True Friendship in Tennessee
As COVID-19 regulations and their accompanying feelings of isolation continue to be an ever–present reality, our Family Plus Zoom calls are a lifeline for many. Individuals and families impacted by disability who would otherwise have no connections to the outside world at all are finding fellowship, community and hope through Family Plus.
Joni and Friends Tennessee hosts these monthly Zoom calls for special needs families in the Knoxville area and beyond. And for Lindsey, a young woman with epilepsy, developmental and cognitive delays, these calls are especially meaningful.
Lindsey has suffered under the strain of coronavirus restrictions more than most.
Her compromised immune system has forced her to live under the strictest quarantine conditions, and as a result, Lindsay was feeling dangerously isolated, alone and forgotten.
But God never forgot Lindsey, and neither did her friends at Joni and Friends Tennessee!
Not only have we been able to connect Lindsey with the friends she made at Family Retreat, but when our Knoxville area team realized the depths of Lindsey’s despair, we organized a special drive-by visit to lift Lindsey’s spirits and remind her that she is dearly loved. This drive-by became a true beacon of hope for both Lindsey and her parents.
As they stood safely socially-distanced on their porch, two dozen Family Retreat friends drove by Lindsey’s house cheering her on and giving her hope through her daily hardships. It was nothing less than love in action and a beautiful depiction of friends who love at all times.
“A friend loves at all times.”
Proverbs 17:17
Prior to the pandemic, Lindsey gave back to Joni and Friends Tennessee – the ministry she loves so much – by volunteering in our Knoxville office. She would join us each week with her caregiver and her service dog, Olympia. Lindsey loved helping with office tasks, but even more so, she loved the friendships she created with our Knoxville team.
When COVID-19 made volunteering in person impossible, it was a particularly hard blow to Lindsey. She missed volunteering in the Joni and Friends office, and more importantly, she missed being around the friends she had made there.
It was no wonder that Lindsey was overwhelmed by tears of joy on the day of the drive-by. Our Joni and Friends Tennessee team members – Lindsey’s dear friends – were at the front of the convoy putting a huge smile on her face and pointing her heart to Jesus!
Connections between Joni and Friends and the families we serve go way above and beyond a week at Family Retreat.
Nurturing these very real relationships through Family Plus events like drive-by visits and monthly Zoom calls is crucial, especially in this time of extreme isolation for so many of our families – just like Lindsey’s. Through Joni and Friends Tennessee, God is showing the world the beauty of friendship and the strong bonds created in the body of Christ.
Support Joni and Friends Knoxville
You can be part of all that God is doing through Joni and Friends Tennessee, too! got to joniandfriends.org/Tennessee and show your generous support today so that more and more families living under the strain of disability can experience the miraculous power of Jesus! Your support shines a bright light into the darkness of despair!
