Reading Camps

It is so exciting! We are in our fifth year of conducting our Summer Reading Camp and we have just graduated eight classes. We held two classes in four different subsidized housing neighborhoods; that is double the number of classes held just one year ago! Once again, we had great success in helping these at risk children increase in their reading skill levels. At their graduation students received a trophy, a certificate, and a $50.00 gift card to shop for back to school clothes. Reading is the foundation of all education, and we believe that to teach a child to read is a ticket out of poverty! One of the primary reasons children drop of out school is because they cannot read. We want to thank all of you who helped us give these children a most wonderful gift - the ability to read.

First Day Challenge
What a huge success our First Day Challenge back to school outreach has been again this year! We went into five different low income neighborhoods with over one thousand backpacks filled with school supplies. In addition, we gave back-to-school clothes to those in extreme need. We opened our outreach center to families not living in the neighborhoods that we targeted, so they could come and pick up school supplies for their children. We heard this sentiment from so many parents, “Thank you so much – you just don’t know how much this means to us.” We went reaching out to those in need, but not just with school supplies. Our primary goal is to see souls come into the Kingdom of God, and that is exactly what happened! God had set up divine appointments for so many of those we went to bless. One mother had come just as we were getting ready to leave her neighborhood. I can still hear her saying, “Am I too late?” We told her that she was right on time. Not only did she receive a backpack for her child, but she prayed to accept Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior! Thank you so much for helping us reach out to these precious people. “He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will reward him for what he has done.”
Prov. 19:17

Holiday Outreach
We are already making preparation for our Holiday Outreaches. Every year we collect gifts for children who would normally go without, and deliver them right to their door. There are so many parents that find themselves in impossible situations. They long to give their child a gift just from them. With the help of our partners, we are able to make their dream a reality. We arrive at homes joyfully bearing gifts in brightly colored wrappings. But our greatest joy comes from giving the most valuable gift of all – Jesus Christ.

Testimonies

Kid’s Club
God is moving through our Kid’s Cubs! At a recent Kid’s Club not only did 6 children accept Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior, but a worker from the city who was sitting in on the session was the first one to the altar!

TV Ministry
Recently after watching “Joy In The Morning”, a gentleman called in and gave his life to Jesus Christ. After one of the Joy Ministries phone counselors prayed with him, he handed the phone to his wife and their five-year-old son. They also prayed to accept Jesus as their Savior. This family has been radically changed by the power of God!

First Day Challenge
So many people were blessed through our First Day Challenge Outreach. One mother came running just as we were getting ready to leave her neighborhood saying, “Am I too late?” We told her that she was right on time. Not only did she receive a back pack for her child, but she prayed to accept Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior!

Mother’s Day Celebration
A single mother who attended our Mother’s Day Celebration states: “After hearing Rev. Danette talk about what God had done for her, I was so encouraged. Then Denise got up and shared how God helped her go through school with a 4.0 while raising her three kids! I knew at that moment that if God can do it for them, He can do it for me! I was really inspired.” – N.B.

Summer Reading Camp
When one of our Summer Reading Camp graduates was asked what the highlight of her summer was, she replied, “Being here at Joy
Ministries.” – A.J.