What does Christmas mean to you?

What does Christmas mean to you? from Jeffrey Golby on Vimeo.
Thank You for helping these young families out this Christmas. Please consider donating HERE

THANK YOU

Over the past month, you likely have seen our "END THE LOCKOUT" hockey fundraiser. Our message was simple: you can't force the Canucks to get back to work but you can help end the lockout for these young fathers for another year.

We raised a total of $5507 - which funds 40 nights of drop in hockey for these young fathers. We've done up a little summary of what YOU, our caring community helped fund here: http://hockey.youngfamilies.ca/

We are so very thankful for the support that has been shown towards this program.

End the Lockout | Start a Future.

We are stoked to announce the launch of our November fundraiser for Stepping Up: Young Dads. It's all about hockey - remember hockey? For the month of november, consider pitching in what you normally would have spent on the Canucks to fund our Young Dads Thursday night hockey.

$135 keeps the doors open for one more week, we'd love you to consider pitching in for some or all of that this month. Details can be found at: hockey.youngfamilies.ca - check out the video below and consider giving to this great cause.

Hockey Night at People's church from Jeffrey Golby on Vimeo.

Thrive Grad on Global News!

One of our moms from Stepping Stones, Brittney Bertrand, recently made the news!
The link below is a short clip from Global news that aired last Friday October 26th.

Brittney came to Stepping Stones a few years ago with her new baby boy. She was in a tough place in life and wanted to get on a positive track. In December of 2007, Brittney graduated from "Thrive", a program of Stepping Stones that helps young mothers achieve their educational and/or vocational goals. This courageous young mother worked through some tough issues from her past, set future goals and made significant changes in her life. Brittney quickly found a great job (was recently promoted), and plans to further her education in the next few years.

Today, Brittney Bertrand is an inspiration to us all. I am so thankful for the amazing young mother she is and the difference she is making in her local community. Brittney represents what we long for every young family at Stepping Stones. Watch and enjoy!

Brittney on Global News

Kellie Brown

Hope For Parenting Youth.

Hope for Young Parents from Jeffrey Golby on Vimeo.

Hope: Transforms

The month of August has been a month of reflection for me. Throughout the month I could not stop thinking about my life's story. I would look back on my past with amazement at how much my life has turned around for 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 unsavoury 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 joy that 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 God's 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 wold. I have overcome addiction, I have two wonderful sons and another baby on the way and I have a restored friendship with my ex-wife and her husband. I no longer have ties with unsavoury 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 in my past, the "pinch me epiphany" moments was God's 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 have 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 so much practical help to these young dads I realize it's only through Christ's 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.

Thanks for sharing in my story.

- Dave

Hope: Glimmers

When I sit and listen to the struggles our young families face daily, the phrase “I hope life get better” seems like a halfhearted empty promise. Often, there is not enough money to pay for rent or food. Relationships with parents, boyfriends or girlfriends are strained and filled with pain. They feel desperate and alone as a 3 month old cries through the night. It’s difficult in these dark moments to find any glimmer of hope.

I believe when God is at the center of hope, promise for the future becomes tangible. The impossible becomes possible. I have witnessed this truth over and over again at Stepping Stones/Stepping Up. I have seen brokenness restored and lives transformed in ways I never dreamed possible.

As we step in to the lives of the young families in Surrey and walk along side the messiness, we trust in the promise of hope. We are dreaming big dreams for Stepping Stones and Stepping Up this year and ask you to dream with us.

Thank you for Stepping In and Standing Up for young families in Surrey.

- Kellie Brown