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Empowering
Black & Brown Stepfamilies

We help stepfamilies navigate complexities, foster faith at home, and connect through the SBF community, where dining tables
become centers of connection.

Biblically
Based Resources

Practical Approaches
& Training

Build
Connections

Meet Our
Founders

We knew each other for 27 years before we got married. Lots of life was lived between meeting at 12 and 14 and getting married at 39 and 40, but not enough to be ready for blended family life. We became a family on a beautiful spring day in 2008, bringing together Cheryl’s daughter with her former spouse, Jonathan’s daughter and son with his former spouse, and Jonathan’s bonus daughter whom his former spouse brought to their marriage.  After a few years, the Lord led Cheryl to start an organization called Stepmom Sanity and write a book for stepmoms called, Waiting to Be Wanted: A Stepmom’s Guide to Loving Before Being Loved. However, we felt called to come alongside couples with little to no blended family resources, especially those in black and brown communities. 

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After a conversation with Ron Deal and others, we began seeking God, and Sawubona Blended Families was born. We’re not perfect; we make mistakes but try to learn from them. We don’t have all the answers; we rely heavily on the One who does. But, we will share what we HAVE learned, we will pray for you, we will point you to resources, and we will connect you with couples and professionals to help you break cycles of dysfunction and nurture connections. We’re in this! And, we’re in this with you!

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If you would like Cheryl and/or Jonathan to speak at your Church or Event please contact us today!

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Airy Dining Room

Statement of Faith

01

We believe the Bible to be the inspired, infallible, and authoritative Word of God. It is profitable for doctrine, correction, reproof and instruction. By it our minds are renewed, we are matured, and are thoroughly equipped for every good work.

02

We believe that there is one God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit – each of whom possesses equally all the attributes of Deity and the characteristics of personality;

03

We believe Jesus Christ is God, the Son, the living Word, who became flesh through His miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit and His virgin birth. We believe in His sinless life, His voluntary atoning death on the cross for the sins of mankind, and His bodily resurrection.

04

We believe Jesus ascended bodily into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God the Father, where He, the only mediator between God and man, continually makes intercession for His own.

05

We believe in salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. God imputes His righteousness to those who put their faith in Christ for their salvation, and thereby justifies them in His sight.

06

We affirm the Holy Spirit's ongoing ministry: convicting, drawing sinners to Christ, empowering believers, imparting gifts for growth, and sealing them until redemption. His fullness and guidance are accessed through faith.

07

We believe Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church, His Body, composed of those who have been joined to Him through saving faith.

08

We believe the Lord Jesus Christ commanded all believers to bear fruit that will glorify God through the proclamation of the Gospel throughout the world and by discipling men, women, and children of every nation.

09

We believe in the inevitable, personal, and visible bodily return of Jesus Christ to earth – to consummate history and the eternal plan of God.

Newly engaged and wondering if you've chosen the right person? Dynamics deceive you into believing a healthy remarriage is impossible?

We can help. One-on-One with the Shumakes is a great way to RECONNECT, RESTORE, and REFRAME issues preventing your marriage from being the most satisfying it can be:

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  • Learn what makes you great as a couple with your SYMBIS* assessment

  • Flag and lower risk factors that derail your success

  • Create your own plan for resolving conflict with grace and honor

  • Map a path towards the future you dreamt for your marriage

  • Gain energizing fresh perspective on blended-family dynamics

  • Become confident in overcoming connection stalls

 

Are you ready to experience what God had in mind for the two of you and your family?

*SYMBIS is a robust, research-based report, grounded in multiple studies, created by Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott.

Cheryl is a trained SYMBIS facilitator.

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