How God’s Love Shines Through Joni and Friends Family Retreats

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

John 1:5

We are ever grateful for all that God is doing in and through you. At Joni and Friends^®, serving means being the hands and feet of Jesus to so many, and I just love to see God’s glory on full display!

Rick, Roseanne, and their four children—Brianna, Christopher, Zach, and Mia—have received love and care through Joni and Friends and your support. With three of their four children living with disability, their family desperately needed a break. They needed Family Retreat.

The excitement in Rick and Roseanne’s home is palpable as they prepare for Family Retreat. They love to experience the one-of-a-kind Family Retreat welcome—driving in to clapping, smiles, and lots of cheering. It brings a feeling of warmth to their hearts and their family. This year, in particular, it was important for their family to attend Family Retreat, as they had been caring for Christopher while he recovered from surgery. They were also caring for Roseanne’s mom.

On Tuesday morning of Family Retreat, Zach wasn’t feeling well, and it was eventually determined that he should be taken to the hospital for evaluation. Even as the situation unfolded, our Joni and Friends staff and volunteers showed such incredible love for Zach and his family. As soon as Rick decided that it would be best to take Zach to the hospital, he said he immediately heard some of the volunteers telling Zach that they would be praying for him. Zach also wanted his long-time buddy, Ted, to go with him. One of Zach’s favorite things about Family Retreat is getting to spend time with his buddy and other friends. Ted went willingly because Zach had become more to him than just a Family Retreat buddy—they were family.

The Lord, in His infinite wisdom, knew before the foundation of the world that Zach and his family would want and need Ted with them. As Zach was lying in his hospital bed, he looked at Ted and said, “I like my buddy at my side. I will be ok.” And then he fell asleep, calm and peaceful with Ted—and Jesus—watching over him.

Days later, Zach needed surgery to remove the tumor doctors found. Our Family Retreat pastor assured Rick and Roseanne, “We are family and will pray for you and Zach. If you need anything, we will do it.” And praise God, the surgery was successful, and Zach has recovered well!

Rick, Roseanne, and their children have found a place of belonging at Family Retreat. In fact, they are so blessed by their Joni and Friends family that Rick serves at Family Retreat himself! “God has given me helping hands, and that’s what I like to do—to serve others as they have served my family,” says Rick.

            Rick sums it all up well when he shares, “In 1 Peter 4:10 we read, ‘Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.’ And this is what Joni and Friends is all about—serving, loving, praying, and using the gifts that God’s given you to help someone in need.”

We serve and give so that families struggling with disability experience the love of Jesus—and we share the Gospel with each precious family member. From my heart to yours, would you join us in this journey and be the hands and feet of Jesus so we can meet practical needs and share the Good News of Jesus Christ with more families like Rick and Roseanne’s? Thank you for giving your most generous gift today. We can’t do what we do without you!

Will you help us reach other families like Zach, so they can experience joy and acceptance, and most importantly, come to know the love of our Savior who gave His life for them?

God bless you for your faithful partnership in ministry!