Jesus is Close to the Brokenhearted at Family Retreat
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
Psalm 34:18
Family Retreat gives families living with disability a safe place to exhale and be accepted just as they are. It’s a safe haven where their grief, fears, hopes and dreams alike are met with arms wide open.
Even though our New England Family Retreat is one of his favorite places on the planet, Bradley was not sure if he wanted to go last summer after his father died.
He felt that Family Retreat would make him miss his dad even more than usual. But his mom, Maureen, knew Family Retreat would be a secure and safe place to process their grief.
“No one judges at Family Retreat. Someone can have an outburst, and no one stares at them or makes a mean comment.”
Maureen
Bradley, who has Down syndrome, arrived at Family Retreat very closed off, sad, and angry with God. He confessed, “I just miss my dad too much to have fun.”
But as Bradley got to know his Family Retreat Buddy, Mark, he got more and more comfortable and began to tell Mark about his father. He also felt safe enough to ask Mark tough questions about God and dying.
And after talking to our camp pastor, Bradley found out that he and Pastor Travis had something very special in common – they both lost their fathers and missed them very much.
As Bradley and Pastor Travis shared their hearts with each other, Bradley recommitted his life to God!
Bradley explained what happened when he spoke to Pastor Travis. “I felt the Holy Spirit in me. I decided to give God a second chance and I could feel his love in me. I didn’t have to feel empty anymore.”
Mark says that after Bradley prayed with Pastor Travis, “It was like he was floating. He had extra bounce in him. He was a new man! Bradley trusted us and knew we were there for him as friends – without forcing him – just having real conversations.”
Pastor Travis and Mark were able to answer Bradley’s questions in ways that were easy to understand.
While Bradley is still processing the pain of his loss, he is also learning to trust God even though he cannot see him. He even decided to get baptized when he returned home from Family Retreat!
“I want to be baptized because I want people to know I’m following Jesus. I want to change my ways to Jesus’ ways.”
Bradley
He also shared that he “hopes to use his gifts to encourage people to open their hearts to God and be a good friend like the volunteers at Family Retreat are to him.”
Family Retreat gave Maureen and Bradley a safe place to work through their grief and pain, bringing them even closer to each other and to Jesus.
At Family Retreat, special needs families find a loving community and the security to be vulnerable with each other. At Family Retreat, hearts and lives are renewed by the never-ending love of God!
“I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”
2 Corinthians 6:18
Support Joni and Friends New England
Through your prayers and gifts, you can bring special needs families closer to Jesus through Family Retreat and all our other excellent Christ-centered programs. Your support will ensure more special needs families can grow closer to each other and closer to Jesus!
