Dave's Story 

Please COPY AND PASTE INTO YOUR ENGINE SEARCH THE LINK BELOW and watch Dave share a bit of his story here,  http://vimeo.com/55317732 

Dave's breaking point in his life came with the implosion of his own family, leading to divorce and depression. From there Dave journeyed, not only to rehab his body and mind, but most importantly his spirit.  On Dave's road to recovery he discovered the depth's of God's love and grace that he never imagined possible.

Dave is now happily serving God as a husband, father of two son's soon to be three, and youth worker.  Dave is the founder of Stepping Up young fathers at Youth Unlimited/Youth for Christ, where he works to encourage and support young fathers, throughout the inner city of Surrey,BC.  Dave feels called to caution others of poor life choices that can ensnare them and destroy their lives.  His story is one of passion that reflects the genuine love and unending grace of the miraculous God he serves.

Consider Having Dave Share His Story With You!

for speaking Engagements, Seminars, Church Events Contact Dave at 1(604) 202-8914 or at davemorgan@youthunlimited.com.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR! 2012-2013

Meet Dale

Dale Peters has come on board with Stepping Up to help some of these young dads navigate through the difficulties of life. Dale has been a long-time Youth for Christ worker; he has been with YFC since 1979 and is a family therapist. He has already had a huge impact on the lives of these young dads we work with. Dale’s desire is to help in any way he can to give each of these dads a step up in fatherhood. Please pray for him as he partners with us.

Also, could you keep a young dad named Stan in your prayers who is carrying a lot on his plate. Only nineteen and expected to provide financial and give moral support to his partner and young child. He does not feel adequate to do this and wants to run from his responsibilities as a dad! Pray that he reaches out to Stepping Up for he

lp.

The Credentialing Process:
It’s been a busy month so far. I was in Calgary for the first part of November working hard in our YFC credentialing process. It has taken great shape and I should be credentialed by this summer, if all goes well! I will keep you posted.

Shaina and I are doing well, too! We have arrived back from Joah’s hockey tournament recently, where he scored a goal, way to go Jo! Shaina and I are waiting anxiously on the news of the sex of the baby, which will be announced next newsletter! Liam is getting so big; he is so cute and can be a handful at times but he is so loved! May God bless you and your family in HIS love, the

Please Pray For:

Our next Dad and Tot breakfast. And pray for Shaina and I.

Pray for our ongoing events:

Our one-on-one mentoring.

Hockey nights every Thursday 7- 9pm.

YOU have made a SUBSTANTIAL difference in the lives of young dads in Surrey. We are THRILLED to say that the Young Dads Thursday Night Hockey Program has been COMPLETELY funded for 2013 (all $5500) and for that we are extremely thankful.

• We've modified our Hockey Page to show a bit of what the impact of your funding will be. Check it out here:http://t.co/LG5tDwJW

  

  Hockey Night | Stepping Up

  hockey.youngfamilies.ca

  
  

  
  

  
  

  MERRY CHRISTMAS & A HAPPY
  
  NEW YEAR!

September Newsletter 2012

They can’t do this alone!

Supporting these young dads is an ongoing endeavor. As we reach out to these dads, (through one-on-one mentoring, and our community focused events such as our Dad and tot morning breakfast and our drop in hockey nights), we are finding out that these guys need more support beyond these events! Stepping Up is in hot pursuit of a credited counselors that can volunteer some of their time to meet with these young dads and help them navigate through some of their life struggles. Please consider helping? If you can help, contact Dave @ davemorgan@youthunlimited.com for more info.


Did You Know?

Kids that grow up in fatherless homes are five times more likely to commit suicide. And twenty times more likely to have mental illness, thirty two times more likely to run away from home. These statistics are staggering and they are crippling our communities today. How do we stop this? How do we make a change? By keeping young dads connected with their children - it’s that simple! To break this cycle of fatherlessness we need financial resources and valuable volunteers. Why? Well, meet Mike, a young dad who has an anger problem and spends most of his days frustrated. He finds it hard at times to look after his child in a way a dad should. He tries to cope by using drugs and alcohol. He has zero life skills to make better choices for him and his young family. He needs a better way! Mike has two choices; he either gets help with his anger and addiction issue or stays living in dysfunction. Most young fathers choose dysfunction. Why? Because it’s easy! Most dads that I work with are like Mike. The need for Stepping Up is crucial in our community - Helping these young fathers stay connected to their young families, breaking the cycle of fatherlessness today! Join us in changing lives - Dave

DAVE and SHAINA'S Update!
NHL hockey this year, NOT! But there is hockey at the Morgan’s house! Joah started his hockey season and so the early morning practices and weekend games begin. Shaina is enjoying being pregnant, but her energy level is down considerably due to having morning sickness all day long! She is such a trooper she never really complains and rarely has those late night pregnant cravings! She is faithfully working hard looking after a few kids to make extra money, please pray that she has strength for her day to day! Liam is growing and is talking so well, he is a joy. I have been very busy,but happy to lend a hand where it’s needed.

A school in Surrey was interested in the fatherless crisis and asked these questions to me!  Please help in the cause"Stop the cycle of fatherless generations"

What are your biggest needs? 

Male mentors and role models, Volunteers, and monthly financial donations.

When did you start? 

This is a grass roots outreach and is really one of a kind in Surrey, and there are virtually no other outreaches like this in the lower mainland. We are pioneering new ground.  We have been growing strong for two years now.

How did you come up with this idea?  

Out of my own personal struggles with a poor father figure in my life and being a single dad for many years.  Through my life's experience I began to imagine one day bringing help to young fathers in Surrey! Alot of these young dads have to journey alone in being a father and being fatherless themselves. In most cases its to much for them to handle so they leave their young children with no better options.  Creating another cycle of fatherlessness, these cycles are sometimes 2 or 3 generations long!  This is a silent epidemic that is sweeping our communities.  So I decided to do something about this issue!  And that's how I created this outreach, to help our community grow stronger with healthy father figures being brought back to our communities today! 

How did you know how father's act without having a father?

I have a father figure/mentor in my life today that shows me how a father should be and act. And it's through this relationship with this mentor/father figure I can help these young dads I work with today.

What way do you make young fathers the best dad they can be?

 By one on one mentorship, Giving them life skills, vocational coaching, group events like a dad and tots breakfast and floor hockey night. Also One day Stepping Up young fathers would like to start a Social Enterprise that gives these young dads work and emotional healing.

Thanks for your interest in what I do working with the fatherless.  Hope these answers help, please keep me informed with what you are doing!  The more voices we have out there helping the fatherless is a really good thing!  If I can help in any other way, please let me know! "Stop the cycle of fatherless generations"

Stepping Up "young fathers" 

3rd Dad and Tot Breakfast!

COME OUT to our THIRD dad and tots breakfast, Dads give the mom in your life a well deserved break! Come with your tot (child) to our Saturday Morning Breakfast and enjoy good food and fun. 

This FREE event is taking place at Peoples Church, Saturday, OCTOBER 27th, 10am-12pm in Surrey. We will have a play station set up for the kids, and Eggs,Toast and Lots of bacon, O.J and coffee and waffles for the kids!! So bring your appetites guys its going to be awesome! 

RSVP to this event ASAP so we know how much food to buy! We don't want anyone going away hungry!! We had a great turn out last time at our SECOND dad and tots breakfast. So don't miss this months breaky, See you there! 

AND REMEMBER GIVE MOM A BREAK! RSVP me davemorgan@youthunlimited.com

If you missed the e-blast, or just want to see a bit more about what these awesome folk do - click the link below.http://youngfamilies.ca/news/blog/index.php?id=4766006349939110382

Blog | Young Families

youngfamilies.ca

STEPPING UP

This Past Month

The month of August has been a month of reflection for me! Throughout the month I found myself reflecting on my life. I could not stop thinking about my lifeʼs story. I would look back on my past with amazement at how much my life has turned around for the good and for the Glory of God!

I was reminded that just ten years ago I was going through a divorce, battling the challenges of being a single parent to my son, risking losing my son through poor life choices and not to mention battling for my life with addiction in the dark world of drugs and alcohol.

At this time in my life I was hanging out with some very unsavory characters who befriended me for their own gain and prosperity, not for friendship but for dollars! I was enslaved in a world of pride and power living a life that demanded self-gratification, void of love, hope and peace! The only joy I had at that time in my life was knowing that I could possibly die tomorrow and end my awful existence! What a twisted sense of hope! I recalled how depressed I was, and how alone I felt. I was imprisoned and trapped in an awful hellish nightmare thinking at that time I could never escape it.

But to Godʼs Glory, he turned my life around so radically and gave me back all that was lost. I have since remarried to the most wonderful girl in the world, I have overcome addiction, I now have two wonderful sons with another baby on the way and I have a restored friendship with my ex-wife and her husband and I no longer have ties to unsavory people in the community. I live a clean God-fearing life today with Love, Joy, Peace and the greatest gift, HOPE!

I guess the reflections I was having on my past, the “pinch me epiphany” moments was Godʼs way of reminding me that only HE, God can be the true source of transformation in our lives and the world today! Believe me when I say I tried other routes, methods, and schemes to change my life and none of these other ways helped me like the power of Jesus Christ! Though Stepping Up is able to give practical help to these young dads I realize itʼs only through Christʼs divine power we change fully! My hope for these young dads is that they would encounter the power of Christ in each of their lives and situations and be forever changed, the way my life was changed forever by HIM!

Dads and Tots Breakfast! 

We had our first Dad and Tot breakfast! We had a great turn out; it was so good to see these young fathers in action with their kids. I was amazed at how they cared not only for their own kids but for the other kids that were there, too! Yes, guys can multi task and I saw this skill-set first hand at our breakfast! Wow!These guys were so appreciative for the free meal and expressed to me that they were eager to continue these breakfasts every month. I believe they saw community in action and realized that other young dads face daily challenges of fatherhood as well as other day to day life struggles. I believe this helped the dads realize they are not alone, I believe that this time spent together let them know that together they were stronger, rather than living as an island unto themselves!

This breakfast could not have been a reality without the help of the Stepping Up Volunteers and all of our financial partnerships. Iʼm so grateful for all the support we have for Stepping Up. Our prayer, finances and volunteers all work together to play a part in this ministry. Without each of us doing our specific part none of the support we provide for these dads would be a reality. So thank you, thanks for all you do!

Our Need

Our new goal for September is to have $375.00 more a month coming in for our personal fundraising. The $375.00 will help us reach our monthly full time budget that each staff is required to raise at YFC. Would you consider being our next

monthly supporter? $10, $20, $30 or more a month would help greatly! To all who are giving to Stepping Up, Shaina and I cannot express enough our gratitude for your monthly support. We are helping so many young fathers today because of your generosity! Thank You!

Dave and Shainaʼs Update

We had fun and relaxation at the lake and enjoyed our family and friends very much! We look forward to this September and all the new school year has in store for us as a family and for Stepping Up too. Please keep us in your prayers, Blessings,

STEPPING UP

This Past Month

I had a conversation the other day with a young dad who suffered many challanges, and setbacks in his life while growing up! The dark and perverse things he shared about his childhood were extreme and overwhelming to hear. As I sat and talked to this young dad the same familiar story began to unfold, the same story many other young dads have shared with me about their terrible past. Sharing the stories of dysfunction and abuse they experience while growing up! He shared his deep pain, openly and freely, he shared the R rated version of his life. It deeply disturbed me and I found myself still processing our conversation for a long time after! Running it over and over again in my mind, asking myself ‘What does this young dad need to help him process all the junk he has been through in his life’? Then I thought ‘What do all of these young fathers need as a whole to help them deal with their past hurts’?

It took me a while to wrestle and pray through this question, but the answer came to me clearly. Young dads need relationships! They desire some form of deeper connection with others in a way that doesn’t leave them feeling like they are some kind of daunting statistic of teen pregnancy or another number on a graph sheet or just another project to fix! It came to me that they need and want meaningful friendships! It is actually part of the human condition to desire closeness, and the dads we reach out to are no different. It seemed the answer was always there, staring me in the face! I know that relationships are important, but it wasn’t until God showed me exactly how important they really are that it registered on the richter scale, if you know what I mean? People, I believe, were made to have not only meaningful relationships with one another but also with God the Father too! He is the only one who shows us loving caring perfection in a world that is broken and lonely!

Fortunately, Stepping Up is not the only place these dads can turn to for practical help in our community. They also have Government assisted agencies where practical help and valuable resources are available, such as personal and family counselling. However deep down inside, practical help in itself is not going to bring true healing....it’s relationships in each of these young father’s lives. The missing link in truly helping them overcome their past and live victorious in the future is by just by being there for them with authentic love, and demonstrating for them that the most meaningful relationship they would ever forge is one with God! Why have I not seen it quite like this before? It’s amazing how Godcan turn the light switch on just like that when we need him to do it the most! At Stepping Up we are really good at building relationships with these young dads but I am convinced that the true source of intimacy in relationship can only come from God the Father. The love and grace of God is the answer to true transformation in our land and the lives of young dads!

Thank you for your continued prayers for all our dads and their families! Pray that we would extend true meaningful relationships to each of those we work with, but mostly pray that they would find relationship with God.

Our Need

I have an amazing report to share! Last month we received 2 more monthly supporters and now our goal of $500.00 more a month has been decreased to $375.00 yet to come in. This $375.00 will help us reach our monthly full time budget that each staff is required to raise at YFC. Would you consider being our next monthly supporter?

To all who are giving to Stepping Up, Shaina and I cannot express enough our gratitude for your monthly support. Mother Theresa said this “if the money is not there then God was never in it anyways”. This statement has defined our faith journey at YFC for the past two years. We believe God holds all the resources for us in everything we do! He has blessed us so generously so far through your continued financial support, so thank you again for laying down your lives and giving so generously to this ministry and us! In His love, David and Shaina!

Dave and Shainaʼs Update

We are very pleased to announce that there will be another addition to the Morgan family, so now there will be five of us! We are all doing well, Shaina is a little tired with the pregnancy but we are both looking forward to spending some much needed R&R at Shuswap Lake in the middle of August! The boys are doing well too and keep us on our toes. We trust all of you are having a great summer! Blessings for now, Dave and Shaina!

This Past Month

A few newsletters ago I shared a story of a young father who was in a tough situation in his life.  His ex-girlfriend was trying to exploit him as a dead beat dad! She was doing her best to portray this young dad as a monster who should not be involved in their young son's life.  She even went so far as to tell him he was not the child's father and had a court ordered paternity test for him to take.

This young man was in so much inner turmoil, he called me many times and we prayed often.  He took on a lot of stress before the paternity test was taken and throughout the period while waiting for results.  There were moments when he questioned if he could walk through this time in his life and come out okay on the other side!  He often told me how grateful he was that I was in his life, able to walk with him through this ordeal.

I am happy to share that the tests came back with definite proof that he is the father of his young child and he has been fully vindicated of all the false accusations of being a monster and dead beat dad. He is now back in full swing, working hard at being a dedicated dad to his little boy!   Thank you for your prayers for him and his son and their situation. 

I was reminded of how important it is for me to walk along side of these young fathers. I often wonder where would they go for help if Stepping Up was not here for them? There is really nothing in our communities to help young dads. Thank you again for your partnership in this outreach, together we are doing great work!     

Turn over………

Our Need

Shaina and I are in need of your prayers for the upcoming months as there are some very exciting developments happening in regard to this ministry.  Please consider taking one minute each day to pray for the young fathers and their families who are involved in Stepping Up.  Also, would you pray for us as a family and for more monthly financial partners to join with us.

Prayer is so important!  It’s the life blood of our ministry, for we can do nothing without HIS help through prayer.  We are also asking for another $500.00 a month which will help us to operate in a full capacity, giving us longevity in the lives of young fathers! Would you consider giving to Stepping Up in a monthly capacity?  If so, please fill out the enclosed response card to confirm your commitment!

May you and your family Be Blessed as you Give!   

Dave and Shaina’s Update

The Morgan household is in a little bit of a tailspin, as Mom and Dad (Shaina and I) are dealing with a non-compliant sleepy toddler staying in his bed.  We’re into the second week of dealing with two year old Liam NOT wanting to stay in his bed at bedtime.  He has always been really good at going to bed and sleeping, so this is a new challenge for us.  It’s like one day he discovered that he can make up his own mind and has decided that it’s not in HIS best interest to stay in bed….”ARGH” is what Shaina and I are saying.  We’re trying to figure out the best way to deal with it and be patient and consistent with him, but we’re all losing a little sleep over it.  On the upside of things, we’re all healthy and able to laugh when we’re not too sleepy, but if anyone has any awesome suggestions.....we are open to them!

We’re also very excited to have my parents here for a month and a half, visiting from Edmonton.  It’s been wonderful for the kids to spend time with them….especially Joah.  He enjoys his grandparents and it’s so great for them to be able to input into his life as well as Liam's.  We are very much enjoying and savouring our time with them. 

What Happened in May 2012 @ Stepping Up?

Dave Morgan / Youth Unlimited May 2012

STEPPING UP

This Past Month

“Stopping the cycle of fatherless generations”!

A young fathers story! This past month I had a conversation with a young dad about the brokeness,hurt and frustration he has towards the idea of a father figure. To conceal this young fatherʼs identity we will refer to him as Peter. Even though he is a young father at the age of 19, he takes his responsibilities as Dad very seriously. He is one of the few young fathers that I work with who has his life together or at first glance you would think he does!

He has a great job making really good money, he is comitted to his young family, pays the bills on time and is moving forward in life, dotting the iʼs and crossing the tʼs so to speak. But as you start to peel back Peterʼs onion you find a dark and jaded past that stems from a poor view of a father role model.

The early years were not so pretty for Peter growing up! His parents constantly fought and he found out at an early age his father was a career thief stealing off his neighbours. His dad also had a severe drug and alcohol addiction. Peter had to grapple with his momʼs emotional issues too and her anger issues steming from his dad. Peterʼs younger brother also paid a price in his life for all the disfunction in their home growing up.

As we sat there that afternoon and talked, I learned that Peterʼs dad had died last year from his addictions and he and his mom are no longer talking. Not to mention, he is extremely worried about his brother who is 17 years old and smokes pot all day and is living on Government assistance because he is a youth and a ward of the state after his mom gave him up.

As we spoke I felt the need to ask him how he does it. Being through so much stuff and so much pain in his life, how does he do it without a relationship with God? At that moment all I could think was how can he get up everyday for work, hold down a good job, care for his brothers saftey and be such an excellent boyfriend to the mother of his baby. How do you make it through life without a belief in God I asked him very curiously. Explaining my own experience with drugs and alcohol and my full dependence on God for strength, I couldnʼt figure out how he did it without God. With confidence Peter said to me, “I donʼt need any FN God”!! “God has done nothing for me and I think weak people believe in that Sh#!”. “I donʼt need God, EVER”!

But in that moment, after he sternly told me his view, I felt for some strange reason the need to ask him one more time how he stays so strong without faith in God. It seemed ridiculous timing but I was still socurious how he had found strength to rely on himself alone, how I wondered? After asking him a second time where he finds the strength on his own. Peterʼs confidence then began to crumble and he dropped his head, slumped over the table and said this confession to me. “I donʼt I.....(he paused).... I can hardly do it on my own. Iʼm so depressed, no one knows this but I drink heavily to self medicate. The depression is so bad some days I can barely get out of bed. By sheer will power I force myself to get out of bed or I drink to take away my pain, thatʼs how I survive”. He said all this without looking at me once!

In that moment I had a shoe horn experience! Have you ever had one? Iʼll explain....A shoe horn experience is when God opens someoneʼs heart just a crack shining a small beam of light into their darkest wound. Christ shoe horned an entrance point into Peterʼs life for me in that moment. He shoe horned it just enough at the right time to share the gospel with him then and there! Even though Peter did not reciprocate, I was reminded of the parable of the sower! I was able to sow some seeds into the shoe horn door of his heart.

I would ask you to please pray for more divine encounters with Peter and his situation and that Christ opens the door fully in his life. Pray that he would find peace in his emotions and ultimately seek a relationship with God who is the true source of transformation! Iʼm commited to each of these young fathers and their unique situations. Iʼm committed to seeing one heart, one life at a time being transformed by Jesus Christ. Please pray that we will have more opportunities to see our mantra at Stepping Up be a reality, “Stopping the cycle of fatherless generations”!

Our Need

Our desire is for new monthly donors, would you consider partnering with us?

Please prayerfully consider becoming actively involved with Stepping up as a financial donor. Every little bit helps, and we would be so excited to have you parnter with us in this this important and life changing out reach to young and often neglected fathers. Thank you in advance for considering joining us in this mission!

We are also in need of diaper and formula donations. Every Monday at drop in the young Moms and Dads are given diapers and formula if they need it. We are constantly in need of Donations. These diapers and formula can be dropped off at Peopleʼs Full Gospel Church located at 144th and 104th in Surrey. We are in the north building downstairs, we are open between 10am-2pm every week.

Dave and Shainaʼs Update

  Shaina

  and

  I

  had

  a

  few

  days

  away

  this

  past

  month.

  

  We

  went

  to

  the

  cabin

  at

   Shuswap

  and

  spent

  a

  few

  days

  in

  Kelowna.

  

  It

  was

  so

  nice

  to

  get

  away

  to

  re-­‐energize,

  refocus

  and

  renew

   our

  spirits.

  

  I’m

  at

  day

  27

  of

  a

  40

  day

  fast.

  

  Shaina

  and

  I

  are

  believing

  for

  a

  break

  through

  in

  our

  ministry

   and

  our

  personal

  lives.

  

  Please

  continue

  to

  pray

  for

  us

  as

  we

  journey

  to

  seek

  God’s

  hand

  in

  each

  and

  all

   of

  the

  situations

  we

  are

  facing

  together.

  

  We

  would

  really

  like

  to

  thank

  all

  those

  who

  have

  been

  giving

  to

   us

  so

  sacrificially

  month

  after

  month!

  Each

  of

  your

  prayers

  and

  financial

  partnerships

  has

  been

  very

   encouraging!

  We

  pray

  God’s

  special

  blessing

  on

  each

  of

  you

  and

  your

  families

  too!

  Together

  we

  can

  help

   cure

  the

  silent

  epidemic

  that

  is

  sweeping

  our

  communities,

  fatherlessness!

  

  Stepping

  Up

  was

  featured

  in

   the

  Light

  Magazine,

  June

  edition!

  Go

  to

  this

  link

  to

  check

  it

  out!

  

  http://t.co/5InNufgn

  Blessings,