Dear Prayer Partners,
We are thrilled to share with you the joyous news of our recently concluded Joni and Friends Family Retreat in Jos, Nigeria, the very first held in the country, hosted in partnership with IOI at the Haven of Hope.
The retreat started Monday with two days of intensive training for our 22 Short-Term Missionaries (STMs). These dedicated volunteers were equipped with practical skills, relational strategies, and spiritual preparation to serve as one-on-one caregivers and support personnel. By the time our five focus families arrived on Wednesday, our team was fully prepared to shower them with Christlike care, allowing parents to step back and rest deeply for the first time in years. I n total, 28 family campers gathered under this year’s theme, “Hidden Riches,” inspired by Isaiah 45:3: “I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.”
Beyond spiritual encouragement, practical help was provided through the distribution of wheelchairs to children in need. By the time the retreat concluded on Sunday, the atmosphere was filled with tears of joy and profound gratitude. Parents expressed profound gratitude for the love and dignity poured into their lives throughout the week. We praise our Lord Jesus for His grace in making this inaugural retreat a resounding success, all for the glory of His name.
Please join us in prayer for these families that:
- These parents and caregivers will continue to find physical, emotional, and spiritual daily strength
- They will not lose heart, but stay deeply anchored in God’s peace and hope
- These families will encourage other families in their communities facing similar challenges