August 2025
Dear Friends of God’s Resort,
We are grateful for people like you that recognize the importance of changing our Joplin community one life and family at a time. God is at work through your support!
Dace grew up in the European country of Latvia. Her family was centered around alcoholism, and it had started with her grandmother. It was a hard life. She worked diligently and received her education.She also met some Christians who introduced her to Christ.Daceimmigrated to America after marrying an American. For years she struggled in this marriage as she raised her three children.It came to a breaking point, and she found herself without a home for her and her children. That’s when she found her new home at God’s Resort – a house donated by one of our supporters!
With the help of her Life Transition Coordinator, she worked on a stability plan, and things began to change for her and her kids. The desperation and despair she felt when she came began to lift. One of her goals was to obtain her American citizenship. That was accomplished this summer, and her God’s Resort family came out to celebrate with her, giving her the gift of her own American flag as we sang with her the National Anthem!!!Dace and her kids were honored, and her oldest son helped install the flag!
Our gratitude could not be greater!It is amazing to watch the life of Dace’s family – a story of hope and healing!There are many more people that need God’s love at His Resort!We look forward tofuture partnership with you in changing our community one life and family at a time!!!If you would like to give a special gift to help people like Dace and her children have a home and place to grow in hope and healing, click here.
Jay St. Clair
Executive Director
Volunteer Spotlight
Meet One of Our Youngest Volunteers!
We’re excited to introduce you to one of our youngest volunteers, Ava Stagg! She serves alongside her mom here at God’s Resort by helping with the kids and even cleaning apartments. From her very first visit, Ava was captivated by our mission and wanted to find ways to give back.
This summer, she began making and selling beautiful handmade bracelets, with the heartfelt goal of donating the proceeds to God’s Resort each month. This month, Ava joyfully brought in her very first donation!
What an incredible example of generosity and compassion from such a young heart. Thank you, Ava, for inspiring us all!
Love Your Neighbor Day is Almost Here!
Mark your calendars, because our annual Love Your Neighbor Day is coming up on Saturday morning, September 13th! Join us for a morning of service and fellowship right here on Pearl Street at God’s Resort. Check-in is at 8:30am and we’ll serve from 9-noon.
This is a wonderful opportunity to gather your family, friends, co-workers, or small group to serve together. We’ll have a variety of projects for all ages and skill levels from painting and yardwork to creating Christmas cards. There’s truly something for everyone!
Lunch will be provided for all volunteers.
If you’d like to be part of Love Your Neighbor Day, please reach out to Machaela at 417-622-8425 or click here sign up! We can’t wait to serve alongside you!
Current Serving Needs:
Thursday morning Coffee and Chat Breakfast Team.
Overnight volunteers at The Well.
Sunday Night Food Group for October 12th.
Are you interested in serving at God’s Resort? Contact Machaela Cantu at machaela@godsresortjoplin.org!
Worship Life
Worship & Prayer: The Heartbeat of God’s Resort
Worship and prayer are at the very heart of life at God’s Resort. Whether during our weekly gatherings or in quiet moments throughout the day, our community is continually drawn into God’s presence–the atmosphere is full of the Holy Spirit. It’s more than just music or routine; it’s a sacred space where God brings peace, healing, and joy in powerful and personal ways.
This life-giving environment wouldn’t be possible without the incredible area worship leaders and tech volunteers who pour their time and talent into serving our community. Week after week, they help create a space where residents can encounter God deeply and authentically. We’re so grateful for each of them – for their faithfulness, their passion, and the way they help usher in the presence of God through every note and prayer.
We would love for you to be a part of what God is doing here! Whether you’re a worship leader, musician, tech volunteer, or simply someone who loves to pray—there’s a place for you here. If you’d like to learn how you can join the worship life team and participate in the heartbeat of worship at God’s Resort, email jon-michael@godsresortjoplin.org, or call 417-553-4080.
The Well at God’s Resort
Liz’s healing continues as she follows Jesus
Two months ago, we shared about Liz’s encounter with Jesus at The Well and some of her healing. Liz’s transformation has not been limited only to herself, but it has carried on to her children, her sister, and her workplace. After God restored her health, Liz got a job where she serves and loves people who need help physically, mentally, and spiritually. At the beginning Liz was overwhelmed with the job because she had not worked for twenty years, and she did not feel she could do it. She carried a strong feeling of inferiority, that she was not smart enough to do the job. But in spite of all this, Liz did not stop pursuing her dream for what God put in her heart. The secret was that she found Jesus and trusted in him completely. She relied on him to help her do the things that seemed impossible for her to do.
Liz kept trusting and asking God to help her to do the job, and He did! It is a miracle what has happened to Liz’s life. Her body, mind, and soul were restored, healed, and redeemed. Can you believe a person who was very sick, cussed like a sailor, did not work for twenty years, and took drugs for years now works twelve-hour shifts four days a week. Before Jesus met her, she couldn’t move at all, and now she’s constantly on the move at work, and is training to be a med tech. We also get to celebrate that Liz now has a better relationship with her daughters and sister, shining his light and his love with people at her job and her family. How can a person change that drastically? God that did all that! He is absolutely a healer, restorer and a redeemer!
We are testifying to God’s power because we have seen with our own eyes that he changes life—just look at our beautiful Liz! All praise to Jesus!
We are so excited for a new chapter God has for Liz. She is transitioning to God’s Resort soon and will have her own home! Liz’s life story makes us think about a line from a great hymn, “Amazing Grace … I once was lost, but now I’m found, was blind but now I see!”
Liz will serve alongside The Well after she is situated at her new place! She is our first resident who completed every part of The Well program! She is a true disciple of Jesus and will make disciples as she continues to follow Him. We cannot wait to see what all God will do with Liz.
God’s Resort Youth
We have wrapped up a beautiful summer filled with beautiful moments of Jesus’ love being poured out on our GR kids AND some amazing donations. A HUGE thank you to the Ryan Miller State Farm group for not only shopping and donating clothes for our kids to wear at school, BUT also for showing up and blessing our kids when they attended the Back-to-School Shoppe. This event was a beautiful demonstration of God’s free gift of grace! In the spirit of how we can’t buy/earn our salvation, but it is a free gift, these clothes – given freely – were an illustration of God’s sacrificial love and gift to us. All of our debts have been paid –all glory to God for the wonderful riches of His love and grace!
Our kiddos were also blessed with free haircuts from Martie Rogers at Sports clips and Lacy! That was such a blessing and boost to their confidence; we love how our God provides even in the most minute details of our lives. Make sure to compliment the kid’s hair as you see them!
One of our teens made the biggest decision in her life to surrender her life to Jesus and call Him her Lord and Savior! Oh, how GREAT and KIND our God is! This stemmed from countless prayers, moments with Jesus, and the beautiful conviction of the Holy Spirit. When I told you last time that summer camps can change their lives, THIS MOMENT is what I was talking about! Thank you all for being present in prayer this summer; I don’t think we will ever begin to understand how your prayers have impacted these kids’ lives!
Please join us in prayer as we welcome in a new school year! Transitions are hard for ALL kids, so please pray for a peace-filled a joy-filled transition into the new school year!
Supplies Needed for New Residents
If you would like to 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!
Stovetop Cleaner
Throw rugs for bedrooms and restrooms (any color)
Let Us Gather
Sunday Night Fellowship
Sundays at 5:30 pm
No Sunday Night Fellowship Sep 14
Bible Study
Mondays at 6:30 pm
No Bible Study Sep 1
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 Sep 13
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 Sep 13
