The, question, therefore, is not ‘How can we make community?’ but ‘How can we develop and nurture giving hearts?’ ~ Henri J.M. Nouwen
God has guided Chronic Joy every step of the way as we have grown through the years! It is my privilege to share a snapshot of the 10 vital programs that serve our growing community.
Henri Nouwen’s words are a great place to begin: “However, community is first of all a quality of the heart. It grows from the spiritual knowledge that we are alive not for ourselves but for one another. Community is the fruit of our capacity to make the interests of others more important than our own. The question, therefore, is not ‘How can we make community?’ but, ‘How can we develop and nurture giving hearts?'”
RADICAL COMMUNITY
Radical community is rooted in love, nourished in prayer, and strengthened in courageous vulnerability as we listen, engage, forgive, learn, grow, serve, and extend compassion to all. LEARN MORE.
LET'S PRAY
Prayer is a precious invitation from God. Let’s Pray! Often, we over-think prayer, complicating it by seeking the right words, the right time, or the right place, or we look for the perfect formula, so afraid of getting it wrong that we fail to pray at all. LEARN MORE.
#PENTOPAPER
#PenToPaper is a powerful, yet easy way to encourage one another and build each other up. Build community, offer hope, let someone know they are not alone, and that they are prayed for, cared about, and genuinely loved. We provide a beautiful starter set of stationery to encourage both sender and receiver. LEARN MORE.
#STEPREPPRAY
#StepRepPray is an opportunity to meet with God in prayer as you intentionally move in whatever way you are able. With each step or every rep, we invite you to pray for others, seek God’s guidance, worship and praise Him, and to thank God for the gift of movement. LEARN MORE.
PASS IT ON
Make the journey easier for one another. Do you know a great resource – book, blog, or website? Do you someone you could introduce Chronic Joy to? You’re invited to Pass It On! LEARN MORE.
SERVE
“Serve one another humbly in love.” Serving with chronic illness is as important to who we are as breathing, and as vital to us as oxygen. In God’s Kingdom, small acts – as simple as a smile or a cup of cold water – are significant. Discover creative new ways to love God and love others right where you are, however you are able. LEARN MORE.
CREATIVE SPARKS
Creative Sparks invite an exploration of hands, hearts, and stories. Engage your senses, explore your own unique story. Experience God in fresh, new ways as you learn, lean in, and kindle creative joy in midst of chronic illness. LEARN MORE.
GIFT OF HOPE
Hope is possible. Sometimes we just need to know that someone cares, that our stories matter, that hope is possible – even in a life with chronic illness, even through sustained loss, even in the midst of debilitating pain. If you need to know that your story matters, that you are not alone, and that someone cares, request your free copy of Discovering Hope. Our Gift of Hope to you! LEARN MORE.
PRAYER MINISTRY
Many have told us that due to chronic illness, serving in traditional ways isn’t possible, but that you can pray. We invite you to do just that, #PrayItForward by lifting the requests of others. Then as you rest at the edge of the Prayer Pond, toss in your prayers and praises, and watch them ripple with radical hope and compassionate change throughout our community and far beyond. LEARN MORE.
AWARENESS
Our DID YOU KNOW? program offers both digital and printable Fact Sheets to create awareness, increase knowledge, and support education in a quick and easy format that you can share with friends, family, churches, small groups, co-workers and neighbors. LEARN MORE.
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