New Beginnings: A Family’s Transformation Through the Love of Joni and Friends Family Retreat

“Exhausted, broken, hurting, confused…”  

These are the words Paul used to describe the state of his beautiful family years ago as they rolled up—very late—to their first Joni and Friends Family Retreat. Paul and his wife Kathy have two daughters, Katelyn and Madelyn, both of whom were born with the same rare condition that causes them to be medically fragile and physically disabled. 

A friend had convinced Paul and Kathy to take a risk on Joni and Friends, packing up their daughters and all the complex equipment for their care to set out into an unknown experience. Unfortunately, getting packed, ready, and out of town proved difficult… hence the family arriving late, after everyone else was tucked in for the night. 

Paul recalls his and Kathy’s emotional states as they checked into their room: 

“It was as if a few-hour drive was a 40-year walk in the wilderness. As a dad and a husband, I felt like a weary leader and somewhat isolated. My wife felt like a lonely mom and wife that just can’t make sense of the world that God placed her in.” 

A Promised Land at Family Retreat 

“I have come down to rescue them… to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey…”

Exodus 3:8 

Opening the door to their room, the family discovered welcome baskets with something special and personal to each one of them. In that moment, Paul says, the first brick fell from the defensive wall he and his family had built around themselves. 

And throughout the Family Retreat week, divinely appointed moments and people continued to knock down bricks, clearing the way for God’s love to flow in. 

Paul connected with other dads who understood the deep desire to take care of your family and “fix the hardship”—and the helpless feeling when there is no fix and the pain won’t go away. And Kathy found kindred spirits in the women’s groups, finally finding a place to share—and to see others nodding with the all-powerful, “I get it.” 

While Paul and Kathy grew closer to Jesus amid loving, understanding community, their daughters had a joyful time with their buddies. 

“Thanks to Family Retreat, through the years, we created memories we never thought possible. Our girls were able to get on a boat ride and ride horses! We even trusted volunteers of send Katelyn down a zip line!” says Paul. 

Building Courage 

For Paul, Kathy, Katelyn, and Madelyn, Family Retreat was just the beginning of new growth in Christ and a sense of deep belonging. As Paul says: 

“Our volunteers have visited us in our home. We attend funerals of families losing loved ones. We built community. At Family Retreat we felt accepted, like a family who shares in loss and victories, in struggles and heavy burdens.” 

Jesus also used Family Retreat to build the family’s courage, showing them they could feel comfortable traveling, even with the complexities that come with disability. Empowered by this experience, they set out more often—eventually visiting 40 states and even traveling overseas. 

Sharing the Gospel 

Now, everywhere they go, Paul and Kathy find God-appointed opportunities to share the Gospel, with their family’s story catalyzing meaningful conversations that draw people to Jesus. And, just think, it all started with a weary night pulling up at Family Retreat. 

Now, when asked what was most impactful about Joni and Friends Family Retreats for their family Paul says,  

“It is not a moment, it is not just a fun week or an experience. Joni and Friends Family Retreats have transformed our life for the Lord. We treasure it, we keep these sweet memories in our hearts. We let it influence us today to reach out to others with the Gospel. It challenges us to keep going to do work for the kingdom.”