Sunday 30 September 2012

Monday 10 September 2012



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,