Our Team.

At God’s Resort, our dedicated and compassionate staff and volunteers form the backbone of our transformative community. With a shared commitment to fostering hope and empowerment, our team works tirelessly to create a welcoming and supportive environment for residents on their journey to stability.

Our professional staff members bring a wealth of experience and expertise to God’s Resort. From social workers offering guidance on navigating life’s challenges to skilled counselors providing emotional support, each team member is dedicated to helping residents build a foundation for a brighter future.

In addition to our committed staff, our volunteers play a crucial role in creating a sense of community at God’s Resort. These individuals generously contribute their time and skills to organize events, workshops, and activities that enrich the lives of our residents. Their selflessness and enthusiasm create a positive and uplifting atmosphere, fostering a sense of belonging among everyone in our transitional housing community.

Together, the staff and volunteers at God’s Resort embody the spirit of compassion and solidarity, creating a space where individuals and families can rebuild their lives with dignity and support.

Staff Members

Board Members

50+

Volunteers

Jay St. Clair

Executive Director

About Jay:

Jay was raised by parents who taught him by example to love everyone. He married Julie whose parents taught her the same and they have tried to live their lives and raise their family the same way. He leads spiritually, organizationally, and strategically the mission and vision of God’s Resort to follow the heart of God for God’s Resort. He loves watching people realize how much they are loved by God, and the change in their identity that makes in them. He enjoys reading, working in the yard, raising a garden, and spending time with my family.

Beau Hamlin

Assistant Executive Director

About Beau:

Beau works closely with the Executive Director (ED), receiving training and experience in responsibilities that correspond with his roles, and assists, as needed, in various capacities (including shepherding, staff and resident development, leadership, handling crisis, etc.). He helps prepare for, participate in, and lead meetings; leads outcome management; and assists in Resident Care and Stability Plan implementation. He also functions as a Life Transition Coordinate for several of the men and teens at God’s Resort, meeting with them to help them set goals, navigate hurdles, and grow in Christ. He also oversees the Facilities Team and Community Relations.

Julie St. Clair

Resident Care Director

About Julie:

Julie cares for residents from in-take to their graduation from God’s Resort. She grew up in a home that loved “the least of these” and watched her parents love people. Graduated from Ozark Christian College in 1984, served with Jay at College Heights Christian Church, and was an employee of College Heights Christian Church for five years. She likes watching God work in the residents lives, and seeing their response to Him. Julie has been a ministry partner with Jay for 40 years, and a mother to eight children. She enjoys spending time with family and cooking for others.

John Giles

Administrative Services Director

About John:

John oversees the business side of God’s Resort, including the finances, legal, and human resources. Born and raised in Diamond, Missouri, John graduated from Missouri Southern State University, has been married to his wife, Dalenna, for eight years, and has two beautiful daughters. He worked in campus ministry for five years and the Business Office/Administration at College Heights Christian Church for 14 years. He loves getting to be a part of a community of people who are passionate about helping people out of some of the toughest circumstances imaginable. John enjoys spending time with family, playing outside with his girls, and do-it-yourself projects around the house.

Sherri Tash

Administrative Assistant

About Sherri:

Sherri supports the God’s Resort staff, residents, and volunteers through administrative and office procedures. She helps coordinate large events and handles social media for God’s Resort. She grew up in Galena, Kansas, but has lived the past 22 years in Joplin (after five years in Arkansas). She has been married to her husband, Mike, for more than 30 years. They have two sons, Blake and Chase, and has been a Christ-follower for almost 50 years. She has an Associates Degree in Office Administration with 25+ years as a legal assistant/office administrator and 30+ years volunteering in church, especially leading worship and coordinating children’s classes.

Stacey Johnson

Life Transitional Coordinator

About Stacey:

Stacey’s job is to work mainly with the female residents and their children, point them to Jesus and His Word, and walk alongside them as they make personal life-changing goals during this transitional phase of their lives. She helps facilitate the Saturday Morning Women’s Bible Study which is attended by our female residents, volunteers, and newcomers. Stacey grew up on a farm in northeast Nebraska with a big family that loved Jesus, married her high school sweetheart, Larry, and has three amazing kids, four beautiful grandkids, and one on the way. She is called to love and encourage people through Jesus and is honored to be called a prayer warrior. She has experience in real estate, working with special needs children, and was employed at a busy law firm as a legal assistant for 14-plus years.

Barbara Cox

Life Transition Coordinator

About Barbara:

Barbara works to build relationships with the residents and help them as they begin to move toward stability in their lives. A major starting point is the development of their goals which are centered around Christ and their spirit. From these goals, steps are established to measure their progress and other components of stability, such as: community, financial freedom, and healthy of mind and body. Throughout their time at God’s Resort, Barbara prays that residents develop a relationship of mutual respect, one that is lasting, loving, and leads to a stable life. Barbara’s background is in education, working as a teacher, counselor, and an administrator. She enjoys spending time with family, especially her grandchildren.

Jon-Michael Bontrager

Resident Care Coordinator

About Jon-Michael:

Jon-Michael is in charge of all the music and tech needs for all services. He is a part of the Life Transition Coordination team and also helps with volunteers! He grew up in a Christian home and became involved with worship music in his youth group which led to his decision to go into ministry. He started attending Ozark Christian College from 2009 to 2013, and served in the worship ministries of various churches during his time at Ozark Christian College. Jon-Michael was the Worship Pastor at Carterville Christian Church from 2012 to 2022. He enjoys fishing, soccer, camping, kayaking, being at home, and playing outside with my family, reading, and watching movies.

Noi Welch

Discipleship Coordinator for The Well at God’s Resort

About Noi:

Noi is a Discipleship Coordinator for The Well at God’s Resort. The Well is a discipleship ministry to help women (many of whom have a history of abuse and life trauma) become more rooted in God’s truth and love. The Well has a dedicated house where these women will live communally in preparation to one day move into a single-family home at God’s Resort. Noi was born in Laos to a Buddhist and animist family, with a father addicted to alcohol and gambling. In 1996 she met Jesus through a dream. He transformed her life and led her to bring the hope of Jesus to the rural areas of Laos. She currently leads the ministry (Next Gen Asia) from Joplin, Missouri, where she lives with her husband, Doug Welch, a professor at Ozark Christian College.

Stephanie Bridgewater

Discipleship Coordinator for The Well at God’s Resort

About Stephanie:

Stephanie serves on the Well Staff and loves people. She is a Discipleship Coordinator for The Well at God’s Resort. She grew up in a oneness church and Christian school, got married and had two beautiful children – whom she loves with everything inside her. She went through a divorce in 2012 after eighteen years of marriage and was highly addicted to pharmaceutical drugs. Stephanie met JESUS in 2016 at a women’s discipleship home where her life was forever changed. She enjoys studying God’s character, listening and learning from others, hiking, enjoying nature, exploring new and old places, trying new food, baking, reading, selfcare, journaling, volunteering, taking naps, visiting the zoo, traveling, and reflecting.

Machaela Cantu

Volunteer Coordinator

About Machaela:

Machaela helps initiate and foster relationships with potential volunteers, including making connections through local churches and other community organizations. She supports God’s Resort staff as she provides direct leadership and ongoing appreciation of volunteers in their ministry areas. Starting as a volunteer herself, Machaela said that her family “absolutely fell in love with the ministry as soon as they walked in the door.” She and her husband, Jeremy, have been together since 2007 and they have one son named Ethan. Machaela and Jeremy have always believed in the power of community engagement, a value they have dedicated to instilling in Ethan from an early age. They hope to cultivate their son’s sense of compassion and inspire him to take an active role in making the world a better place. Their family attends Hope City Church and enjoys serving there. We are excited for you to you meet Machaela!

Kyleigh Wayman

Next Gen Coordinator

About Kyleigh:

Kyleigh graduated from Ozark Christian College in May of 2024 with a Christian Ministry degree, majoring in Biblical Justice. Her primary focus at God’s Resort as Next Gen Coordinator is to invest directly into our children and teens, and also, to help recruit, train, and coordinate volunteers who will invest in them. Kyleigh’s heart is to “sit with people in their mess.” She says that her “hope through serving at God’s Resort is to see children empowered as they walk in their identity as heirs in God’s Kingdom.” In her free time Kyleigh enjoys running and hanging out with friends and family. She’s also fond of her buddy, a chocolate lab named Brownie!

Seldon Harris

Facilities Staff

About Seldon:

Seldon has worked with our facilities staff since 2021, utilizing his 25 years of experience in construction to help us provide safe and dignified housing. He has been married to his wife, Vanessa, for 37 years, and they have four children and four grandchildren. In his free time Seldon enjoys hunting, fishing, and pretty much anything outdoors. Seldon has also served as a pastor for 30 years and he continues to invest as a mentor and leader in various capacities of Kingdom work. His heart is for family and ministry. He has already made a significant impact on our work here at God’s Resort and we are eager to see what God continues to do with Seldon!

Board of Directors

Jarrett Cook

President of the Board

Specialty:
Principal
Carterville Elementary School

Jill Fields

Vice President of the Board

Specialty:
Early Childhood Educator (retired)

Kim Osborne

Secretary of the Board

Specialty:
Homemaker

Joe Harris

Treasurer of the Board

Specialty:
Chief Executive Officer
Schuber Mitchell Homes

Ryan Melton

President of the Board

Specialty:
Chief Executive Officer
Community Support Services

Dwayne Friend

Member of the Board

Specialty:
Vice President Operations at General Dynamics
Ordnance and Tactical Systems

Danica Harris

Member of the Board

Specialty:
Homemaker & Educator

Tyler Swaffar

Member of the Board

Specialty:
Financial Advisor
Edward Jones

Tim & Mary Chambers

Members of the Board

Specialty:
Pastors

Karen Sorrick

Member of the Board

Specialty:
Public Health Advisor (retired)
Center for Disease Control & Prevention

Amy Cook

Member of the Board

Specialty:
Homemaker & Educator

TJ Lake

Member of the Board

Specialty:
Owner
Twin Oaks Cabinets

Larry Johnson

Member of the Board

Specialty:
Physical Therapist