When Hurt Turned To Hope
Flying solo as a parent is a huge responsibility that takes a lot of courage. Today’s economy has made the role even more challenging. In addition to the emotional demands they face every day, single-parent households are also among the most financially vulnerable.
“Because our entire staff at Shepherd’s Village is made up of single moms, we’re keenly aware of the hurt and difficulties today’s single-parent families are facing. And we’re uniquely positioned to offer them healing and hope.” -April McKnight
As the only faith-based program for single mothers in Pinellas County for the last 32 years, Shepherd’s Village knew it was the right time to extend help beyond our 12-door housing opportunity and reach more single parents in the Tampa Bay area. While we cannot provide everyone a home, we can plant hope deep inside their hearts.
Extending Hope To Solo Parents
We began collaborating with Indian Rocks Baptist Church and The JoyFM to sponsor and host “What’s Next?” – A Conference for Solo Parents. We invited both single mothers and fathers, as well as grandparents who are raising their grandchildren. It was an opportunity to serve whole families who have felt the sting of solo parenting, whether through a divorce, death, or a divided home.
The vision and planning culminated in an incredible, free one-day event on Saturday, March 18th, 2023, at Indian Rocks Baptist Church.
Jay and Tammy Daughtery led the main session, Co-Parenting International, while other inspiring speakers presented various topics relevant to different stages of single parenting during breakout sessions. Many attendees expressed how difficult it was only to choose three sessions, which inspired us to share the recordings of the breakouts as upcoming podcasts on It’s A Single Mom Thing. The content may also form some new topics for Shepherd’s Village University.
One thing was certain, the single parents who attended “What’s Next?” were hungry to be spiritually fed by speakers who understood and walked similar solo journeys. The room was full of faces that shone with peace and possibility. Moms and dads realized they were not actually flying solo. Rather, they had access to an entire community of people with similar stories, shared experiences, and powerful resources.
What They’re Saying
“I just wanted to give you guys a shoutout! This was a great conference, and at no cost. Unheard of in this day and age. Thank you very much. I am looking to implement [new strategies] right away.” - Conference Single Dad
We are overwhelmed by the impact of this one event on single parents in the Tampa Bay area. We have received so much positive feedback from those who attended and our ministry donors. Because of the support of our sponsors and donors, we witnessed hurt turn to hope, which will leave a lasting impact on two generations at one time.
Don’t Miss “What’s Next?” 2024
Plans are already in place for “What’s Next?” – A Conference for Solo Parents 2024. Sign up for our Shepherd’s Village email to be the first to know the conference date, location, and when registration opens.
Here’s What You Can Do Today
There are other ways to get involved in Shepherd’s Village. Sign up for our free Shepherd’s Village University Courses and tune into our podcast–It’s A Single Mom Thing. We also host other events with Indian Rocks Baptist Church, including Celebrate Recovery groups, Divorcecare and Single and Parenting classes, workshops, and our newest Care Group, Hope and Help. There are also many opportunities for donor involvement as well. We share upcoming events in our email newsletter, so be sure you subscribe. And don’t forget to share Shepherd’s Village with your friends.
Let’s help more solo parents and their children face their futures with confidence.