April 2025
Dear Friends of God’s Resort,
I am praying that God is blessing you even as you constantly bless us! We are committed to helping people in this Christ-centered community choose freedom from their past and reach their potential as children of God!
David grew up with just a short window of time, when he was very young, when his mom wasn’t on drugs. During those three years, they lived across the street from Empire Baptist Church, and he and his little brother were there every time the church doors were open. In that time, he gave his heart to Jesus. Jesus looked after his heart even as his little life descended into the darkness and despair of a child left to themselves and the addictions and sin to which he himself would become chained.
Following prison, God brought him to the Forge and then to God’s Resort where he learned to follow Jesus! He met Emily, who had escaped drugs and the troubles they bring, and who was in a recovery program. They began a relationship, and I stand amazed with how they both pursued Jesus! David and Emily spent months with me in premarital counseling and preparing to live as Christ in marriage! It was beautiful to watch the process! Just recently we had their wedding at God’s Resort! They said, “We are so blessed to be a part of this family at God’s Resort. The opportunities we are given here are comparable to no other place. We truly feel the Lord with us every day. Thank you so much for your help in giving us a safe and great environment for us to continue to grow.”
Thank you for helping us make this a place where lives don’t just heal but come together in love for better for worse; for richer for poorer; in sickness or in death; to love and to cherish, as long as they both shall live! If you’d like to give a special gift towards our mission to help residents like David and Emily, click here (https://pushpay.com/g/godsresort) .
Love and prayer,
Jay St. Clair
Executive Director
Volunteer Spotlight
Sunday Night Fellowship Volunteers!
Join us every Sunday at 5:30 p.m. for our uplifting Sunday Night Fellowship (no services 5/11 or 5/25)! This is a wonderful opportunity for our community to gather at the community center to worship, hear an inspiring testimony, and engage in heartfelt prayer. Afterward, we share a delicious meal and enjoy quality time together in the dining area.
Our Sunday Night Fellowship thrives thanks to the incredible support from two essential groups: our Sunday Night Hosts and our Sunday Night Food Group. Each group plays a vital role in creating this special experience. Our dedicated Sunday Night Hosts arrive early to set up chairs, brew coffee, warmly greet everyone at the door, and stay until the end to ensure everything is cleaned up and locked away. Our Sunday Night Food Group generously provides and serves a meal for everyone, making the evening even more enjoyable.
This event is truly a team effort, and we are grateful to all the volunteers who make it possible. Our cherished Sunday Night Hosts include Jim and Joyce Bottles; Jackie Meneses; Robyn and
Darrin Kaempfe; Pastor Dexter Snyder and Kathryn Rose from Joplin First Church, and the ladies who reside at The Well. In addition, our dedicated Sunday Night Food Groups feature the Donna Griffith Group; Lea Morgan with One Church; the Travis and Tiffany Fink and Kelli and Dwayne Friend Group; the Melonie Cline Group; Marsha Simmons’ Group; Logan Floyd with Christ Community of Joplin; the Jennifer Sherrod Group; and Angela Grantham’s Group. A huge thank you to each of you for being a part of God’s Resort and for making our Sunday nights truly special!
We warmly invite you to join our Sunday Night Fellowship team! If your group would like to serve as hosts or provide and serve dinner, whether it’s once a year or on a rotating schedule, we would love to hear from you. Please reach out to our volunteer coordinator, Machaela Cantu, at Machaela@godsresortjoplin.org (mailto:Machaela@godsresortjoplin.org?subject=Volunteer%20From%20Newsletter) . Your participation would mean so much and help us continue this beautiful tradition!
The Well at God’s Resort
Congratulations to Dottie who is the first resident of The Well to transition to her own apartment at God’s Resort’s! Dottie has been with us since December 2024 and will be transitioning to God’s Resort in May. We are excited for her new chapter!
We have seen God’s work of healing in Dottie in many ways—her mind, relationship with others, how she sees herself from God’s perspective, and working through negative emotions.
Dottie is learning to trust God and others, which she did not have in the past. This is big for Dottie! We also have seen Dottie grow in asking for help, which is very hard for her to do. God has shown her over these past few months the importance of being vulnerable with a community who loves and cares for her.
Dottie has shown a big difference since she began living at The Well in how she works through negative thoughts and emotions. She has worked hard to change, and we have witnessed the difference in the way she talks about life, herself, and others. We praise God for helping us walk with Dottie during this time. It is very encouraging for our ministry to see how God is helping her to change.
Dottie is caring, giving, loving, organizing, energetic, responsible, has a servant’s heart, is a great cook, and a loving mother. We will miss her, especially her great cooking and big mama’s heart!
I will never forget what Dottie recently shared with us. She said that these past few months at the Well was the first time in her life that she felt safe and loved! We love her testimony of how she found community with sisters in Christ at The Well!
We are thankful for the season Dottie has had with us. We shared many memories with her, tears, laughter, and heart-and-heart talk. Those memories will be cherished in our hearts at The Well.
God’s Resort Yout
In the month of April God’s Resort kids spent an extended time learning more about the Easter story. As we continued in our Faces of the Faith series going through the lives of Ruth, Boaz, and Esther, we took a break to go through the last days of Christ life and the awesome miracle that followed through his resurrection. During that time, we discussed the weightiness of our sins and the great gift that was given through Christ’s sacrifice.
Our GR kiddos are spiraling up as they wrestle with the reality of their sinfulness and God’s goodness! We are thankful to a local women’s group and Helix gym for providing material to make this Easter season extra special!
This April has also kicked offspring sports season in full swing as many of our kiddos take their spot on the field participating in a local soccer league as well as school track. As the school year ends, GR kids look forward to the many opportunities to experience Jesus in big ways this summer through various events, activities, and camps. Pray that these families may encounter Jesus in a new way this Summer!
Staffing Update
Kyleigh Wayman, Next Gen Coordinator, whom we like to call “Kyleigh the way,” has recently resigned from God’s Resort to pursue work in elementary education. We will greatly miss Kyleigh, but we are excited for her as she embarks on this new journey!
Kyleigh had this to say about her time working at God’s Resort: Working alongside such a dedicated and passionate community has reignited my hope for the salvation of my own family and has empowered me to step out in bold prayer for my loved ones. The relationships I have built and the experiences I have gained will always hold a special place in my heart. While it is indeed a bittersweet goodbye, I am forever grateful for the growth I have experienced at God’s Resort. I believe that God has prepared me for what lies ahead, instilling in me the skills and heart necessary to embrace the next chapter of my journey.
If you would like to help us celebrate Kyleigh, please join us May 4th at 5:30pm in the God’s Resort Community Center (1501 S Pearl, Joplin), as we will be encouraging her and sending her off covered in prayer!
Supplies Needed for New Residents
Are you able to help 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!
• Shower curtain liners for all our homes
• Hot pads
• Oven Mitts
• Spring/Summer doormats
** We found a deal for $10 each at Sam’s if you can get one or some! It would be $400 if you’d like to provide themes.
Let Us Gather
Sunday Night Fellowship
Sundays at 5:30 pm
No Sunday Night Fellowship May 11 or 25
** 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 May 10 or 24
** 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 May 10 or 24
