| |  | | | | | Cason, jaden, tres, robert and tyler on jekyll Island | Boys Have a Blast at Camp | | Our boy's home residents were abundantly blessed this year again with a free trip to summer camp with Trinity Church on behalf of the Trinity Missions Committee. The boys joined the Ignite Youth Group, led by former houseparent, Charles Caudell, to St. Simon's and Jekyll Island for the week. The campers stayed at the Epworth by the Sea Retreat Center. They got to enjoy various activities such as going to the beach, searching for sea turtles at night, bike riding on Jekyll Island and much more, all while taking time each day to focus on their spiritual growth. We are so grateful for Trinity's continued support of our ministry and the incredible opportunities they continue to give our residents. Thank you, Trinity! Click Here for more information about Trinity Church |  |
| | | bill and jane sherry join the joy house team | Welcome, Bill & Jane! | | Bill & Jane joined the Joy House team this month to serve as the Girl's House Parents. Coming from Butler, PA they bring enthusiasm with purpose. Prior to joining the Joy House ministry, Bill enjoyed a career in the lumber and building materials industry and recently as a background investigator for a government contractor. Jane has worked as a dental assistant, personal care home owner, and material analyst. But her favorite occupation has always been “mom!” Click Here to Learn More About the Sherrys | |
|  | one of the many serene settings at gibbs gardens | Gibbs Gardens Generosity | | One of the perks of the location of the Joy House is its proximity to Gibbs Gardens, a 220- acre estate comprised of an English manor and 16 gardens, including 3 feature gardens – Manor House Gardens, Japanese Gardens, and Waterlily Gardens. Every two weeks something new is in bloom, so it’s a perfect place to take our residents for a couple of hours to walk and to enjoy the beautiful flowers. Since we have students moving in and out of the program throughout the year, Gibbs Gardens generously allowed us to purchase season tickets last year for each of our students, identifying them by number rather than by name so that whoever happened to be enrolled at that time could use the pass. This year, when we went to renew the passes, we were overwhelmed by their donating them to our students! What wonderful generosity! It truly moved us all, especially because it was so unexpected. As if the gorgeous grounds and the peaceful environment weren’t enough, now we have even more reason to love Gibbs Gardens! Maybe we’ll see you there some time. . . Click Here for More Information About Gibb's Gardens | |
|  | Counselor's corner - BIll wattenbarger, Counselor | Salvation in Four Parts: Who We are in Christ | | When things are going well, it is so easy, and so human, to thank God for our blessings and move on. We will call on Him if we need Him. We can handle things ourselves. We are willful by nature.
When trouble comes, we draw God closer. Naturally, we invite Him to rectify our troubles. When trouble is sudden or resolution is delayed, we may ask “where God is?” and “What am I to do?”
Sometimes, if the trouble is severe and enduring, we start to question God’s motive. We are told that pain, suffering and brokenness are the fires that make us malleable to God. Small consolation when the trouble is consuming. Such distress is a terribly lonely place.
Sometimes, we forget who we are in Christ, even if we once knew. In counseling it often helps to reset the perspective. Life in Christ is not meant to be an easy place. We are told to expect trouble and even “count it all joy.” (Don’t you wish James hadn’t said that?)
Click Here to Read the Full Counselor's Corner Article | |
|  | Unique Ways to Partner with Us – Steve Lowe, Executive Director | Can You Help? | | As often happens, there are some unique ways you can partner with us by possibly meeting some needs we have. This month I have a couple of unique needs I would like to bring to your attention. It’s always exciting to see how God may unite our need with an opportunity for one of you, our partners, to bless us. I have two such needs to present to you. One involves our new girl’s house parents and the other, our girl’s home. Click Here to Read More About our Unique Needs... | |
|  | | | Annual Banquet Photos | | We are so grateful for all of the individuals who were a part of our 2017 Annual Banquet. This year, Adrienne Hall of Hall of Frames Photography blessed us by taking photos at the banquet at no cost, and she did a wonderful job. If you missed our event, click through the photos to catch a glimpse of the evening. Thank you, Adrienne! Click Here to See our 2017 Banquet Photos
Click Here for More Information on Hall of Frames Photography | |
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