Growing in Christ in North Carolina
Vicky Lynn has eight children; three with disabilities. She attends Family Retreat and Family Retreat at Home with her two youngest daughters, Joanna and Danielle, who both have Down syndrome.
As a special needs mom, Vicky Lynn has lived through decades of providing around-the-clock care for her daughters.
She explains, “It’s easy to get bogged down in everyday life. At Family Retreat, I am reminded to view my life in the context of eternity.”
For Vicky Lynn and her family, Joni and Friends has become a tremendous source of inspiration. Through our Family Retreat ladies’ small group, Vicky Lynn learns new parenting strategies that help her and her daughters all throughout the year. And Joanna and Danielle have formed close relationships with families and volunteers that attend Family Retreat. They can’t get enough of all the Bible lessons, praise and worship, fun activities and Christ-centered fellowship.
Ever since Family Retreat at Home, Joanna and Danielle have become part of Joni and Friends North Carolina’s online story time hour each week. They love praying with and for the other families they’ve met, but the greatest highlight for Vicky, Joanna, and Danielle occurred the night Joni shared a story with the families during our weekly story time!
Through Joni and Friends, Joanna and Danielle have found real friends, and they’re abundantly happy knowing there are people in their lives who love them.
The times of fellowship with Joni and Friends volunteers that occur through FaceTime in addition to scheduled Joni and Friends activities give Joanna and Danielle something to look forward to week after week.
“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
John 13:35
Danielle in particular delights in being able to lead some of our Joni Friends North Carolina activities. She loves taking her turn reading aloud or joining in leading a song. Vicky Lynn knows that both of her daughters are growing in skills and confidence as they are encouraged to be fully included in the body of Christ. Indeed, they are growing more and more into the young women of God they were created to be!
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Ephesians 2:10
Joanna and Danielle have also been embraced by our wonderful Family Retreat praise and worship leaders. After seeing how much joy Joanna and Danielle express during times of praise and worship, they are often invited to participate in leading worship on stage at Family Retreat. Joanna loves to shake the tambourine, and Danielle loves singing into the microphone.
“My heart, O God, is steadfast; I will sing and make music with all my soul.”
Psalm 108:1
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You can give more and more people with disabilities an opportunity to grow in Christ through Family Retreat and all our other wonderful programs through your steadfast prayers and gifts
