August 2023

Dear God’s Resort Friends,

We are so grateful for your investment in love and prayers for what God is doing at God’s Resort! May you be blessed as much as we are being blessed through your support!

Justin grew up in a broken home. He had little relationship with his father. He remembers when he was in grade school asking him why he never picked him up and his father replied without feeling, “You know where I live.” That wound of abandonment was only worsened as his mom remarried and Justin experienced abuse from a stepbrother. His mom worked hard to take care of him as her only child, but he was pretty well on his own, and by high school he was using drugs and alcohol. His drug use progressed to meth and over time drugs stole everything. Having nothing, including no car, he moved home with his mom. He hit bottom when he saw his mom have a seizure and was rushed to the hospital. Thinking he was losing her as well, he went back to her house, laid on her bed and cried out to God. He went “back out” one more time and ended up on a three-day drunken binge and woke up to police and ambulance workers. At first, they did not know if he was dead or alive.

After eight days in a detox lock down, he was transferred to Joplin. Going to a Walmart, a lady came up to him and said, “The Lord wanted me to tell you to stay in the Word of God every day and your life is going to get better.” He never forgot that. He went to Watered Gardens and joined the Forge. Through our partnership with that program, Justin came to God’s Resort. He has had his job for two years and is a valued employee and a hard worker. Justin said, “God’s Resort has helped me by giving me a community where I can find the stability and connection with people and God I have never had. Putting God first, I have a firm foundation to build my life. If you take advantage of all that God’s Resort has to offer, you can become the person you never were.”

Come and meet Justin and hear more stories of God’s great work at His Resort at our annual Celebration and Tours! Save the date for one of three identical events on Oct 13th , 6pm; 14th , 10am; and 15th , 2pm.

Thank you for your partnership in helping Justin, and others like him, choose freedom from the past and find their potential as children of God!

Love and prayer,
Jay St. Clair
Executive Director

Two Exciting Events in September and October!

The fall is always an exciting time at God’s Resort! Love Your Neighbor Day (LYND), on Saturday, September 23rd , is a great ½ day event to bring your family (all ages), friends, co- workers, and life group to. See the above flyer for more information. We’d love to have you join us!

 

 

 

 

 

On October 13th, 14th, and 15th, you are invited to attend 1 of 3 identical events for our annual Celebration and Tours! This is our chance to show you what God has been up to at His Resort this past year. Not only are there amazing stories of life change to hear about, but God is stirring and there are some new developments in our ministry reach that we are excited to share about! See the save the date invite for more details.

It seems a little odd to be writing about Christmas in a summer edition of our God’s Resort Newsletter! BUT, The Christmas Shoppes at God’s Resort are only a little over three months from now on December 2!

The first Christmas Shoppe was created five years ago to help parents have an affordable Christmas; an opportunity that would allow them to experience both the joy of earning, and the joy of giving gifts that THEY chose for their children!Last year, we added a Christmas Shoppe to help the children living at God’s Resort also experience the joy of earning and giving! The children earn “Christ-mas bucks,” a “pretend” currency, and save their bucks to purchase and wrap gifts in a separate Christmas Shoppe. They earn in three ways throughout the fall: 1) through their chore chart at home, 2) memorizing scripture, and 3) being “caught on camera” doing something for someone else without being asked! Both of these Christmas Shoppes are valuable traditions at God’s Resort!

Here’s how you can participate: Each child and adult fill out a gift idea card with something they need, something they want, and something to wear (including their favorite color, sports team, movie, sizes, etc.). Then, you can adopt a child or parent by shopping for them from this list of gift ideas. The Shoppes are set up at Byer’s Ave. Methodist Church for the parents, and at God’s Resort Community Center for the kids. Merchandise is priced at 10% of the original ticket price. Each parent typically spends around $20 per child at this generous rate.

Would you, your family, church, small group, business, or fellow employees consider adopting a child or a parent? The shopping would need to be finished and brought to God’s Resort by Tuesday, November 28 for us to set up every-thing. Other ways that you or your group may give is by helping set up the “Shoppes” or purchasing wrapping supplies or dollar store items for our “Fill a Stocking” table. Also, at the Kids’ Shoppe, each child needs a personal shopping companion to help them shop and wrap their presents for their parents, or you can get know a parent by helping them wrap for their child(ren). We would also appreciate help with a snack and drink at each location.

We can’t do this event without you! During this special time of family tradition and celebrating Jesus, please consider joining us in this opportunity to give to others who are not just another group project, but who are unique individuals, each with a name and a need for help that is generous and dignified!

Help Us Supply Homes With Needed Items for

We’re in need of various items to help us get apartments ready for new residents. Items can be dropped off at God’s Resort (1501 S. Pearl, Joplin) during office hours (M-Th, 9-4, Fri, 9-noon – closed M-Th 12-1 for lunch). Thank you for any help you can provide in this area!- Full sized mattress pads (not plastic waterproof)

  • Hand towels (gray)
  • Twin- and full-size comforters (neutral colors / no floral)
  • Blue bathmats
  • Brooms with dust pans
  • Tall kitchen trash cans
  • Saucepans of all sizes
  • 2- or 3-quart pots with lids
  • 4-quart or larger stock pots (spaghetti) with lids
  • Universal lids for cooking vessels
  • Oven liners
  • Cookie sheets
  • Coffee pots
  • All-purpose spray cleaners
  • Pyrex 2-cup measuring cups
  • Measuring spoons
  • Pizza pans
  • Mixing bowls
  • Manual can openers