Jon and Kerrie were looking for a way to serve that would make an impact.
“We first got involved with Love Your Neighbor because we were searching for a way to give back locally to help combat poverty in a Christ-focused way. Love Your Neighbor was the clear winner. We love that the mission is not just putting a band-aid on the problem but helping from the root in a relationally-based way.”
After meeting with a staff member and learning more, they jumped in head first and became peer supports for Love Your Neighbor’s Life Skills Program, where families struggling to make ends meet can begin taking classes, access critical resources and experience community.
They were “matched” with a couple in the program named Mandy and Austin who were engaged.
“My fiance, Austin and I wanted to get our finances in control before we got married. We were never taught how to pay bills or how to save our money. Our parents struggled every day paycheck to paycheck and we didn’t want the same lifestyle they had.”
Every week, Jon, Kerrie, Mandy and Austin would sit together for an hour, talking about finances, but also about relationships, faith, marriage and more.
“I really enjoyed how personally we got to know Mandy and Austin. We would meet with them each week, pray with them, and hear about their ups and downs.”
Mandy and Austin were skeptical at first, but later shared how surprised they were that the Life Skills Program actually worked. They were more open about their money and found what worked for them when it came to budgeting. They said they grew up in this class.
“Jon and Kerrie were our mentors, but they were more like family! We had such a great relationship and bond that we asked Jon to marry us. It was amazing to have him know our story with God and see how far we had come as a couple. Our time at Love and with them helped us learn so much about our relationship with each other,” Mandy shared.
“Thanks for mentoring us!” & “Thanks for marrying us!”
Volunteering helped Jon and Kerrie better understand the challenges of poverty, but it also showed them the power of real community.
“We saw God work not only in the success of the couple but also in the power of His Church, creating a broader Christ-centered community. It gave us greater empathy for the very real stress and logistical challenges faced in different seasons of life.”
We are so grateful for volunteers who make themselves available relationally, and walk alongside others as local families reach their financial, relational and spiritual goals.
Will you prayerfully consider becoming a peer support for a local family during their season of struggle?
Email [email protected] to learn more or get started.
We’ll be sharing 40 stories of transformation leading up to our 40th Celebration Block Party on September 24th. Please join us!