She was first introduced to Teen Challenge when her church hosted an outreach event many years ago. The stories of changed lives and broken addictions touched her heart. At the time, Mary-Lynn and her husband were young and had a family. Money was tight and though they wanted to help this ministry, they didn’t feel they had the means.

So, years later when Mary-Lynn attended her first gala and witnessed the dessert auction, she was inspired! She couldn’t write a big cheque, but she could use her love of baking, and the talents God has given her to support this ministry she loved so dearly!

The first year Mary-Lynn baked for our Teen Challenge Dessert Auction, she made a Double-layered Mocha Chocolate Cheesecake. Although she is an avid baker, she doesn’t feel confident in decorating, so she called on her niece Tammy who has a cake business. The two of them created a masterpiece!

As the start of the auction drew near, Mary-Lynn was nervous. She hoped her cake would fetch a good donation for Teen Challenge but what if no one wanted it? Unbeknownst to Mary-Lynn, her husband had been working behind the scenes to ensure a successful debut. Dennis had teamed up with members of their Bible Study to pool their resources and purchase Mary-Lynn’s epic dessert!

As the bidding started, her stomach was in knots. It went from $300 to $500 and was rising. Mary-Lynn started pacing at the back of the room. The bid was $900. Nine hundred dollars for her cheesecake! Wow. When the bid hit $1000 she left the room. She rushed to the washroom and burst into tears. She was overwhelmed with how God could take her hobby and turn it into meaningful support for the men at the Atlantic Men’s Centre.

When all was said and done, that cheesecake raised $1,125 and Mary-Lynn’s table enjoyed every bite of their dessert that night! The baker was so appreciative of the beautiful show of support from her friends – not just for the purchase of her culinary creation, but also for the generous donation to Teen Challenge.

That night inspired Mary-Lynn. She says she was “hooked” on that feeling because she never would have been able to be so generous on her own. In fact, it reminds us of Mark 12 when the widow gives two small coins and Jesus says she gave more than all of the rich people because she gave what she had. Mary-Lynn gave what she had, and the Lord blessed it and multiplied it.

The following year, Mary-Lynn decided to make two desserts for the auction. Both were cheesecakes but they did not turn out as she hoped. Both cheesecakes cracked as they cooled and one stuck to the pan. Beside herself with disappointment, she wanted to throw them out and start fresh. However, the clock was ticking with the auction happening in just a few hours. Besides, tossing them would be wasteful. Mary-Lynn’s cake-decorating niece Tammy came to the rescue and assured her they would be fabulous – and she wasn’t wrong! Tammy set to work with frosting, ganache, and fresh raspberries. Decorating them made all the difference!

The second auction got her heart racing just like the first one! As the bids started to climb, Mary-Lynn had an incredible encounter with the Lord. He told her the way that she looked at those cheesecakes is how many people look at the men at our centre. They think there’s nothing they can do – their life is wasted. But, when you surround yourself with people that want to help and that have a vision, all things are possible.

Mary-Lynn’s niece had a vision for what she wanted those cakes to look like, and she made it come to life. As Mary-Lynn puts it “those cakes blew my socks off!” That is how the Lord sees the men at Teen Challenge – he has a vision for them and will use people and experiences in their lives to create the masterpiece he has in mind. In fact, their stories of redemption might just blow your socks off!

At the end of the night, Mary-Lynn’s desserts raised almost five thousand dollars. The Raspberry Chocolate Swirl Cheesecake fetched $1,250, and the Turtle Cheesecake brought in a whopping $3,700. This humble servant was flooded with emotion – she would never have been able to write a cheque for $5,000 but she can bake. She committed to our team that each year she will make two cakes for as long as she is able.

As we approach this year’s gala, Mary-Lynn has been praying for the organizers, other contributors, and the people that will attend. She feels the Lord has put on her heart to raise $10,000. Will she do it? That remains to be seen but she is a willing vessel for what God can do through her.

If you are attending our Atlantic Men’s Centre Gala Banquet, be prepared for a lot of fun during the dessert auction! It has become a highlight of the evening. The bidding gets competitive, the desserts are fabulous, and the funds raised support an amazing cause.

Be on the lookout for Mary-Lynn’s famous Turtle Cheesecake as well as something new she has been perfecting for this year’s auction: Pumpkin Spice Latte Cheesecake with a gingersnap crust. And, just for good measure she is also preparing a chocolate trifle.

We are so grateful for people like Mary-Lynn that stand with us in our mission to demonstrate God’s love by helping individuals become free from substance addiction and equipping them to live full and meaningful lives.