October 2023
Dear God’s Resort Friends,
We are so grateful for your love and prayers for the people at God’s Resort! It is the greatest privilege to partner with you as people choose freedom from their past and reach their potential as a child of God!
Bobby grew up surrounded by domestic violence between his mom and his stepdad. All around him was drinking, drugs, and gangs. By the time he was 11 years old, he was already locked up in a juvenile institution. He fathered two little girls, but by the time they were 12 and 8 years old, he had given them to their aunt because as he said, “My bad life went to the worst of the worst.” He started carrying a gun because everyone around him had a gun. He said, “The devil almost had me because if I had not stopped, I would have been killed or I would have killed someone.”
One day he went to visit the girls and as he was leaving, he was pulled over by the police. He had been running from the law, but as he sat there on the side of the road it was like God said, “Don’t run.” He was in county jail facing 10 years, but in that jail he got clean and started seeking the God who was already seeking his lost soul.
Bobby went to the Lazarus House and from there came to God’s Resort, with his little girls, three years ago. At God’s Resort he learned to really love Jesus. “I can’t live without Jesus! He is the definition in my life of everything!” At God’s Resort Bobby has transformed into a new man! Recently, Bobby and his girls were baptized into Christ! “The love and grace I have received along with the accountability has led me to repent of all my sins and become a new man!” Bobby has become a spiritual leader in our community and is growing in every area of his life! He works hard and has held the same job with promotions at a local warehouse. Bobby shares his faith with everyone and memorizes more Scripture than almost anyone I know, including me!!
Where we have seen his greatest growth is as a parent! Through a lot of hard work, humility, and love, he says, “God’s Resort has helped me and my girls grow together. I am learning that I am not just their father, I am learning to be a real Daddy, like the Lord is to me!”
Thank you for making a home for Bobby and his girls possible through your partnership with God’s Resort!
Love and prayer,
Jay St. Clair
Executive Director
Wow! What an Amazing Celebration and Tours!
We hosted our annual Celebration and Tours on October 13th , 14th , and 15th this year. It was AMAZING! So many of you showed up and heard the updates on our residents, including outcome data and powerful stories of God’s healing and transformation. God is still doing beautiful things at His Resort! We are thankful for what He has done AND we are excited for the future!
In honor of the past, we dedicated an apartment to the Robertson family. Rob Robertson was the original owner of the properties that, once labeled “The Last Resort,” transformed into God’s Resort when Rob’s obedience and vision came to life! We
had a meaningful dedication of the apartment, now called the Robertson House. Thank you, Rob, for your faithfulness!
In view of the future, Jay announced the launch of a new ministry at God’s Resort! The Well at God’s Resort is a long-term discipleship ministry to help women, many of whom have a history of substance abuse, become more rooted in God’s truth and love. We have dedicated a house where these women will live communally in preparation to one day move into a single-family home at God’s Resort. The Well is for women ages 21 and older who want to grow deeper with God; are at least 6 months clean and sober; have been abused or experienced trauma of any kind. The Well will be welcoming residents very soon, as Noi Welch and Stephanie Bridgewater joined our staff on October 1st to help lead it!
Following the weekend, we had a special visit from Missouri State Senator, Jill Carter. She toured the properties, and we were able to share what God has been doing! We were honored to have her, and she was very excited for what is happening at God’s Resort. We look forward to
her coming back, as she expressed her desire to serve at our upcoming fall events!
Again, thank you to everyone for coming out! If you missed the weekend and would like to give or volunteer, visit godsresortjoplin.org/takeaction, or call 417-553-4080 and ask for John (to give) or John-Michael (to volunteer).
Thanksgiving Dinner | Sunday, November 19th
We are looking forward to our annual Thanksgiving Dinner Celebration with our residents and families on Sunday, November 19. It will be held in the God’s Resort Community Center from 5:30-7:30 pm.
Many food items are needed, and if you would like to donate to our Thanksgiving menu, please email sherri@godsresortjoplin.org.
We will also need volunteers to help serve and clean up on the day of the event. If that is something you, your family, your life group, etc., would consider doing, please contact us.
Thank you for loving our ministry, and for being a part of events that show God’s love to our community! We are ever so grateful for what God continues to do at His Resort, and in the lives of those touched by the continued generosity of our friends!
The Christmas Shoppe is Coming to Town!
Christmas is just around the corner! At God’s Resort, that means a wonderful tradition called The Christmas Shoppe is too! Five years ago, it was created to help parents with the task and expense of Christmas shopping for their children, and to bring dignity to that process.
Last year, The Christmas Shoppe Kid’s edition was created to help children learn to earn and save a “make believe” currency called Christmas Bucks and experience the joy of giving to their parents!Both of these Shoppes will be set up on December 2nd , from 5-7pm. The one for parents to “shoppe” will be set up at Byer’s Ave. Methodist Church. The parents will shop with real currency, but at 10% of what the gifts actually cost. The one for kids to “shoppe” for their parents will be open for business in the God’s Resort Community Center. Those gifts will also be priced at 10% of the original cost, but the kids will use their Christmas Bucks!
We need your help to make it possible!
1. We need people to adopt a parent or a child by picking up their “shopping” list and purchasing 3-5 gifts based on the information on the list. Then bring the purchased gifts unwrapped by Nov 28th to our Community Center.
2. We also need people to bring unwrapped practical gifts that would fit in a stocking. Parents and kids may also “fill a stocking” for $5 by choosing from a table filled with these practical donations.
3. We need people who would help us set up the “Shoppes” on Dec 1st .
4. Each of our children need a personal shopper on Dec. 2 when the Shoppe is open at the Community Center.
5. We need people to help parents and children alike wrap their gifts before they leave their respective “Christmas Shoppe.”
If your family is looking for a wise way to bless another family at Christmas this is a wonderful opportunity. Often people adopt a family, but the parent has no clue what their child is opening on Christmas morning. The Christmas Shoppe adds and aids dignity through giving by allowing the parent to choose and pay for their children’s gifts themselves!
Maybe your business, church, Life Group, or Sunday School class wants to do something together to bless others this holiday season; this is a wonderful way to get to do that together and bless others at the same time. Even a financial gift to help us with the expense of putting on this event would help us!
Jesus is truly THE Reason for the Season! Let’s join Him in blessing others this year at Christmas as we celebrate His birth!
If you have questions, please call Julie or Sherri at 417-553-4080.
