Sacred Work and Second Chances: Linda Znachko's Ministry to the Forgotten (Part 2)

In this deeply moving Part 2 conversation on "The Resilient Heart" podcast, host Gabi continues her conversation with Linda Znachko, founder of "He Knows Your Name" ministry. This episode explores the most profound aspects of Linda's work, including the heart-wrenching story of baby Abigail—a child born with severe brain damage from her mother's drug addiction, whom Linda became guardian for in her final day of life. Linda shares the sacred experience of holding Abigail as she passed and the recent posthumous adoption that made Abigail permanently part of her family. The conversation reveals how Linda's ministry has expanded beyond babies to include 900 unclaimed adults and even victims of serial killers, including the Fox Hollow murders. Throughout the discussion, Linda reflects on how this work has shaped her family, particularly her partnership with her husband and pastor son. She also opens up about navigating her current season of grief following the loss of her daughter Anna to an eating disorder, while continuing to say yes to God's assignments. This episode captures the intersection of profound loss, unwavering faith, and the courage to show up in the darkest places with love and dignity.

Linda Znachko is the founder of "He Knows Your Name," a ministry that began 15 years ago with caring for unclaimed babies and has expanded to serve over 900 unclaimed adults and families affected by serial killers. Based in Indianapolis, Linda has become known throughout the state for her bereavement work in hospitals and her partnership with Safe Haven Baby Boxes, where she celebrates the mothers who safely surrender their babies. Her ministry has gained national attention, with stories featured in major media outlets including the Indianapolis Star. Linda is married to Steve, who serves as an overseas pastor in Ukraine, and together they've raised four children while building ministries that "bring heaven to earth." Her son is a pastor at Antioch Indy church and often partners with her in ministry work. Linda recently experienced the profound loss of her daughter Anna, who battled an eating disorder for 18 years before passing away in 2024. Despite walking through deep grief, Linda continues her work with unwavering faith, believing that God uses everything and that everyone deserves to be known by name. She is the author of a book about her ministry experiences and has been featured in numerous media outlets for her compassionate work with society's most forgotten members.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Baby Abigail's Story: Becoming guardian for a baby with severe brain damage from maternal drug addiction and being present for her final day
• Posthumous Adoption: The legal and emotional process of officially adopting Abigail after her death, making her permanently part of the family
• Safe Haven Baby Boxes: Celebrating mothers who safely surrender babies and the importance of dignifying their difficult decisions
• Ministry Expansion: Growing from babies to caring for 900+ unclaimed adults over four years at the coroner's request
• Serial Killer Victims: Taking on the Fox Hollow murders case and creating memorials for victims whose families were poorly supported
• Family Ministry Partnership: How Linda's husband and pastor son participate in her work and the sacred nature of doing ministry together
• NICU Experiences: Understanding the unique challenges faced by families in intensive care units and providing compassionate presence
• Immigration Ministry: Serving the growing Haitian community in Indianapolis and connecting resources across cultural barriers
• Personal Grief Journey: Navigating the loss of daughter Anna while continuing ministry work and finding purpose in pain
• Courage and Calling: The importance of saying yes to God's assignments even when they feel overwhelming or unfamiliar
• Legacy and Impact: Wanting to inspire others to be courageous and lean into work that scares them in their own communities
• Private vs. Public Ministry: Maintaining personal relationship with God and keeping some work private while doing public ministry
• Generational Impact: How redemptive work creates full-circle moments that impact families and communities for generations

Powerful Quotes from the Episode

"She's never going home... I don't know what I'm doing. But see, that's the familiar thing. When I have that feeling of like, I don't know what I'm doing and I'm in uncharted waters. That's when I know to go."

"This baby has not been called by a name all week long... No, her name's Abigail. And we're going to use her name and we're going to bless her."

"We're going to be her parents today. And we were that."

"She doesn't want to leave your arms... The last thing she ever saw was love."

"You are not doing this alone."

"Jesus didn't have a checkbook. He didn't have financial resources... But really we in America are the most resourced country in the world. It's the 21st century for goodness sakes. How are some of these things still happening?"

"If I know something, I'm responsible for it."

"I want people to be courageous to say yes. I want people to lean into things that scare them."

"Don't just change it in your neighborhood. Change your city."

"God knew them when he laid the foundations of the earth and he knew them by name."

"You're the daughter of a king. And just let your worth and identity rest in him and not what the world says."

"God uses everything. He really uses everything."

"They're all my children. Why would you designate age?"

Resources

Linda Znachko's Ministry:

• "He Knows Your Name" Ministry: Information about Linda's work with unclaimed babies and adults
• Linda's Book: Stories from her 15 years of ministry work (title and purchasing information to be included in show notes)
• Safe Haven Baby Boxes: Learn more about safe surrender options and locations
• Contact Information: For those interested in supporting the ministry or learning more about the work

Related Organizations:

• Antioch Indy Church: Pastor son's church in Indianapolis
• Marion County Coroner's Office: Partnership for unclaimed adult services
• Safe Haven Law Information: 25th anniversary celebration details and legislative history

Support Resources:

• Bereavement Support: Information for families experiencing loss
• NICU Family Resources: Support for families with babies in intensive care
• Immigration Services: Resources for Haitian community and other refugee populations

Connect With Me:

Gabi Garland

• The Resilient Heart Podcast: Hosted by Gabi, focusing on stories of resilience and overcoming adversity
• Host: Gabi, advocate for women's resilience and healing from life's challenges
• Mission: Creating space for powerful, resilient women to share their stories of growth through adversity
• Community: Building a tribe of women supporting each other through healing and growth journeys

Website: https://www.resilientvoicemedia.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabi.garland/

FOLLOW THE PODCAST: Resilient Heart Podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

Loved this episode? Linda's story demonstrates that saying yes to God's assignments—even when they terrify us—can create ripple effects of love and redemption that span generations. Her willingness to show up in the darkest places with dignity and compassion shows us that everyone deserves to be known by name, and that our most profound ministry often happens in the spaces others avoid. Sometimes the most sacred work requires us to step into the unknown with nothing but faith and the conviction that love wins.