She Didn't Want to Parent Alone

Brooklyn* saw the two pink lines on the pregnancy test, and didn’t know what to do. How was she supposed to parent as a single mom without any support? Brooklyn had no family nearby, and the baby’s father had no desire to be involved in the child’s life. Although the prospect of raising a child alone was overwhelming, Brooklyn knew in her heart that she wanted this baby.

So, Brooklyn went to a crisis pregnancy center.

The center provided her with information about her developing baby, but its staff knew that Brooklyn needed more than just knowledge about her child, she needed relational support from safe, trustworthy people. So they told her about Together for Good (TFG).

When Brooklyn called TFG, her case manager, Chic, assured her that she would not be parenting alone. Chic told Brooklyn about respite hostings, scheduled breaks where her future baby could be cared for by a host family, allowing Brooklyn space for herself. Chic also shared about having a parent advocate, an intentional friend for Brooklyn.

Brooklyn felt hesitant, but chose to believe that there were people who would support her. She was soon connected with a parent advocate, Carla*, and a host family.

Even before her son was born, Carla and Brooklyn’s host mom, Amanda*, began coming around her with family-like support. They organized a beautiful baby shower and invited her into deep community, including a Bible study.

When Brooklyn gave birth to her son, Evan*, Carla and Amanda ensured that both Brooklyn and Evan felt loved and cared for during this beautiful yet emotional time. When Brooklyn reflects on the support that she received from TFG, she is still surprised. She had no idea there would be this much help when she was expecting Evan.

A few weeks ago, at just 5.5 months old, Evan was hospitalized with pneumonia. While he was in the hospital, both Carla and Amanda came to visit him and Brooklyn. The weekend Evan was hospitalized was the same weekend that Brooklyn was supposed to move into a new apartment. Carla gathered a team of people who moved all of Brooklyn’s furniture and belongings, allowing her to just focus on her little boy in his time of need.

Amanda and Carla haven’t just empowered Brooklyn to parent Evan. They have shown radical love for, commitment to, and belief in Brooklyn. The way that these two women have invested in Brooklyn has shown her the love of Jesus in such a tangible way that this past week, while at Bible study, Brooklyn made the decision to follow Christ!

This is the power of Together for Good! Single mothers who feel alone and overwhelmed are given the support they need to parent their children. Hearts that have felt hurt and abandonment experience the true love of Jesus through the actions of Believers.

In just a year since looking down at those two pink lines, Brooklyn’s life has been transformed. She has a village that she can depend upon as she cares for Evan. She has a Savior she can lean on. No matter what life brings her way, Brooklyn will not face it alone."

*Names changed for privacy.