Few personal stories are as riveting as the one belonging to Jennifer Barnes Maggio. Her mother died in a car accident when Maggio was 15 months old, triggering years of familial instability. Her father, an alcoholic, married six different times. As a child, Maggio was exposed to a succession of stepfamily members, one of whom sexually abused her. She was a smart and capable teenager, but fell into an abusive relationship with a boyfriend with whom she ultimately had two children. Despite graduating as valedictorian of Ferriday High School, Maggio spent her early twenties as a single mother on public assistance. Deep down, she knew she was capable of more.
Today, Maggio is a married mother of three and founder and CEO of The Life of a Single Mom, a nonprofit based in Baton Rouge that counsels churches across the country on ministering to single mothers. It has established more than 1,000 programs in churches and nonprofits, and Maggio is considered one of the country’s top Christian commentators on single motherhood.
Forty-one percent of births in the United States today occur outside of marriage, yet churches haven’t enthusiastically coordinated ministries for single mothers, Maggio says. Skeptical church leaders have suggested that such programs come too close to endorsing premarital sex. “I tell them very patiently that addiction programs don’t encourage addiction any more than ministries for divorce encourage people to get divorced,” she says. “This is a large group of people, and we’re missing an opportunity to minister to them.”
Traveling nationwide to work with church leaders and speak at conferences, Maggio relates to crowds with homespun sincerity. She shares the story of separating from her abusive boyfriend and applying for work at an HSBC bank in Natchez, Miss., a move that revealed her knack for sales and marketing. She rose through the ranks, eventually earning a promotion in Baton Rouge, where she met her future husband. Five years ago, they had a daughter.
Maggio quit her banking career to stay home with her newborn, but approached the leadership of her church, Healing Place, about starting a program for young mothers. Under Maggio’s leadership, it grew quickly. Other churches reached out to replicate the program. Along the way, Maggio found herself with two book deals and a new nonprofit.
“The stories I hear would give you chills,” she says. “If we can empower churches and nonprofits, then we can reach so many more women.”
A secretary with a business suit and a briefcase.
A singer…if I could sing!
Persistence; not giving up at the first sign of rejection because you will surely experience some.
Southern hospitality. I’ve traveled a lot and there’s nothing like the folks here.
The LSU lakes.
Traffic. It’s a major issue. I’d also love to see our downtown area become more of a riverfront like New Orleans with live music and street performers.
Helping churches understand the needs of single moms. It’s still a taboo issue.
I will still be running The Life of a Single Mom, but on an even larger scale. We’re on the brink of a large movement. I’ll have a few more books out, too.
