Provision!

The Ruth Harbor board and staff are beyond thrilled to enter into this season of expanding our ministry! While the waiting has been trying and there is much work ahead, we have no doubt this has been God's plan all along and He will continue to provide every skill we need, introduce us to every person we need to know, provide every piece of furniture, every pot and pan, and every dollar that will fund this ministry expansion.

All of our services are provided at no cost to the residents, and as an interdenominational, Christ-centered ministry. Therefore, we rely solely on the support of corporate and private funding to offer our services. Your monthly support or one-time gift provides assistance for young women who have experienced unplanned pregnancies and their babies.

If you believe God is calling you to be a part of Ruth Harbor, let us know how you can help!
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