David Morgan/Youth Unlimited July 2011
STEPPING UP
Dave’s Update
The Surrey Foundation
This past month I was given the opportunity to speak at the Surrey Foundation. At the event I gave a quick snapshot of Stepping Up, what we do, and what we are committed to doing in the lives of these young fathers. The Surrey Foundation gave us a wonderful donation towards the dads outreach. The interest in Stepping Up
throughout the community is overwhelming. Every time I share what we are doing in the lives of these young fathers, people are captivated by it and catch our vision! During this event I met a local philanthropist who was affected by the lack of a father figure in his own life. He felt passionate about helping Stepping Up gain vital traction in the community of Surrey as a provider of resources and emotional support to these young dads. I’m very excited to see where this partnership will take us.
Walking with the Fathers
I have had a very busy month, spending a lot of one-on-one time meeting with the young dads. Shaina and I have also had these young men and their children to our home for dinners and other events. We have really felt blessed to have these young dads and their children in our home! It seems they are opening up to us more these days; I believe they see real tangible hope in what Stepping Up stands for and what we are committed to doing in their lives and their children’s lives. By gaining the trust of these young fathers I feel that they are expecting certain practical things from us too!
In the last months I have felt a pressing need to implement and demonstrate practical solutions for these young men. Our words of comfort and support are not enough. Going for an occasional coffee and having a fun night out with them is not going to adequately support them and their unique needs as young fathers. They are in need of – and wanting – tangible, practical help so their young families can survive, and are looking to Stepping Up to create solutions for them. The social outreaches in Surrey are inundated with hundreds of cases and these young dads’ practical needs are last on the list in most cases. The young dad issue is rampant in our communities because little-to-nothing is being done; their needs are slipping through the
cracks! We at Stepping Up have a great opportunity to provide these practical needs with viable options like work, mentoring and school initiatives. If these practical needs are met they will be more open to finding a relationship with God that will ultimately bring true healing in their lives.
One thought has been relentlessly going over and over in my mind. The thought is this: “Dave it’s one thing to talk about hope for the fatherless, but what practical things are you going to do to bring hope?” These words have haunted me for a few months now and are giving me the motivation and focus I need to make these initiatives a real possibility in the lives of these young men. My heart breaks for these young men and each of their struggles! I pray, weep and call out to God everyday asking him to meet these young dads’ practical needs! I want Stepping Up to be used by God in a way that can provide these practical needs. The young dads have such great courage; pressing on and moving forward in life despite all their obstacles. They are true heroes to me!
Over.The Struggles of the Young Father
A lot of young fathers have generational cycles to break in their lives and in the lives of their young children. The problem is acute when young boys lack a male mentor with a healthy male identity. Renowned psychologist Dr. James Dobson states that, “At about three to five years of age, a lad gradually pulls away from his mom and sisters in an effort to formulate a
masculine identity. This is a process known as "disconnection and differentiation," where the inner urge of the male plan of development nudges him out of the nest of the mother over a precarious bridge to the world of the father. With the absence of a father, boys are forced to formulate their sense of male identity from their surroundings. Many turn to the many famous figures within the worlds of entertainment and sports as sources of inspiration while others turn to gangs and a world of violence. Either way, these young boys suffer.” It’s so important that we support these young fathers and help them to understand what it means to be a young man and what their role is as a father. Please continue to pray for all the young fathers I work with helping each one of them break the dysfunctional cycles that so greatly entangle them! These young fathers should not struggle alone!
How $35.00 a Month Can Change Lives We are asking for another $600.00 a month to come in so we can securely be on at YFC working four days a
week. To break it down we would need 6 people giving $100.00 a month or 12 people giving $50.00 a month. But if each of you reading this newsletter would give us as little as $35.00 a month, Shaina and I would not
only be on four days a week; we would be on full time at YFC! If you can’t give $35.00 dollars a month, would you consider giving $25.00 a month, or even $20.00 a month! Whatever you can give helps greatly and gets us closer to being on full-time. Please continue to pray for this ministry and us. Please consider being a monthly financial partner as well! Stepping Up “young fathers” is committed to changing lives. So be a part of change; partner with us as together we reach out to young fathers! Thank you to all of you giving so generously to this ministry! Shaina and I feel so encouraged by your support. We could not do what we do, day in and day out, without your partnership. Thank You!
Vindicate the weak and fatherless; do justice to the afflicted and destitute.
Psalm 82:3
P.S.
Dave and Shaina’s Update
Shaina and I went to the lake this month; it was nice to spend holidays with our family! Shaina’s relatives from Scotland were here for just under a month; it’s always nice to hear a good Scottish accent! Liam and Joah are growing like weeds and are both such a joy! Shaina is opening up a daycare in our home and we are going through the licensing process – what a JOB; there’s a lot to learn! It’s going to be great to have all the hard work behind us though. Shaina is very excited to be working once again; she can’t wait to get the daycare all set up. And I’m just happy helping her! Until next month!
PARTNERING WITH US FOR ONLY $35.00 A MONTH WILL CHANGE LIVES!
Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. Hebrews 11:1
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