Family Retreat Is the Best Week of Our Year!

When Adam and Ashley felt God’s call, they answered… 

Stepping out in faith, Adam and Ashley adopted their son Robbie through the foster care system. Living with autism and carrying the weight of early childhood trauma, Robbie is non-verbal and struggles with sensory processing and emotional regulation. 

From the beginning, Adam and Ashley knew their parenting journey would provide great blessings and present challenges. At home they took one day at a time with Robbie, applying patience and love to the unique complexities that come with his disabilities. 

For a season the family of three found solace and connection in their church community. But when Robbie grew too old for the children’s ministry, they heard what no parent can bear to be told about their beloved child: 

“We don’t have a place for him here.” 

Heartbroken and isolated, Adam and Ashley wondered if they would ever find a place where their family truly belonged. Then, through Fellowship Church and Joni and Friends Louisiana, God showed up for this hurting family, delivering joy in place of their discouragement… 

At an accessible and welcoming Splash Day event, co-hosted by Joni and Friends and Fellowship Church, Adam and Ashley found the perfect opportunity for Robbie to enjoy one of his favorite activities (water play!) with people who would understand and enjoy him. 

Ashley vividly remembers arriving at the event to a warm welcome, and how the church members calmly helped the family when Robbie experienced a meltdown at the end of the day. But what amazed Ashley most was that the members who witnessed Robbie’s meltdown eagerly invited the family to church. The message rang through like the peal of a beautiful bell:

“We have a place for him here!” 

When Adam and Ashley brought Robbie to Fellowship Church for the first time, they immediately felt welcome and wanted. Encouraged by church members who love serving with Joni and Friends, Adam and Ashley took another step of faith, signing up to attend Family Retreat. 

While they arrived nervous, Robbie’s family found exactly what they needed at Family Retreat: a week of rest, fellowship, and encouragement like they had never experienced before… no wonder they have made Family Retreat a tradition! As Ashley says: 

“Family Retreat is the one thing we look forward to all year. It’s a haven where we receive biblical encouragement, fellowship, and opportunities to connect with other parents experiencing similar hardships. It is a place where friends become family—a place of rest and respite.” 

At Family Retreat, Robbie enjoys pool time and water games, disability friendly hikes, and his favorite: lots of golf cart rides. And all the while he enjoys the company and care of volunteers who have been trained to meet his specific needs. 

Like many families navigating disability, Ashley, Adam, and Robbie rarely get more than a few hours’ break from their responsibilities and routines. It’s why they savor the soul-restoring respite, inclusive worship, and joyful fellowship at Family Retreat. 

“I never want to leave when it’s time to go home,” says Ashley. 

The Blessing of Giving Back 

This year, Ashley, Adam, and Robbie will attend both weeks of Louisiana Family Retreat—once to simply enjoy their favorite event of the year, and the other to serve as volunteers, offering respite and joy to others! 

“We want to give back just a portion of what has been given to our family. Family Retreat is the best week of our year, and we want to help other families experience the love of Christ as volunteers, the same way we experience it each year,” says Ashley.