January 2026
Dear Friends of God’s Resort,
Happy New Year! We are so grateful for your faithful support, which has paved the way for an incredible new season of ministry in 2026.
By God’s providence, we have officially acquired the assets and property of Loving Grace at 1414 Euclid Ave. in Joplin. Together, the two on-site facilities provide 9,000 square feet of space! This allows us to expand The Well, our women’s recovery and discipleship ministry, and will eventually house up to 20 women at full capacity!
The Well serves women aging out of foster care, those overcoming addiction, and those seeking freedom from patterns of incarceration and homelessness. Under the leadership of The Well Director, Amy Cook, and her dedicated leadership team– Trina Davis, Stephanie Corral, and Jamie Myers – we are walking alongside these women as they discover their true identity in Christ.
Within this supportive community, residents find more than just a roof; they find everyday mentorship in the things that matter: trust, purpose, and healthy relationships.
Your partnership makes this transformation possible!
Through your generosity, every woman who walks through the doors of The Well – and every dad, mom, and child at God’s Resort – can find a safe place to experience true transformation. Will you join us in 2026 to see more lives made new? We are so grateful for you!!! If you’d like to give a special gift to help make lives new at God’s Resort and The Well, click here or contact john@godsresortjoplin.org.
Love and prayer,
Jay St. Clair
Executive Director
Volunteer Spotlight
A New Year, New Goals, and the Power of Serving at God’s Resort
As we step into a new year, many of us are setting fresh goals, praying bold prayers, and asking God how we can grow, give, and live with greater purpose. One meaningful way to start the year is by serving others, and there is no better place to do that than at God’s Resort.
Serving at God’s Resort is more than checking a box or filling free time. It is an opportunity to align our goals with God’s heart. Each act of service helps create a stable, welcoming, and Christ-centered environment for men, women, and children who are working toward healing and a new beginning.
When you serve, you are helping turn hope into something tangible. Your service reminds them that they are not alone and that their future is worth investing in. Often, it is the simple acts of faithfulness that leave the greatest impact.
There are many ways to jump in and serve this year:
Yardwork: As spring approaches, we will be back to mowing the property lawns.
Maintenance & Repairs: Use practical skills to ensure the homes remain safe, functional, and dignified.
Cleaning & Organizing: A clean, orderly space brings dignity, calm, and stability to daily life.
Hosting: Serve during fellowship nights or events by welcoming others and helping build community.
Meal Support: Providing meals is a powerful way to nourish both bodies and hearts and create relationships.
Encouragement & Connection: Prayer, notes of encouragement, or simply being present can deeply impact someone’s journey.
Whether you serve once, occasionally, or regularly, your time and willingness can help shape lives and strengthen a community rooted in grace.
Did you know that you can stay connected with the official God’s Resort app?
Follow this link today to download the God’s Resort app, and check out all of the things going on at God’s Resort and ways you can get connected!
Current Serving Needs:
Thursday morning Coffee and Chat Breakfast Team.
Volunteers at The Well.
Children’s Ministry Helpers – Volunteer with our kids on Sunday evenings at 5:30 p.m.. We also have a specific need for help with children with special needs.
Children’s Meal Teams – Prepare and serve meals for our children on Tuesday nights at 6:30 p.m.
Women’s Bible Study Meals – Provide breakfast for our Women’s Bible Study on the first Saturday of each month.
The Well Volunteers – Join our team of volunteers serving at The Well.
If you’re interested in getting involved or have any questions, please contact Machaela Cantu, Community Engagement Coordinator, at machaela@godsresortjoplin.org. She’ll help you get connected!
We are excited to share that we are making great progress in preparing one of our homes for future residents. Over the past few weeks, we have been truly blessed by the generous support of several local churches. Volunteers from Hope City helped move furniture and paint the resident assistant suite, while Calvary Chapel dedicated their time to cleaning and painting the kitchen cabinets. In addition, Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church donated and assembled portable closets for the home. Each of these churches has played a vital role in helping us create a warm, welcoming, and inviting space where women can grow, heal, and thrive as they prepare for independent living. We are deeply grateful for their partnership and support.
Speaking of Volunteers! We Need YOU!
The Well is hosting a Volunteer Orientation and Training on January 31st from 9AM – Noon. God’s Resort Executive Director, Jay St. Clair, and his wife, Julie, Resident Care Director, will be coming to share their hearts for the expanding ministry of God’s Resort and The Well. This is a great time to get plugged in and find out how you can serve the Women at The Well with your God-given time and talents. For more information, please reach out to trina@godsresortjoplin.org.
In other news! Meet our Staff!
We are excited to introduce The Well Staff – some new faces, some familiar faces, and some with new roles.
Amy Cook, Director, has served God’s Resort in many capacities and is passionate about seeing lives transformed through Jesus. Trina Davis, Program Manager, brings over five years of leadership experience and a heart to stand in the gap for women, offering hope, healing, and community. Shirley Lewis continues as Administrative Assistant for both The Well and God’s Resort, joyfully serving and witnessing God’s ongoing work.
Stephanie Corral, Life Transition Coordinator, remains in her role, continuing her passion for guiding women toward freedom, hope, and healing in Christ. Jamie Myers, also a Life Transition Coordinator, joins the team with a heart to encourage others to become who God created them to be.
Amanda Reed, Crystal Blomgren, and Y’Cedria Ingram serve as House Assistants, each bringing a unique testimony and calling to share Christ’s love, hope, and redemption with the women of The Well. MeLi Sanborn, our live-in overnight RA, is grateful to serve at The Well and be part of a community on mission together, following Christ and sharing His love.
Thank you for your continued support, love, and prayers! We ask that you keep the women who will be coming to The Well as future residents in your prayers and also pray for wisdom for our team as we prepare to welcome women into a new program.
God’s Resort Youth
This month has been a GREAT start to 2026!! We have been reading through the Gospels and following in the footsteps of JESUS. Two sweet groups hosted Tuesday night dinners for our kids this month, and they were a BLAST! We love partnering with you to feed our God’s Resort kids AND our neighborhood kids. It is a joy to serve alongside ALL of our amazing volunteers! Our kids have LOVED doing math problems and playing board games as we have been stuck inside due to the cold weather during the events this month!
We have been so blessed by all your willingness to serve and love our kids here through volunteering, donations, and most of all PRAYER! With that being said… Please consider partnering with us in prayer as we look for volunteers to help kids with special needs! If serving children with special needs is an area of interest for you, or if you or someone you know would like to serve our kids in some other capacity, please email Machaela@godsresortjoplin.org to start serving with our God’s Resort kids!
A new year is a fresh invitation from God—to grow, to hope, and to step forward with faith. As we leave the past behind and look ahead, we’re reminded that God is already there, leading us, renewing us, and making all things new. This is a season to refocus our hearts, strengthen our faith, and trust God with what’s next.
When we worship, faith rises. Burdens fall. Hope is renewed. Worship is where we celebrate what God has done and boldly believe Him for what He’s about to do. As we worship together at God’s Resort, every Sunday and Tuesday night, we’re reminded that we’re not walking into this year alone—God is with us every step of the way.
We’d love for you to join us as we kick off the new year with hearts ready for all God has in store. Whether you’re a worship leader, musician, tech volunteer, there’s a place for you here. Come be part of what God is doing at God’s Resort this year!
To get connected, email jon-michael@godsresortjoplin.org or call 417-553-4080.
