An Internship Journey of Stepping Out in Faith and Love
Matthew Gilliland wasn’t sure what it would be like to serve in Brazil as part of his Joni and Friends internship. A 2021 graduate from Shepherds College with a certificate in culinary arts, Matthew lives with intellectual disabilities that result in speech, comprehension, and memory delays.
A devoted son to his mother, who is a widow, and loving owner of his miniature dachshund, Frankie, Matthew had concerns about leaving home, traveling to a different country, and serving in an unfamiliar environment. But God gave him the courage to board a flight, along with his team, bound for Brazil!
When God calls you out of your comfort zone…
In Rio de Janeiro Matthew and his fellow interns served at a Joni and Friends International Family Retreat. While he enjoyed pouring into others, and seeing Brazil—especially the Christ the Redeemer statue—Matthew struggled with homesickness. As he says:
“During the first trip with Joni and Friends and Shepherds College, I was meeting new people and feeling kind of nervous and scared. I was homesick and missed my old job where I worked. But God was telling me, ‘Don’t worry, everything’s going to be okay.’ But I was still nervous…”
Trusting God to lead him, Matthew overcame his uneasiness and touched lives, especially those of children being cared for in a respite ministry through a large Baptist church.
Living in desperate poverty, many of the children came to the program hungry. When fed, some even tried to save scraps in their mouths to take home to their family members. Given the opportunity, Matthew eagerly stepped in to help serve the children a nutritious lunch, drawing confidence from his culinary background and experience working in a restaurant back home.
Serving the Love of Jesus to Children in Need
Joni and Friends team member Kimi, who served alongside Matthew in Brazil, recalls coming to the two-year-old room where Matthew had helped bring a cart to deliver lunch. Kimi marveled at Matthew’s patience and care as he hand-fed a little boy who couldn’t eat on his own.
Kimi left for a while and when she returned, the room had grown quiet. It was nap time. Looking around Kimi paused to savor the sweet scene before her. As she recalls…
“There was Matthew, who is a tall guy, sitting cross-legged on the floor between two little children, gently patting their backs to comfort them as they fell asleep.”
In every situation, Kimi saw Matthew’s servant’s heart and kindness shine through. He was a delight to work with and blessing to the team. But at the end of the trip, Matthew told Kimi that, while the experience was something he would treasure, he didn’t think he would be back the following year—the homesickness weighed on his heart, and he felt that his mother and dog needed him too much.
One year later… a surprise!
Kimi will never forget the moment she saw Matthew’s name on this list of interns signed up to serve in Brazil again. She was delighted, and also wondered what had made him change his mind.
Matthew shares what God did in his life that led him back to Brazil, this time as a co-leader:
“God said, ‘I want you to speak the truth to everyone.’ And I said, ‘Show me the way, Lord, and I will do everything in your will. Not my will but your will be done.’”
Matthew
Trusting Jesus anew, Matthew stepped out in faith by serving as the team prayer leader throughout the trip, with no signs of homesickness. Taking his leadership duties to heart, Matthew woke up before dawn each morning to pray and select a Scripture and worship song for the day. He sent the team a daily message like this:
“Good morning, the Bible verses today are Matthew 28:19–20 (The Great Commission): ‘Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’”
“It’s not disability ministry until the disabled are ministering.” – Joni Eareckson Tada
Mark, another Joni and Friends staff member who served with Matthew, found his presence and faithfulness inspiring. Matthew’s passion for prayer and service clearly reflect what Joni Eareckson Tada calls for… disability ministry composed of opportunities for disabled people to participate fully, not only to be served but to serve with purpose and joy.
Mark particularly savors his memory of working with Matthew in a food bank, separating rice, beans, and other food by expiration date. Matthew’s joy and diligence never wavered.
As Mark says, “Matthew is a model for what people with disabilities can do when given the opportunity… And how many more ‘Matthews’ are out there? They need opportunities to serve, grow, and blossom. Too often, society puts them in a corner.”
Encouraging Words from Matthew
Matthew still keeps in touch with fellow interns who served with him in Brazil. And he has a word of encouragement for you, or anyone you know, who lives with disability:
“God knows you and created you. He knitted you inside your mother’s womb. No matter what, God loves you! God will always be with you in your hardship and despair! And the time will come when you see him face to face.”
And to any person with a disability considering serving with Joni and Friends, Matthew exhorts you…
“Just don’t be afraid. You’ll have friends, and close staff and teachers are there helping you and supporting you. And no matter what, God is with you and will always hold you tight.”
Matthew’s Prayer
With his heart set on Jesus, Matthew wrote the following prayer. And now, he wants to bless you by sharing it. Will you pray these words now, and invite God to pull you in close, and hold you tight?
“Dear Almighty God, I ask you, every day, to keep working on me. I surrender to you everything: my dreams, my future, my life eternally. I give you all this 100% every day. Lord, thank you for never giving up on me. You have an amazing and awesome plan in mind for my future and my life. I will be patient. So I pray all this in the power of your Son’s name, forevermore. Amen.”
Joni and Friends Internship Program
We’re equipping students to become leaders in disability ministry to transform lives through the Gospel, impact their churches and communities for Christ, and advocate for justice, freedom, and equality for people impacted by disability.
