AL: It's that time of year again ‑‑ January is the month when we post the complete schedule of this year’s Family Retreats. And don’t think it’s too early to start telling disabled people and their families about our five days of Bible study, workshops, wheelchair hikes, and all sorts of activities for families affected by disability. This year we have 20 retreats scheduled all across the country!
JONI: I’m amazed at that number and Al, you know what? We have two more scheduled internationally. Yep, 22 all together. It’s so incredible this ministry and speaking of Family Retreats, I'll never forget Janet, a mother I met last summer at retreat. It was the first time for her and her son with autism and other disabilities. She arrived at our Family Retreat looking so tired, so worn out. When I saw her the next day at the mother’s pampering party (that’s where we get all the moms of disabled children together… put them all in one big room and put on the classical music, put out the silver trays of pastries, do nails, wash and style hair, do facials – even a massage table and someone reading Scripture as Mom is lying face-down getting her neck rubbed).It is something that Janet had never experienced in all her days of raising her children; she never made time for herself. Well, after that pampering party, she kind of stumbled out of the room looking a little dazed and said to me, “I'm in happy shock! I can’t believe it, I’m in happy shock!”
AL: I bet she was! And I'm sure that experience softened her heart when, later on, Janet took part in the Bible studies…
JONI: You can’t blame these mothers for having questions for God. Like why did this happen to my child? Why did my husband leave our family? How am I going to make ends meet? Believe me, our Family Retreats provide such a meaningful ministry to these hurting families!
AL: So friend, if you know a family in your church that has a child with a disability, or if you know of a husband and wife, one of whom uses a wheelchair... any family with any kind of disability, then how about telling them about our Family Retreats? Most Moms and Dads with a disabled daughter or son rarely get any kind of a break... rarely have a chance to connect with other parents who are going through the same ups and downs.... and, for that matter, rarely can afford five days away from the day-to-day routine. Well wouldn't it be great if you could be the catalyst to get your church to even send a family like this to one of our Retreats? Maybe it's a family in your church who's been remaining on the edge... well, what a witness to them it would be if your congregation could provide the support ‑‑ lots of churches do that and it's an incredible way to share the love of Christ. And the families come back from our Joni and Friends’ Retreats being a witness to the very church which sent them.
JONI: And Al, I love this part... this is the part about these families investing back in their churches. So, listening friend, if you know of a mom or dad of a disabled kid, family, tell them to go online today because our Family Retreats fill up fast!
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JONI AND FRIENDS
P.O. Box 3333
Agoura Hills, CA 93176
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