SHAWN – MOTHER

Though Shawn grew up in an affluent family, she found herself a single mother of two living in a shelter before moving into a neighbourhood where UrbanPromise Toronto (UPT) had its first location (Camp Spirit at Parkway Bible Church in Scarborough).
        Initially, she was hesitant about even sending her children to UPT’s after school program at Camp Spirit, but recently Shawn attended UPT’s mom’s retreat for the seventh time and it was at her first retreat that she received Jesus into her life. So what happened?
        Well, after taking refuge in a shelter, Shawn and her children moved into a housing community and she began working in a nearby food bank. There she met Terri. Shawn and Terri became good friends. A neighbour told Shawn and Terri about Camp Spirit, and though they were both a little sceptical they eventually decided to try it out.
        She quickly found out it wasn’t such a bad idea when her daughters came home filled with laughter and silly stories about their day at camp. She still didn’t know what UPT was all about. All she knew was that her kids were having fun and learning about God, and that was enough for her.
        “It was so much fun for them and they got to know other kids from all walks of life. They were learning about God and I saw as my kids got older that they were really getting spiritual and it was lovely,” said Shawn. Her daughters’ lives were being changed through it all, but as for herself, she had always believed in God and that’s as far as it went.

        In its early years, the Mother’s Program was designed simply as a support group, but once it moved locations several years ago, it became a bible study and support group. It was then that Shawn and her friend Terri started going. As a private person, it took time for her to be comfortable enough to share her story, but when she found out how safe of an environment it was, she was encouraged to be honest and real.
“It was a wonderful, slow process, that all these women could get together and learn how to bring God into their lives…I love how UrbanPromise teaches you about God without shoving it down your throat!”
        Though she had received Jesus into her life several years before at the retreat, it was a while before Shawn would allow God to transform her life. As she began attending the bible study on a weekly basis, her questions and doubts were slowly dismantled by the fellowship of truth and friendship.
        As she got to know God personally, she admits the transformation happened automatically and she is thankful that her life is now filled with the treasures that come with that. From something as simple as walking away from gossiping frenzies at work to recently quitting smoking, Shawn is growing in her walk with Christ.
        “I’ve learned (God) is so forgiving…I’ve learned to be more patient. I give my problems to God now and it’s made me feel so much better because I wouldn’t have done that before.”
        She is now in a place to help other mothers and appreciates what her family at UPT has done for her and her children. “They taught my kids about God and kept them off the streets! They were the ones who helped mould my kids into who they are today, I can’t even begin to thank UP for all they’ve done for my family.”