We are overflowing with gratitude for your partnership! Your support isn’t just a gift; it is a lifeline. Because of you, individuals are breaking the chains of the past and finally stepping into their divine potential as children of the Living God.
Emily’s life is a testament to this transformation. Though raised in a loving home, Emily found herself targeted by a darkness that sought to destroy her. By age 16, she was caught in a downward spiral of the wrong people and the wrong places. What started with “pot” quickly accelerated into a desperate cycle of pills and hard drugs. She was trapped, sinking deeper until she hit a devastating rock bottom: losing her family, facing serious legal battles, and surviving a horrific accident that left her in the ICU for a month – followed immediately by jail.
But where the enemy sought destruction, God brought a wake-up call.
During her recovery, Emily met David, a resident of God’s Resort. Today, they are building a life together right here in our community! The results are nothing short of miraculous. Since joining us, Emily has secured a great job, fully restored her relationship with her family, and—in an incredible feat of stewardship – paid off nearly $13,000 in debt and purchased a car with cash!
Emily says it best: “God’s Resort is an amazing opportunity to have a healthy community that helps us heal. It got my heart and mind right and saved me in more than one way! I am so grateful to be here!”
Thank you for investing in Emily, David, and the many others following in their footsteps. You are making the impossible possible. If you want to give a special gift to help create life change at God’s Resort, click here or contact john@godsresortjoplin.org.
With love and prayer,
Jay St. Clair
Executive Director
Volunteer Spotlight: Christ’s Church of Oronogo and New Heights Christian Academy!
This month has been overflowing with acts of service at God’s Resort! Every fall and spring, Christ’s Church of Oronogo sends out their Rooted Serve Groups to lend a helping hand, and this month was no exception. We were thrilled to welcome four groups from CCO, each serving in unique ways:
● One group tackled projects at The Well, helping us complete important tasks.
● Two groups spent Tuesday evenings serving dinner and sharing fellowship with our kiddos, which is always a time full of smiles and connection.
● The fourth group served a delicious dinner to everyone during a Sunday Night Fellowship.
We are so grateful for our partnership with Christ’s Church of Oronogo and their consistent willingness to send groups to serve alongside us!
New Heights Christian Academy also made a huge impact this month, sending nine students for an entire week of service during Missions Week. These energetic students helped us accomplish tons of work along Pearl Street, from outdoor projects and indoor demoing to cleaning and much more. Thank you, New Heights, for bringing such dedicated hearts to serve!
This month, we’re excited to spotlight our incredible partnership with Helix Athletics!
We love our friends at Helix Athletics, and we’re also thrilled to celebrate our ongoing partnership! For the past two years, Helix Athletics has gone above and beyond to bless our God’s Resort children with an Easter Basket drive, and we’re excited that they’re doing it again this year!
On top of that, Helix provides our kiddos with access to an open gym at their facilities which gives them a fun, safe place to play and enjoy their time, completely free of charge. We are so grateful for Helix Athletics and their commitment to blessing the children at God’s Resort!
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!
Volunteers, mark your calendars for April 30, 2026, for our Volunteer Appreciation Dinner being held at 6:00 p.m. at the Community Center! We can’t wait to see you all there! More information will be sent out soon, but you can RSVP here: https://godsresortjoplin.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/62/responses/new
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!
March has certainly roared in like a lion, and it’s been a vibrant, joy-filled season at The Well! We’re excited to share that we’ve welcomed three new residents, each already making a meaningful impact as they grow, serve, and connect within our community.
Our women have been hard at work with some of our partner ministries and organizations such as Watered Gardens and Westgate nursing home where they’ve had the opportunity to serve in a variety of ways. Through these experiences, they are not only giving back but are building community and learning the value of working side by side.
This month, they were also blessed to attend the Women’s Retreat at Wellspring Church, where they spent time learning and reflecting on what God has to say about “waiting”, a meaningful and timely message for this season of their journeys. The picture here captures a couple of the women working on a craft during the event, enjoying both creativity and fellowship.
As they continue acclimating to life at The Well and engaging in community at God’s Resort, even the everyday moments have been special. Pictured here are a few of the women going over house chores with a staff member; simple, meaningful rhythms that help build responsibility, connection, and a sense of home
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Their presence has brought such energy and encouragement! They are truly a source of joy to all of us who have the privilege of walking alongside them!
If you are interested in learning more about volunteering at The Well, we would love to connect with you! Please reach out to Machaela Cantu at machaela@godsresortjoplin.org or Trina Davis at trina@godsresortjoplin.org for more information.
God’s Resort Youth
This month has been filled with anticipation as we have been walking through the book of Acts AND the final days before Jesus’ crucifixion! With our eyes set on our risen Savior, we have been SO blessed by taking a deep dive into His life. Easter is literally right around the corner, and we have a group of kids filled with excitement as they begin to understand how Jesus’ sacrifice sets them free! We are thankful for all the honest conversations we get to have with our God’s Resort kids!
Luke 22:19 says, “Do this in remembrance of Me.” I am SO thankful to our Joy-filled leader, Jay, for walking through communion with our neighborhood boys! These are kids from the neighborhood who CHOOSE to come and learn about JESUS (and eat some delicious food)! Huge shoutout to ALL of our AMAZING food groups that serve our kiddos on Tuesday nights- one group even brought in Chinese food (you might recognize one of the volunteers serving thed food if you’ve ever been on jury duty )!!
Please consider partnering with us in prayer as we prepare for a summer filled with camps, VBS, and JESUS!! Pray that the hearts of our kids are open accepting to the WORD! Life changing decisions happen on the holy ground of camp – one of teens made the beautiful decision to accept Christ following a week of camp last year!!
As winter gives way to spring, we’re reminded of the beauty of new beginnings and the quiet, steady work of renewal happening all around us. The earth reflects God’s glory in a fresh way. The world starts to change – buds open, trees fill out, and landscapes that felt quiet a few weeks ago begin to look alive again. It’s a steady, noticeable shift. Without saying anything out loud, the rhythm of the seasons carries a message that reaches everywhere. When we pause and take it in – the warmth of the sun, the rhythm of rain, the miracle of new growth – we’re invited into something bigger than ourselves. The same God who renews the earth each spring is at work renewing our hearts and lives. Just as the barren becomes fruitful again, His faithfulness brings restoration, hope, and fresh beginnings.
During this season, let’s join with all creation in worship and practice gratitude for the God that makes all things new!
We would love for you to join in the worship going on at God’s Resort! Whether you’re a worship leader, musician, tech volunteer, or someone who simply loves to praise Jesus, there’s a place for you here. Come be part of what God is doing here this season! To get connected, email jon-michael@godsresortjoplin.org or call 417-553-4080.
Emily’s life is a testament to this transformation. Though raised in a loving home, Emily found herself targeted by a darkness that sought to destroy her. By age 16, she was caught in a downward spiral of the wrong people and the wrong places. What started with “pot” quickly accelerated into a desperate cycle of pills and hard drugs. She was trapped, sinking deeper until she hit a devastating rock bottom: losing her family, facing serious legal battles, and surviving a horrific accident that left her in the ICU for a month – followed immediately by jail.
