Dan and Heather Everett
Dan and Heather partner with Wild Oak Haven (WOH) through our Bridge-Builders Outreach Team. Most recently, their organization, 1412 Connections, collaborated with WOH to coordinate and lead training sessions for aged-out foster youth and alumni, while also introducing them to our Don’t Go Alone (DGA) program.
About Dan and Heather
“We have been married for 20 years and have six children. We are both from the Philadelphia area, but consider Hampton Roads home. This is where God called us to put down roots and invest our lives seeking the welfare of the city He sent us to. Both of us have a training and HR background. We believe strongly that God is intentional in the places and people he puts in our paths, and we love pouring our hearts into pursuing God’s best for people!
Of our six children, one came to join our family through foster care as a teen. Their journey to permanency hasn’t led to adoption, but we are committed to pouring our all into providing them with the best launchpad possible into their adult life, with unwavering support that meets them where they are every step of the way now and in the years to come.”
How did you get involved with Wild Oak Haven
“A few years ago, God laid a passion for vulnerable young adults on our hearts, and we evidently couldn’t stop talking about it! This was stirring in us as WOH was being established on the other side of Hampton Roads. God saw fit to connect us! We have big dreams of being part of what God is doing to provide Christ-centered connections for young people who need a soft place to land. [Our role within Wild Oak Haven] is being an amplifier for the WOH Outreach team — constantly carrying the mission with us, cheering on the team, and seeking opportunities for connections to further the mission and connect young adults to the DGA program.”
About 1412 Connections and their overlapping mission with Wild Oak Haven
“1412 Connections exists to promote meaningful connections in pursuit greater things: the greatest being the Spirit-led work of sharing the good news of abundant life in Jesus Christ! 1412 Connections is our vehicle to pour our hearts and giftings into pursuing God’s best for people! We partner with churches, small businesses, and non-profits to build trust, deepen engagement, and develop learning solutions that are personal, purposeful, and lasting.
Ministering to vulnerable youth is so close to our hearts! We are passionate about helping others find purpose and create meaningful relationships. This is especially true for young adults with foster care experience. We believe that every person has a greater purpose, that faith becomes powerful when it is lived out in action, and that connection is a sacred tool for transformation. These are values and passions we share with WOH.
In your experience, what value does Wild Oak Haven provide to current and former foster youth?
We are so excited for WOH to be the catalyst God is using to engage the local church with ministering to vulnerable young adults. They are both a people whose goodwill is tied to our own on this side of Glory, and a people whom He’s placed in our path to share the Good News of life with Christ in eternity. WOH is doing incredible things to remind young adults of their value! They are emphasizing such an important principle: as you are becoming and embracing who God created you to be, seek out healthy and life-giving places to belong. WOH desires to walk alongside you throughout that journey!