Stepping Up

Volume 3 Number 4

Welcome. Each month we feature practical information that you can use in your life and family. Please feel free to contact us with feedback, questions or comments via phone at: 1-888-5INSTEP (toll free) or email: info@instepministries.com.

About InStep Ministries
We are a 501c3 faith-based nonprofit organization dedicated to providing resources, support, counsel and encouragement to singles, single-parents and stepfamilies and those who minister to them. Our passion is equipping people for life. Our mission is to provide resources and services that are practical, Biblical, relevant and affordable. To learn more about InStep, visit our website: www.instepministries.com.

Personal Moment
Traveling is exciting and exhilarating. When we travel with the eyes and ears of the God who sent us, we will see wonderful sights, hear great music, meet interesting people ... and be blessed by those we came to teach. This is what life was about for our team from the Association of Marriage and Family Ministries (AMFM) as we traveled to Quebradilla, Puerto Rico on March 24-26.
We traveled with AMFM co-founders, Eric and Jennifer Garcia and John Trent (author and President Strong Families). Our AMFM team partnered with Christopher and Eunice Molina (left) of Familias Efectivas to provide marriage and family training for pastors and lay persons (www.familiasefectivas.com).
We were so blessed to serve with the Molina’s and to spend time with their two delightful children, Yahdiel and Christina, as well as their extended family members. Please pray that God will continue to guide and bless their ministry.

During the Saturday conference, we taught a session on how to minister to Single Parents and Stepfamilies. They also taught problem-solving skills on Friday and Saturday night at La Piedra church in Camuy, PR and at San Sebastian. On Sunday morning, they had the honor of presenting the sermon at the Molina’s home church, where Eunice’s Dad is the pastor.

Our ministry experience was blessed by several wonderful interpreters. Benito is a wonderful man of God who blessed us with his with his translation skills and his Christ-like spirit. We enjoyed getting to know him and his fiancé, Damaria.

Although we went to teach and serve, we were the ones who were taught and blessed. The churches we visited were filled with the sweetest people whose faces shine with the love of Christ and whose hearts are eager to learn all that God has for them. We were especially touched by their dedication to their churches and their families. We came away inspired by their love, generosity and grace. Thank you for your prayers on our behalf. We would ask that you also pray that God will grow the seeds that were planted in Puerto Rico and continue to use and bless the Molina’s ministry, Familias Efectivas. La gloria está a Dios.

Taking the Time to see others
John 4 tells the story of the woman at the well. We can learn a lot from this story. Some people cast her as a promiscuous woman. I doubt it. In her culture, she was not only an outcast, but a discard, a throw away. Fortunately, God never waits until we are perfect to have an encounter with us; He always meets us where we are. Jesus noticed her. Interestingly, the disciples probably saw her as they were walking into town. I doubt they noticed. Look at the transformation in this story. This woman left her village that day a broken, downtrodden woman; someone who avoided public gatherings. After an encounter with Christ she returned to her village a different person.

Jesus died because of His love for us — all of us. And through His meeting with the woman at the well, He shows us just how wide that love is, encompassing heretics, women, lawyers, tax collectors, single mothers, stepfamilies, you name it... and sinners, especially sinners. We learn form this story that no one is special, as the Jews thought, everyone matters. There are no second-class Christians because there are no first-class Christians. We all need God’s mercy and grace. God forgives, liberates and restores. His love always seeks to find that which was lost and restore that which was broken. God never plays favorites; He meets each of us at the point of our need. There are thirsty people sitting at wells in your neighborhood, waiting for someone to notice them. Take the time to notice them, Jesus did. Build authentic relationships, based on grace and humility.

AMFM East Coast Conference
Don’t forget on April 19-21, we will be presenting at AMFM’s first East Coast conference, in Charlotte, North Carolina. The line-up of speakers is amazing-Norm Wright, John Trent, Tom and Beverly Rogers, Ron Deal, Linda Ransom-Jacobs, Tom and Helen Wheeler, and many others. If you live on or near the east coast and you have a passion for marriage and family ministry, then this conference is for you. We have included the AMFM promo video if you wish to learn more.

Upcoming Speaking Events

• April 19-21, 2006 / Jeff and Judi will be exhibiting and presenting at the East Coast AMFM conference in Charlotte, North Carolina
• Jeff will be continuing his series on developing healthy relationships. Call the office for details.
• July 25-28, 2006 / Jeff and Judi will be exhibiting and presenting at the West Coast AMFM conference in Scottsdale, AZ.
• Coming this fall a training course for pastors, Preparing Couples for Remarriage (Tucson, AZ).

Get Involved!

• Join the Association of Marriage and Family Ministries (AMFM). Attend a 2006 conference. Scottsdale conference is July Website: www.amfmonline.com
• Tucson: Friday Night “Stepping Out” Singles: Pantano Christian Church-10355 E. 29th. Street. Dr. Parziale speaks on the 1st and 3rd Fridays at 7 PM. All singles welcome.
• Tucson: Stepcouple Life Group: 1st and 3rd Tuesdays at 7 PM. Hosted by Ron and Jane Lowery, 6880 E. Hawthorne. For information call: 520-290-1094. Open to anyone.
• Tucson: Single Parent Support Group at Casas Church; Tuesday nights at 7 PM. Call Evelyn Wright: 878-1101.
• Tucson: Tucson Association of Evangelicals: join pastors and leaders for fellowship on March 9, 2006 11:30 AM, Son Life Chapel; Pastor Gil Garcia. Address: 2955 W. Ironwood Hills Dr. For information call: 520-721-0800.
• Online: Now you can register online at www.instepministries.com to participate in our new online forum! Topics include Stepfamilies, Single Adults, Single Parents, and more!
• Thanks to all, of you who responded to our call for assistance. We are still looking for audio-visual help.

For details and updates on InStep activities,
call 520-721-0800 or email us: InStepmin@aol.com

To order InStep resources, call 1-888-5INSTEP

If you enjoy this newsletter, please tell a friend. If you would like to start a support group or stepfamily ministry in your area, please contact us-we can help.

InStep is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit ministry. Donations are tax-deductible and always welcome. Thank you for your support. Please keep us in your prayers.