March 2025
Dear Friends of God’s Resort,
Thank you for your partnership in helping people find stability and a new life! May God bless you!!
Jennifer grew up in a very physically abusive home at the hands of an alcoholic stepdad and mom. With no parental care she said she ran like a wild animal. Once, when she was seven years old, her mom left her and her sister alone for a week. When her mom escaped the abusive relationship, she abandoned Jennifer at 14 years old to raise her little sister by herself. It wasn’t long before she was on drugs and alcohol. She then spent three years in prison on a drug charge. Getting out, she moved to San Francisco and encountered the deepest darkness she could have ever imagined, and she started dealing and manufacturing drugs. Introduced to witchcraft, she became possessed by a demon that drove her even more out of her mind.
Getting pregnant was a miracle of life God used to get her into recovery. She was in a lock-down program for two years. Once out of the program, she lived 10 years clean and sober but full of pride – lost and angry and never happy or satisfied. She relapsed into meth and lost her little daughter. Upon returning to a recovery program, she started reading the Bible and began to realize she needed Jesus to forgive her of all she had done and give her a new life. One day she cried out to Jesus to save her from the demonic voices. She said she felt the Holy Spirit come into her in such a beautiful and powerful way that she cannot describe it – and immediately the voices stopped, and they have never come back.
Coming to God’s Resort, she received the stability she needed to get through the court’s process of getting her daughter back. God helped her make amends with her mom two days before her mother died, and her mom died knowing Jesus! Jennifer says, “God’s Resort has helped me and my daughter bloom! I feel like I am a kid that grew up and learned how to have relationships and care about others. I am a different person having come here. I love my daughter and put all my energy into giving her what I never had myself as a child.” She says she has learned to stop blaming others and take responsibility for herself. She just learned that the building process has started on her Habitat for Humanity home!
Jennifer says, “God’s Resort is like the family I never had and while it took me some time to open up, I found a love here that has helped me overcome my fear and trust issues. I don’t know what I would have done if I had not come here. God’s Resort has shown me how to have a new life!”
Thank you on behalf of Jennifer and her daughter and all the God’s Resort community! If you’d like to give a special gift towards our mission to help residents like Jennifer and Yuloundra, click here. (https://pushpay.com/g/godsresort)
Love and prayer,
Jay St. Clair
Executive Director
Volunteer Spotlight
Serve Groups!
Many hands make light work. We are thrilled to kick off the spring with an inspiring lineup of serve groups! March was a month filled with activity and purpose, thanks to the wonderful groups who came out to serve at God’s Resort.
We had two Rooted Serve groups come from Christ’s Church of Oronogo. One group cleaned an empty apartment and also cleaned, sanded, and painted donated tables and chairs. Despite the chilly morning, their enthusiasm to help was infectious! The second group hosted our Sunday Night Fellowship where they set up the venue, greeted attendees, formed meaningful connections with our residents, and helped break down the event. A heartfelt thank you to Christ’s Church of Oronogo for sending such passionate and dedicated people to further the mission of God’s Resort!
On Missions Day, we were thrilled to welcome 50 energetic 6th graders from New Heights, ready to make a difference. They were led by their teachers, Mrs. Hamlin and Mrs. Davis, as well as several parents. The boys tackled leaf cleanup, while the girls helped clean and crafted inspirational cards for our residents, delivering them personally to their mailboxes—a truly special touch!
The following week, New Heights showed up again! Mr. Johnson and Mr. Lewis brought nine high schoolers to immerse themselves in a week of dedicated service at God’s Resort! The impact of their hard work was nothing short of extraordinary! They not only completed the leaf cleanup on our campus, but they also transformed two of our donation storage areas (full of furniture and move in supplies) by sorting, organizing, and transporting donations. Thank you, New Heights, for being a transformative part of God’s Resort!
If you have a group that would like to come serve at God’s Resort, we invite you to reach out to our Community Engagement Coordinator, Machaela Cantu, atmachaela@godsresortjoplin.org. (mailto:machaela@godsresortjoplin.org.?subject=Volunteer%20from%20Newslette) As our God’s Resort community continues to grow, we urgently need more dedicated volunteers in every area. Join us in making a lasting impact in the lives of our residents!
The Well at God’s Resort
Big shout out to Jesus for what He has done for the Well ladies! All of them passed their adjustment period of 3-6 months. This is such a big stage to overcome. The ladies have to give up their cell phones, get acquainted with a new roommate, accept new structure and house rules, eat unfamiliar food, and learn to be vulnerable. It’s a big adjustment! Not only did all four ladies pass the first stage of our program, but some are also at a stage where they got a job and are also serving in the community.
Michelle has been with the Well for over 5 months, and she started both a part-time job and is serving at Soul’s Harbor. One of Michelle’s goals is to learn computer skills. We have a beautiful volunteer who comes 3 times a week to work with Michelle on this goal. Michelle is really growing in this skill!
Liz, who has been with us the longest of the current residents, is now working full time at her dream job. This is her first full-time job in 20 years. Liz is also serving at Soul’s Harbor and is working toward getting her GED and driver’s license.
Jenni has been serving The Well by helping other residents get their GEDs and filling out job applications. Jenni is enrolled at Crowder College, is doing CNA training, and is volunteering with Watered Gardens!
Dottie works full time at Applebee’s, recently became a grandma for the first time, and is looking for a place to serve consistently!
The well ladies’ hearts are in the right place with God, and they are hungry for Him. We have seen them taste God’s love and they are growing in him and in their relationships with each other. There is a big difference from the first time they stepped through The Well’s front door. God has transformed them in many amazing ways!
Praise Jesus, and thank you for your prayers and support! If you’d like to learn more about volunteering at the well, please email our Community Engagement Coordinator, Machaela Cantu, at machaela@godsresortjoplin.org. (mailto:machaela@godsresortjoplin.org.?subject=Email%20from%20Newsletter)
God’s Resort Youth
This month in the Rock Room, we held our first Spring Kick-Off, welcoming kids from the neighborhood alongside our residents’ children! We enjoyed a fun-filled night of games, a movie, and pizza to celebrate the arrival of spring and the short break. It was a wonderful time of community, joy, and lots of fun!
We continued our “Faces of the Faith” series on Sunday nights, focusing this month on strength and courage as exemplified by Aaron, Joshua, and Rahab. Through these stories, we learned that when we have trust and faith in God, He can make us strong and courageous, too. We practiced what it means to be strong in challenging situations, how to be a helpful friend, and how to make the right decisions even when others aren’t. Our kids at God’s Resort are flourishing in their faith and in their love for others.
Our teens have continued attending youth group at Christ Community of Joplin on Sunday nights. In this series, we’ve begun discussing the importance of baptism, and it’s encouraging to see our teenagers’ hearts being softened as they grow in love and faith. Among the youth at God’s Resort, we are witnessing much fruit of joy, faithfulness, and love, which continues to thrive and expand.
Supplies Needed for New Residents
Would you consider helping supply some items to prepare homes at God’s Resort for new residents? Here is a list of items that we currently need. Items can be dropped off at the God’s Resort Community Center (1501 S. Pearl, Joplin) Mon-Thurs, 9-noon or 1-4, and Friday, 9-noon. Thank you for any items you can provide!
* Full-size mattress pads/covers
* Toilet bowl cleaner
* Kitchen dishwashing liquid
* Walmart/Target plastic shopping bags
* Spring/Summer doormats (We found a deal for $10 each at Sam’s! So, it would be $400 if you’d like to provide them for all our homes.)
* Navy or light blue towel sets (2 bath towels, 2 hand towels, 2 wash cloths)
Let Us Gather
Sunday Night Fellowship
** Sundays at 5:30 pm
No Sunday Night Fellowship April 20
** Bible Study
Mondays at 6:30 pm
** Refuel Prayer Service
Tuesdays at 6:30 pm
** Recovery Meeting
Wednesdays at 6:30 pm
** Coffee & Chat
Thursdays at 9:00 am
** Men’s Bible Study
Saturdays at 8:30 am
No Men’s Bible Study April 19
**Men’s Prayer Breakfast
Saturdays at 8:30 am
** Women’s Bible Study
Saturdays at 8:30 am
The Blessing House at God’s Resort
1505 S Pearl, Joplin, 64804
No Women’s Bible Study April 19
