RESOURCES BY SUBJECT l FTF LIBRARY

Blended Families  (Step Families)

• Successful Step Families Conference with Ron Deal at St Giles Presbyterian Church Feb 21, 2009.  Link here
• Step by Step, A support Group has formed at St Giles Presbyterian church generally on fourth mondays. link for info. or call 282-9763 ext 13 to RSVP or more information.
• http://www.successfulstepfamilies.com/ Successful StepFamilies; Created by author and stepfamily enrichment specialist Ron L. Deal, this site provides Christian resources for pre-remarital couples, stepfamilies, and the churches who serve them.
• Step Families: Tomorrow's Nuclear Family article by  Dr. David Swift
• Preparing to Marry Again by Dick Dunn (available in Family Resource Center); to order E-mail: Dickbettydunn@aol.com
• Willing to Try Again by Dick Dunn (available in Family Resource Center); to order E-mail: Dickbettydunn@aol.com
• I Don’t Want a New Mommy by Dick Dunn; Simple Coloring Book that helps children with their loss of a parent and changing family situation (available in Family Resource Center); to order E-mail: Dickbettydunn@aol.com
• New Faces in the Frame by Dick Dunn; A great 13 week study format for group or individual published by LifeWay (available in Family Resource Center)
• http://www.DesigningDynamicStepfamilies.com  StepFamilies books and DVD curriculum for individuals and groups in Secular or Christian format.
•   http://www.stepfamilies.info/about.php National Stepfamily Resource Center formerly  Step Family Association of America;     National, nonprofit membership organization dedicated to successful stepfamily living. Produces Smart Steps Curriculum (excellent)
• Link for Stepfamilies in Formation : http://sfhelp.org/09/lc-intro.htm 
• www.stepfamily.org Stepfamily Foundation
• National Stepfamily Day Sept 16  www.happystepfamilyday.org   Est. in 1997 and the National Stepfamily Day picnic.   Watch for local events co-sponsored by Step by Step the local Support Group and Marriage Builders Alliance of Richmond!
• http://www.rainbows.org  not-for-profit, international organization that offers training and curricula for establishing peer support groups in churches, synagogues, schools or social agencies. These curricula are available for children and adults of all ages and religious denominations who are grieving a death, divorce or any other painful transition in their family.
• SW Church of Christ StepFamily Resource list http://www.swfamily.org/stepfamily/links.php
• "Can Step Families be Done Right?" by Joann and Seth Webster  (Ed Cole's daughter, Seth is the step-son). Published by Creation House. 2001.  You will also discover what every stepfamily must survive in order to thrive: Choosing the best course for discipline, Determining a role for the stepparent, Is there an "easy" way to do visitation?, Dealing with the "ghosts" in each member's past, Living through the three cycles of stepfamily life, Adjusting expectations for becoming a "real family".
• "Kids Support" Group for Children of Divorce from Resource Guidance Services. Weekly: contact Susie Hartman 257-9586.
• Support Group for Kids: "Confident Kids"  is a program designed to educate and equip children who have families in crisis due to divorce, addictions, or other challenging life circumstances. Runs periodically.
• Stepfamily in Formation; practical questions and worksheets to answer.  by Peter K. Gerlach, MSW. Stepfamily in Formation http://sfhelp.org/07/links07.htm
• "Tying the Family Knot, Meeting the Challenges of a Blended Family".  new book by Terri Clark (501-760-1234; teri@direclynx.net) waiting to receive my copy to review and pass along to Step by Step. If you read this, let us know what you think...
• www.instepministries.com InStep Ministries: a faith-based nonprofit organization dedicated to providing resources, support, counsel and encouragement to singles, single-parents and stepfamilies and to those who minister to them. Our passion is equipping people for life. Our mission is to provide resources and services that are practical, Biblical, relevant and affordable.
• What Remarrying Couples Need to Know: http://www.instepministries.com/Remarriage.asp  frim In Step Ministries.
• Stepfamily check up questionnaire link http://www.successfulstepfamilies.com/view/343
• Winning Step Families: coaching and workshops and setting up stepfamily ministies: http://www.winningstepfamilies.com/ 
• "The Elephant in the Bedroom: Cohabitation, Remarriage, and What’s Best for Your Relationship"   a Christian view with research By Ron L. Deal, President, Successful Stepfamilies. 

  Blending Families Workshop, Richmond, VA  was held Feb 22-23, 2002... I hope you did not miss this event with 103 participants from 30 different churches.  Several Support Groups are forming including St Giles, Mechanicsville Christian Center and perhaps New Hanover Presbyterian. Conference Notes from Blending Families Workshop with Dunns

Greetings, this is our second newsletter. Each month we will feature practical information that you can use in your life and family. Please feel free to contact us with feedback, questions or comments via phone: 520-721-0800 or email: Info @Instepministries.com 

We are a faith-based nonprofit organization dedicated to providing resources, support, counsel and encouragement to singles, single-parents and stepfamilies and to those who minister to them. Our passion is equipping people for life. Our mission is to provide resources and services that are practical, Biblical, relevant and affordable. To learn more about InStep, visit our website: www.instepministries.com 

The first step to a healthy remarriage is you. Life wounds all of us. The losses, disappointments and hurts of life will not heal themselves—you must choose to heal. In fact, you will not grow until healing has taken place—and this takes time. You will determine the success of your next relationship by the investment you make in becoming a healthy single. Your friendships, habits, spiritual disciplines, attitudes, expectations, doubts and fears—everything that defines who you are and what you will need in a relationship—will all play a role in the success or failure of your next relationship.

Developing trust in a new stepfamily is difficult because most remarrying adults (and children) are emotionally and spiritually wounded and wounded people are extremely self-protective. Vulnerability (opening oneself up to more potential pain or hurt) is scary. However, for the family to grow, family members must allow themselves to be vulnerable. Without the healthy interactions that evolve from people who learn to trust one another and be vulnerable with one another, families become stagnant, lifeless and sterile.

The surest way to have a happy life is not to “jump” into a relationship, but to build a life full of meaning and satisfaction. The main ingredient in a healthy lifestyle is your relationship with God. We need to look to God as our source of help. It is from Him that our life draws meaning. He will bring situations into our life to help us grow and individuals into our life to help meet our needs. What is God doing in your life? Where is He active? Where is He asking you to serve?

Call Yvonne at 520-721-0800 for details and other InStep activities. InStep is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit ministry. Donations are tax-deductible and always welcome.

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National Healthy Marriage Resource Center launched April 2006 www.healthymarriageinfo.org