God sets the lonely in families
- Danielle Presseault
- 13 hours ago
- 4 min read
Can you imagine yourself single, homeless with three children under the age of four, in the middle of a Canadian winter, with no one to call? What about if you’ve just arrived in Canada from your own dangerous country, but you’ve landed in hospital needing surgery, with no one to take care of your two school aged children? Think of a crisis you have been through and think about who you had to lean on for support. Who are the people you may have had on speed dial to help talk you through a very painful and trying time? Have you ever imagined what you would do if you had no social supports to get through a crisis? These describe some of the types of stories that parents face who are referred to Safe Families Canada (SFC).
SFC was established in 2011 after founder, Jennifer Francis, learned about the already existing Safe Families for Children in the United States. The originating sister organization was launched in 2003 by Dr. Dave Anderson. At their 20-year mark, the Founder and Executive Director shared this,
“Safe Families for Children was born out of the need to keep children safe, keep families intact, and reduce the need for foster care. Today, I’m proud to say our volunteers and staff have surrounded over 50,000 vulnerable children and isolated parents with a caring, compassionate community.”
Dr. Dave Anderson, while working as a Therapist for LYDIA Home association in Chicago, saw the needs of families firsthand and the great need for them to be supported in a new and innovative way. He began to ask himself the question: could the Church offer the very resources to provide the answer for the much-needed care for kids and families who were vulnerable and at risk? He says the Lord gave him the idea of Safe Families for Children, equipping and engaging the Church as volunteers to be short-term “host families” for children while their parents stabilized from their current crisis.
Canada, the UK and Hong Kong have followed suit with a Safe Families type program while many other countries around the world are also launching programs that fit each of their cultures and peoples’ needs.
The core objectives of SFC are as follows: family support and stabilization; child welfare deflection; child abuse prevention: and strengthening compassion ministries of the Church. Families are supported and stabilized with the help of a group of volunteers coming alongside the family in crisis as a “Circle of Support”. These volunteers offer love, support, encouragement and genuine hospitality. Offering this kind of care helps prevent the need for the Child Welfare system to be involved, keeping kids’ home and families together. It also prevents the likelihood of abuse or neglect, a very real risk for many of the families especially those facing isolation. Being that SFC is a Christian organization, they can help the Church to develop their muscles of compassion, equipping and empowering their volunteers towards radical hospitality of a stranger, showing the love of Christ.
The volunteers in Safe Families Canada are Christians who demonstrate the fruit of the spirit as listed in Galatians 5:22-23 “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control”. The Bible offers many examples of hospitality which in the original Greek translates as “the love of a stranger”. Safe Families Canada seeks to apply this love of a stranger in all we do. Volunteers serve as “host families”, “family friends”, “family coaches” and “resource friends”, putting on the practical love of Jesus for families in need. In many cases, volunteers who embody this kind of hospitality become family to those they serve and vice versa. It is truly beautiful. Psalm 68:6 says God sets the lonely in families.
Let me share about one of the Ottawa Chapter’s newest volunteer couples. This couple moved from Vancouver, never having had any of their own children. They knew that marrying late, this would be a very real possibility for them. They surrendered their marriage and their life’s purpose to God. When they moved to Ottawa, they were led to buy a bigger home than they needed for just the two of them. SFC spoke at their new home church shortly after their move, and as they heard the message, they looked at one another, and all the pieces of the puzzle came together. This new spacious home was purposed by God for them to open to children needing their love and care for such a time as this. They are now joyfully serving as a “host family”. Are you a Christian with love in your heart, growing in fruitfulness? Maybe God wants to set the lonely into your family, by serving with Safe Families Canada or a sister organization in your country. You just might be surprised by how you’re blessed as much if not more than the family in need.
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About the Writer- Danielle Presseault
Danielle Presseault is a child of God who loves her children, husband and family with abandon. She holds many titles, but the only thing that defines her is her Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Danielle works as a Family Coach Supervisor with Safe Families Canada and is passionate to oversee the volunteers and families in her care.. Danielle and Kevin have two grown children who make her proud every day. Danielle’s hobbies include reading and writing, playing family board games, seeing a play or a musical and simply relaxing in the great outdoors, preferably near a body of water.