Summer 2023

Dear God’s Resort Friends,

We are blessed with friendship and a partnership for a mission that helps people, through this Christ-centered community, choose freedom from their past and reach their potential as children of God. Thank you for being such a vital part of what God is doing!

Terri didn’t grow up with drugs and alcohol but married someone who was an addict. Her children grew up not knowing any other life and they all suffered terribly as a result. Addiction destroyed her home and marriage and much of the future of her kids. In the face of addiction, she was the “fixer”, and her codependency was a part of her own struggle to keep food on the table and a roof over her head. Her son died from the dark scourge of drugs, and Terri was left picking up the pieces of that tragedy. She found herself raising her granddaughter, Ashlyn. In the depression of the loss of her son, she was soon in a financial crisis that left her and her granddaughter homeless and in a shelter.

Terri and Ashlyn found a home and a community at God’s Resort. Through her Life Transition Coordinator, Barbara, she found the support to help her live on a budget and gain the confidence to depend on God to do what only He can do, and to not try and fix things or people. She learned to rely on God to lift her “out of the pit and crown her with love and compassion” (Psalm 103:4). Terri is a nurse and she works hard to provide not just a home but a place where she and Ashlyn are thriving here! As we have prayed for and with Terri, we just got news that her surviving son and girlfriend have begun their own recovery journey!!

Terri and Ashlyn were recently at our home for a resident cook-out. Julie and I both commented how much they were glowing with a peace and joy that only comes from God and a community where He heals at God’s Resort! Thank you for making such a home and community possible through your partnership and love! You do this for people like Terri and Ashlyn, and for others who will one day move to God’s Resort.

Come and See Terri and Ashlyn 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.

Love and prayer,
Jay St. Clair
Executive Director

 

Women’s and Men’s Saturday Morning Bible Studies

Our Saturday Morning Women’s Bible Study is an amazing time for our current female residents, past residents, and some wonderful volunteers to gather together, sip coffee, and read God’s Word! They recently moved from the book of John to the book of 1 Peter as they have realized our world is ever changing and that they need to be prepared for future persecution as followers of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. As they utilize the Discovery Method and focus on Jesus, His Word becomes alive and life changing. Stacey Johnson, God’s Resort Life Transition Coordinator and Women’s Bible Study leader says, “We could never preplan or strategize what the Holy Spirit brings to the coffee table each week during our time together. It is so simple, so raw, and yet so real. The love and relational support formed over the last 6 months with these daughters of the King has been indescribable.” Last meeting, they read 1 Peter 1:15-16… “God is Holy so Be Holy!” The ladies related to this conveying, “It’s not about trying not to sin; it’s about being Holy!” If you would like to visit our Women’s study, we will be meeting at 9:00 am on Saturday July 8th and then again on Saturday July 22nd (typically meeting every other Saturday). Please bring your bible and be prepared to dig in! The Women’s Bible Study is located at 2811 N. Missouri Ave., Joplin, MO 64801.

While the women are digging into His Word, the men are doing the same in the community center at God’s Resort (1501 S Pearl). They meet for Men’s Bible Study from 8:30am to 9:30am almost every Saturday (no meeting July 1), with the first Saturday of the month being a prayer breakfast, where volunteers from the community serve breakfast. The men have also discovered the Holy Spirit’s prompting as they follow along and hear His Word read 2-3 times in different translations, creating deep and profound discussion that only the Spirit of the Lord could bring about. Proverbs 27:17, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another,” has become the highlighted verse for this Men’s Group. Those mornings are filled with the indwelling power of the Spirit as the men dive into the amazing, living, and active Word of God!

 

Chip’s Abide Serve Group Did it Again!

John “Chip” Boyd, from Abide Missions Inc., has faithfully been bringing serve groups to God’s Resort for several years now. We are so thankful for him and his coordination of these teams! This year he hosted a group from a ministry named 6:8, from Sauk City, Wisconsin. This group was incredible! They mowed, planted grass, painted, and organized two of our storage areas where we keep donated furniture that will go in our homes for new residents. Wow! Thank you for your thoughtful, hard-working service! God bless you!

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