Building Family

The godly people in the land are my true heroes! I take pleasure in them!

– Psalm 16:3 NLT

Perhaps no segment of the population has been more challenged during the pandemic than single parents. 22.7% of families with children in San Francisco are single-parent households. Families come in all shapes and sizes, and with up to one-quarter of children living in single-parent households, it is impossible to talk about building family without talking about the unsung heroes who are single moms and dads. 

In the BACC, we are inspired to have some of these heroic family-builders in our midst. Because of their focus on God, they not only lead their families but also give hope, strength, and life-changing spiritual help to other single parents. 

I am personally inspired by my friend Patrick Saldou, who became a single parent five years ago when his wife of 20 years, Toni, succumbed to appendix cancer. Since that time, he has been a tireless advocate for meeting the needs of single parents in the Bay Area. 

“We at the BACC have done a great job reaching out to families with special needs, of which I am one, and we do a great job supporting and helping people build their marriages and with parenting,” Patrick told me. “However, I noticed that there were specific needs single parents had and I was in a unique position to do something about it.”

Independent of one another, two other single parents in the church (Summer, who lives in Alameda County, and Anthony, who lives in San Francisco) were moved by God like Patrick was to take action to bring together single parents.

Right before the pandemic hit, Patrick, Summer, and Anthony ended up finding each other and decided to work together as a group—or as you might say, a family. They began community outreach events to meet the needs of single parents.

As Patrick will accurately tell you, “In the Bay Area some of the most social people and best leaders are single parents.” God is working through this faith and leadership to bring a big impact on these families.

Sticking together and overcoming together

A dear friend will love you no matter what, and a family sticks together through all kinds of trouble.

– Proverbs 17:17 TPT

Through the inspiring efforts and leadership of single parents like Jessica from Alameda County, Emily in San Francisco, and Rebecca in Santa Clara, the Bay Area Single Parents group has hosted community events that address needs like raising strong kids, recovering from grief, navigating co-parenting, and being defined by God instead of the world. These events are helping so many learn how to overcome obstacles and build their families with faith. 

Tessa, who recently came to one of the single-parent community events, was inspired to study the Bible and learn more about how to raise strong kids in a godly way. Just this last month, Tessa was baptized and is now continuing her journey to build family and help others.  

Single Parent Event Coming Up on July 23

Coming up on July 23, the single parent group will be meeting at 10:30 am at Common Ground to hear adults who were raised by single parents give their perspectives and advice as to what helped and what was difficult about growing up in single-parent households. This is just the latest event to address needs in the community.  

Single-parent-led households are some of the most inspiring and heroic members of our family here. We look forward to seeing more of the impact our families will have in our community! 

Until next time,

Scott and Margo Colvin