Through God’s Strength, This Family Is Living on Mission

With four kids of their own—all under six years of age—Allison and Donavon Sundquist resisted becoming a Together for Good host family at first.

“We always knew we wanted to help where we could but always kicked the can down the road, thinking we weren’t ready. We didn’t have enough money, we didn’t have a set career, we wanted to wait until our kids were older,” Allison recalled. “We were scared, we were nervous.”

But God took that fear and proved Himself enough to not only support the Sundquists, but strengthen them as they supported other families through Together for Good.

Allison and Donavon with their children.

About a year ago, the Sundquists officially became TFG host parents. Shortly after, they were matched with Allen* and Bryce*. Allen was a single father who had just received full custody of his son Bryce after Bryce endured severe neglect from his mother.

Despite tragedy in Bryce’s early years, God is faithfully rebuilding Bryce’s trust and joy through the love of his father, Allen, and through the Sundquist family—especially through their children.

Allison and Donavon were initially worried about hosting while raising young children of their own, but God knew that the friendships between their children and Bryce would be exactly what Bryce needed to feel loved and hopeful. 

“Our kids have accepted Bryce as an honorary Sundquist boy. They love him deeply and care for him like he is one of their own. It has been beautiful to see the friendships that are growing and see them all play games and laugh together,” Allison shared.

Bryce and the Sundquist children enjoying ice cream sandwiches during a hosting!

Recently, Allen told Allison and Donavon, “I just wanted to say how incredibly grateful I am for both of you. Raising Bryce as a single dad isn't always easy and presents a lot of challenges physically and emotionally, but knowing he has people like you in his corner changes everything. It makes it a little easier for me knowing that we have genuine support. Seeing how much you love him and how seamlessly you’ve brought us into your family dynamics means more to me than I can even put into words. His first sleepover was a huge milestone, and I couldn't have asked for better people to trust him with. Thank you for being such amazing friends to me and like family to Bryce.”

“Families aren’t looking for someone to rescue them,” Allison commented, “With Together for Good, they are looking for someone to walk with them, love them where they are at, love their children, and not to look down on them because of their circumstances.”

Allison continued, saying that she sees how hard it is to do often simple things as a single parent when you are constantly needing to make sure your child’s needs are met and their schedule is taken care of. When families have community to support them in the day-to-day, Allison said she imagines, “ that families see confidence in themselves and reassurance that they aren’t alone in this harsh world. 

Through God’s strength, this is what she and Donavon and their children have provided to Bryce and Allen.

During a recent hosting, Bryce came up and gave her a hug out of the blue, then he told her, “Allison, do you know I love you very, very much?” She hugged him back and said, “Of course I do, buddy, and we all love you so very, very much too.”

Bryce’s innocence and the deep connection he has built with the Sundquist family, paired with Allen’s thankfulness for their support, have reminded Donavon and Allison that hosting is what they are supposed to be doing—what Jesus calls the Church to do: to love our neighbors as ourselves.

“I can’t say it enough,” said Allison, “these families are worth it! Jesus said, ‘Let the children come to me,’ and how better do we shine the light of Jesus than when we are serving those around us asking for help and wanting connection!”

God provided the strength, the bandwidth, the capacity for the Sundquists to host because this is what he wants for his Church: that Christians would be the ones to support families in crises.

*Names changed to protect privacy.