I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a

full understandingof every good thing we have in Christ.  Philemon 6

     Since Strategies to Elevate People (STEP) was founded in 1983, our purpose has remained constant, based onthe first verse of Isaiah 61:  "to preach the good news to the poor, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom to the captives and to release from darkness for theprisoners." The acronym STEP originally stood for "Strategies to Eliminate Poverty." Though the meaning ofacronym was changed in order to accentuate the positive nature of this work,the history reveals our bold vision: to eliminate poverty in the City of Richmond.

     Historically STEP has worked to interrupt poverty cycles by providing practical solutionsto break down the barriers to gainful employment and meaningful education. What makes STEP unique is our mandate to satisfy needs entirely through the gifts, resources and testimony of the people of God. There are many organizations working to meet similar needs, but outside of Christ the the direst need of all goes unmet – the need for a Savior. God has created us for relationship with Him and with one another. It is through relationships that we, the Church, effectively deliver the Good News about Jesus Christ.

     In recent months we have been asking, “Has our focus changed?” The answer hasbeen a resounding no! We are energized as we move forward with a clear understanding of our mandate.

     In the coming months we will be working to increase the effectiveness and scope of our education programs, as well as renewing our efforts in the area of economic empowerment. We hope you will commit to sharing your witness through relationships and practical service so that the poor will see Christ.

God Bless!

Timothy Cole

Executive Director