Life-Changing Is the Best Way to Describe Family Retreat
Bryan and Jennifer have two sons, Gunnar and Roa, who lives with significant disabilities. When Roa was little, his family heard about Joni and Friends Family Retreat—but attending felt impossible. How could they afford to go? Could they really trust a volunteer to care for Roa? But when Roa’s family took a leap of faith to join us at Family Retreat in Minnesota, they wished they had come sooner. As Jennifer says:
“Life-changing is the best way to describe Family Retreat. The staff and volunteers are truly doing the work of Jesus. Never have we felt so connected and accepted. The daily prayer, worship and activities are so inclusive and inviting. The breakout sessions inspire real conversations about faith and disabilities.
Our family was so moved by Joni and Friends that Roa asks about going back often. Gunnar asked if he can start volunteering when he reaches high school age! We are blessed to be on the path with fellow Christians living life differently, just like us.”
Since Roa’s family came to Family Retreat, God has been working on their hearts. And now, we celebrate with them the recent story of Roa’s baptism…
Jennifer Shared More of Her Family’s Story About Life and Faith with Disability…
“I never expected to get to know the most about Jesus through my children—especially my son with multiple disabilities—yet here we are. And here I am, writing our story for you.
When Roa was diagnosed at age one with spastic cerebral palsy, the outlook was bleak. The neurologist was kind but straight forward:
‘He’ll never walk, he’ll never talk, he’ll never hold a pencil, he most likely won’t even use a wheelchair.’
Yet Bryan and I knew there was something special about our boy. From the way people connected with him to the way he smiled up at Jesus hanging on the cross on our bedroom wall…
Roa radiated faith. But faith was tough for us.
Catholic at the time, we found mass a not-so-inviting place for our wheelchair-bound—and sometimes loud—child. Then we fell away from church for a while. We dared even to question God’s trustworthiness given all that was happening to our family: multiple therapies, appointments, procedures, specialists. It all led to exhaustion.
Roa not only had cerebral palsy, but a sleep disorder to boot. If God had this in his plan for us, our faith in him was far from perfect or positive. But as Roa grew and gained skills we never expected, we found ourselves amazed. The things Roa could do seemed miraculous, from driving a power chair at a young age to using an eye gaze device to communicate around age six.
Finding a Church Home Through Joni and Friends
Two years ago, we joined a church that is part of the Joni and Friends network in our community. We enrolled the boys, now 15 and 13, in a weekly youth program, trusting the volunteers helping Roa to participate.
At first I had so many questions: Does Roa “get it”? Is he really a part of the group? Is it worth sending my severely handicapped child to a group of typical teens expecting him to find Jesus? When our special needs support volunteer asked me if Roa was going to get baptized, I said, ‘Gosh, no! I don’t even know how we would do that!’
But Roa and God Had Other Plans…
‘I want,’ Roa said to Bryan with his device.
He had heard the question about the possibility of his baptism. And he looked so serious. So the wonderful pastors and volunteers at our church honored Roa’s wishes. They helped him maneuver his wheelchair and choose Jesus in the most public way possible.
In front of a full church, Roa chose Jesus. All I could do was sit and cry, in complete surprise. Afterwards, we asked Roa why he wanted this.
‘God is big King. Yes, Jesus,’ Roa said using his eye gaze device.
Roa, I’ve had my ups and downs with the Lord, but my son, you are spot on.
And that is how my son with multiple disabilities led me to know Jesus—without ever saying a word.”
When you give to Joni and Friends, you invite families like Roa’s into the body of Christ, locally and across the globe.
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