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Step By Step :: Lexington, KY

About Step By Step

Impacting generations for Christ, one young single mother's heart at a time.
The road an unwed mother must travel is a difficult one. Step By Step is here to reach out to each young woman and help make the journey a little easier. We'll aid her in dealing with her fears and conquering feelings of being overwhelmed.

Step By Step will always meet her with love and understanding instead of disapproval or judgment. We will help support and guide her. Programs offered by Step By Step will give her the confidence she needs to open the door to a promising future for herself and her family. Step By Step will be a place where she will find hope.

 

Mission Statement
Step By Step exists to provide an opportunity for salvation, and emotional and spiritual healing through Jesus Christ to young single mothers and their children, by walking with them step by step as they learn to lead productive, purposeful lives.

 

Core Values
  1. We are Christ centered and Holy Spirit inspired.
  2. Lost people matter to God, therefore they matter to us.
  3. Children are a gift from God therefore we are intentional with our ministry toward them.
  4. We provide a non-threatening environment where we offer absolute truth in a non-judgmental way.
  5. We encourage Spiritual growth as it is necessary for life change.
  6. We are ministry focused for the growth and development of our mothers and children; we are not driven by programming.

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Why Step By Step?

Lost people matter to Jesus so much that He gave his life to save them. As the Bible tells us to seek to be like Him... Lost people need to matter to us too!

Step By Step is a ministry designed specifically to reach out to young unwed women, ages 14 to 24, who have become mothers as a result of an unplanned pregnancy. These young women have a tough job ahead of them. They are faced with raising their children alone. Most feel overwhelmed and frightened because raising children is a big job, even for two loving parents with resources. It seems even more difficult when they face eyes of disapproval and judgment at every corner. Before they have even begun, the world has labeled them “failures”.

God has called us to make a difference. What these young women need is guidance and support. They need acceptance without judgment. They need someone to tell them that they don’t HAVE to fail. They need to know that they have both the ability and responsibility to offer themselves and their children a promising future. They need hope and they need love. WHAT THEY NEED IS JESUS CHRIST! But someone has to plant the seed. Someone has to show them the way. Imagine the difference the Lord can make in their lives, and in the lives of their children.

Many people would turn their backs on the idea of associating with these young women. But the question is: Would Jesus? Should you?

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Statement of Faith

The vision of Step By Step is based upon the belief and acceptance of the absolute truth of scripture.
(1) We believe without reservation in the full and final inspiration of the Bible as the only infallible and authoritative Word of God.
References: Proverbs 30:5-6; II Timothy 3:16-17

The doctrine of the Trinity is foundational to the Christian faith, and is thoroughly established in the Bible.
(2) We believe in one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
References: John 10:30; John 17:21-22; Matthew 28:18&19; Corinthians 8:6

We believe that Jesus Christ is Lord.
(3) We believe in the deity and supremacy of our Lord Jesus Christ; in His atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and His imminent return with power and glory. 
References: John 14:6; Colossians 1:15-20; Acts 1:1-11; Acts 7:56; Luke 24:36-51

Because we believe Jesus is the only means of salvation, our ultimate goal is to introduce our young mothers to Him. We feel it is our role to strive to exemplify God's grace by our attitudes and actions. 
(4) We believe salvation is a gift of God's grace, given to those who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  
References: Ephesians 2:4-9; Acts 15:11 

We believe that what we do here can make an eternal difference. Our goal is to help bring these young mothers to a point where their eternity in Heaven is secure.
(5) We believe in eternal life, including an eternal heaven and an eternal hell.  
References: Matthew 25:46; Hebrews 9:27; Luke 16:19-26

The inherent value of all human life is clearly established in Scripture. Therefore, we do not believe in abortion neither will we suggest abortion as a birth control method or pregnancy option. At the same time, we will not exclude or condemn anyone who has chosen that option.
(6) We believe in God, the Creator of life, and therefore believe in the preservation and not destruction of the sanctity of born and unborn human life.   
References: Psalm 139:13-16; Proverbs 24:11; Jeremiah 1:4&5; Job 31:13-15; Isaiah 49:5; Luke 1:15,39-41,44

We will suggest abstinence outside of marriage as the only form of birth control that we will support or encourage. We will not exclude or condemn anyone who has chosen another option.
(7) We believe in sexual abstinence outside of marriage as the Bible teaches.   
References: I Thessalonians 4:3-5; I Corinthians 6:18-20; Hebrews 13:4

We expect our staff and volunteers in all areas of this organization to be in prayer for God's will concerning this ministry.
(8) We believe Christ is at the center of everything we do in this organization, and we are committed to seeking His will in everything we do.   
References: Matthew 6:33; Matthew 28:18; Ephesians 1:22; Colossians 1:18

Because we have been shown unconditional love and forgiveness through Christ we will strive to express the same kind of love that we have received. We will not exclude or condemn any young mother on the basis of her past or present decisions.
(9) We believe in approaching ministry in a non-judgmental way, which accepts people with love and compassion.   
References: I John 3:18&23; Matthew 5:7; Matthew 7:1&2; Luke 6:35-38

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History

Cycle (noun)
Cy.cle [si~k`l] A sequence of events that is repeated again and again, especially in a casual sequence.
Most ministries are about building or creating things. Step By Step is about breaking things: destructive cycles, negative habits, and the harmful plans and intentions the enemy has for these precious moms and their children. Step By Step is about replacing them with cycles of blessings, holy habits, and the wonderful plans God has for His people! Over and over we see these breakthroughs happening in the lives of young moms and children. Step By Step is changing lives and eternity, one step at a time.

Step By Step was born out of a burden God placed in the hearts of three women. Two of the women, Susan Freeman, and Terri Behrens met at Crossroads Christian Church where they were introduced to Tammy Fryman. Together, these three answered God's call to reach out to young unwed mothers in Lexington Kentucky, and Step by Step was established in 1995.

Within two years, the need for Step By Step outgrew the ability of one church to support it, necessitating that it became a community church based organization. In 1997, Step By Step, became Step by Step, Inc. and was officially a 501c3 non-profit organization. Understanding that much of its client population lived in the metro Lexington area, Step By Step opened a center at 206 S. Limestone which allowed the young mothers daily access to Christian leaders and mentors. Currently its office is located at 465 East High Street, Suite 109 in Lexington, Kentucky. The staff members are available to help clients deal with the emotional wounds in their lives, provide crisis intervention and resource referrals for practical needs. They also assist with resume writing, office skills training, Bible studies, etc.

It is our goal to meet these young mothers and their children at the place of their need. We will give them the opportunity to know Jesus as their savior, receive emotional and spiritual healing, and break the cycles they find themselves in. The wonderful volunteers and staff at Step By Step get the amazing privilege of ministering to a group of hurting people whom God is crazy in love with. It is our responsibility to exemplify that love and be “Jesus with skin on” until they meet Him personally! The ministry has grown substantially since 1995. It has helped over 1500 young mothers and more than 3000 children! There are currently over 200 young single mothers and more than 300 children actively participating. In 2008 Step By Step opened a pilot program in neighboring Scott County, and is currently developing program duplication materials for interested parties in other states.

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Board and Staff

President
Christy Hiler - Account Manager, Cornett IMS

Treasurer
Sheila Sekela - Owner and Operator, Fairview Farm

Member
Andrea Shindlebower - Legal Services Analyst, LLC

Member
Bryan Barrett - Pastor, Bluegrass Christian Community

Member
Terry Borders - Marketing Manager

Member
Lana McCoy - Insurance Assistant, Lex League of Cities

Member
Carol Hardin - Fayette County Public Schools

Limited Member
Susan Freeman - Executive Director of Step By Step, Inc.

Limited Member
Terri Behrens - Business Owner, Assist Director of Step By Step, Inc.

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