We See Breakthroughs of Faith Happen at Family Retreat
For Lance’s family coming to Family Retreat felt like a stretch. Lance has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and separation anxiety. Unfamiliar situations, loud noises, and crowds can cause him deep distress. Lance also struggles with focus and transitioning between activities. When overwhelmed, he can have meltdowns and loudly reject structured activities that don’t allow him the time and space he needs to process. Arriving at Family Retreat, Lance’s parents weren’t sure how he would adjust to the planned activities, joyful shouts, and many new faces.
But from the beginning, Lance’s father Daniel shared, Madeline (Lance’s one-on-one volunteer) set him at ease.
“Madeline did a really good job of being patient with Lance and realizing when he needed a break.”
Feeling accepted and understood, Lance experienced breakthroughs at Family Retreat. Despite anxiety about going on stage and loud applause, he sang in the talent show. And though he was afraid to go for a motorboat ride, he found the courage to try—and even got to steer!
Most importantly when Lance heard the Gospel at Family Retreat, Jesus’s love made an immediate and profound impression, and he prayed to receive Christ as his Savior! Jesus spoke of childlike faith in Matthew 18:3:
“Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Lance’s family saw the simple faith that Jesus describes emerge in Lance at Family Retreat.
Daniel said: “This was his first real exposure to the Gospel. For him to accept that after such a short time, to me that means something really touched him deeply. I think that touched all of us as well. For someone who knows so little about the world to see Jesus, maybe we can all take a lesson from that.”
While Lance’s family thought the Family Retreat experience might be hard for Lance, the reverse turned out to be true.
“Leaving was the hardest part of the whole trip,” said his dad. Lance can’t wait to return to Family Retreat next year!
Many families living with the daily challenges of disability, here at home and around the world, need to discover Gospel hope and their place in the body of Christ. When you donate to Joni and Friends, you extend tangible help and the love of Jesus to people like Lance and his family
Support Joni and Friends Illinois
Your gift today will make it possible for families to find respite and the joy of Christ at our Retreats & Getaways, and through our other Gospel-centered programs.
