Wow!! We’ve had an incredible response to Jammin for Joy 2024 both from players and sponsors. We will again set new records for players and sponsors. We already have 320 committed players with just a few spots remaining. We have 30+ sponsors that have already partnered with us for this year’s tourney. We can’t wait to welcome so many of our pickleball friends to Bent Tree in August for 3 great days of fun and competitive play.
Here are some specific ways you can help:
Final High-Level Sponsor: We have one high-level sponsorship remaining. It is a Food Sponsorship for $1000. We had ten high-level sponsorships when we started. It is the last remaining one.
Court Sponsor: We have an unlimited amount of Court Sponsorships available. You get a sign with your logo on it posted on one of our ten courts where the tourney is played and we’ll promote you on the Joy House Facebook page of 3700+ followers. These are $250
Door Prizes: One of the ways we make our tourney unique and add value to our players is by providing door prizes. If you own or work for a business that would like to provide a door prize please let us know. These include gift cards for stores/restaurants, baskets, offers for free service etc..
If you are interested in partnering with us in any of these 3 ways please reach out to me, Steve Lowe. You can do that via email: steve@thejoyhouse.or or via phone: 706-253-7569.
Everyone can join us in praying for the success of this year’s tournament. |
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| For the past two and half years, I’ve had the privilege of being an active volunteer with the girls in the Joy House residential program and what a blessing it has been! God’s Word tells us that Jesus came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many. As believers and part of the Body of Christ, each of us have been gifted with unique abilities, talents, and interests. How wonderful it is to know that God can use not only our interest and abilities, but our experiences and struggles for good if we’re willing to allow Him.
Every other week, the girls and I spend time together doing something fun. While we’re playing kickball, volleyball, pickleball, swimming, walking, or cooking, it’s really a great opportunity to connect with them on their level. We’ve spent time together on field trips, doing devotionals, holiday related crafts, learning new skills, and generating lots of laughs with karaoke!
While we’re having fun and although I may not know the details or challenges they are experiencing, I see this as a great time to encourage them and guide their hearts and minds towards truth. I see the Lord using it as a time to help them understand their identity in Christ. Since His word always sets us free, rather than adopting labels and lies based on past or present struggles, my prayer is that He will use these moments to remind them of how He sees them - a child of the King, daughter of the Most High, and perfectly perfected for all time! (Hebrews 10:14) The girls are always genuinely appreciative and enjoy all that we do, but the real bonus is the opportunity to weave into our conversations what God says is true in His Word and true of them.
Volunteering is just one of the many ways to support and partner in the work that God is doing through The Joy House ministry. If you haven’t done so, please consider attending the annual banquet, a thoroughly enjoyable event! Also, sponsoring or playing in the golf or pickleball tournaments, preparing an occasional meal for the house parents, or helping with campus projects are very welcomed. Georgia residents can take advantage of the Georgia Qualified Education Tax Credit Program which allows taxpayers to divert some of the personal or corporate taxes otherwise owed towards a donation to The Joy House. More information can be provided on how to utilize this program. Lastly, you can of course continue to pray for the ministry!
Through the faithful service of the staff, counselors, house parents, and other volunteers, Jesus’ love is being expressed and lives are being changed for their good and His glory. I’m thankful that I get be a small part of what God is doing at The Joy House. This eternal impact and purpose is the reason that He gives us all the heart to serve.
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| Growing up in the 1970’s I cannot recall ever hearing a classmate (or adult) talk about depression or being on mood stabilizers. As a counselor for almost 20 years, I can attest that depression issues among children ages 8-18 are at unprecedented levels – and increasing. While the reasons for the increases in reported depression aren’t particularly clear, I believe there are several contributing factors, however, due to restraints I present here the elements of technology and social media platforms as possible influences.
In 1993, the World Wide Web introduced the browser, an application to view files from other sources.[1] The total number of websites in 1993 numbered about 130. Today, there’s over 190 million active sites. Smartphones became easily available in 2008, and IPad’s joined forces in 2010. Currently, Facebook (created in 2004) receives 14.2 billion visits per month: YouTube (2005), 94.6 billion.[2] These two websites ushered in others such as Twitter (2006), Instagram (2010), Snapchat (2011), and TikTok (2016) to name a few. The top 35 websites collectively report 149 billion visits each month. According to the Anne Casey Foundation, almost 40% of children ages 8 to 12 use social media and 95% ages 13-17.[3]It appears as social media increases, mental health decreases.
In his book, Disconnected, Thomas Kersting states that school-aged children spend an average of 8 hours per day, every week, on an assortment of electronic devices and a variety of different Websites.[4] That’s a lot of time taken away from the things I grew up with in the 70’s, like riding bikes, and neighborhood wiffleball. Additionally, multiple psychological techniques centering on reinforcement use “likes,” “followers,” and “streaks” to keep the person mindlessly engaged and coming back for more.[5] These techniques stimulate the reward system of the brain, increasing dopamine release.[6] Repeated dopamine dumps can lead to addiction and ultimately desensitization. Depression is a side-effect of this process as a person struggles to achieve previous dopamine levels. Considering the brain chemical effects is troubling, but I believe it’s a viable correlation.
The book I referenced earlier is but one excellent resource to better understand the detrimental effects, like depression, social media use is having on impressionable minds. Kersting includes several practical steps one could take to reduce the harm.
[1] https://www.usg.edu/galileo/skills [2] https://explodingtopics.com/blog/top-social-media-platforms. [3] https://www.aecf.org/ [4] Thomas Kersting, “Disconnected: How to Protect Your Kids from the Harmful Effects of Device Dependency. (Michigan: Baker Books, 2020), 20. [5] https://www.simplypsychology.org |
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