Giving Tuesday 2022

Greetings Friends!

As we head toward the end of 2022, we are grateful to Jesus for the way

He has worked and is working through the ministry of JOC. And, we are

grateful to you for your support of our work.

We are excited to share Maria’s story with you in the above video. Most

of our videos have focused on our friends who are residents in the motels.

But we also have a ministry to the managers and owners. Maria is one of

those managers who has become a dear friend of JOC and the Sikkema

family. You will get a taste of what it has meant to Maria that we have

“shown up, loved her and built a relationship with her and her family and

those who live in the Aurora Motel.” They are family to us.

It has been a busy, beautiful, and challenging year for us. Week in and

week out, day in and day out we go into the motels and onto the street to

share life with our friends and try, as best we can, to be Jesus in a hard

corner of the world. We are thankful that this part of our work continues to

grow. We are especially excited with the opening of the “Family Room,” a

room we rent at the Radiant Inn as a place for our friends to hang out, take

classes, connect with resources, and take steps to a more stable life. All

wrapped about with the loving presence of Jesus.

We also had a successful dessert and fundraiser in August, a first time

event for us. We heard powerful testimonies from both Gigi and Devon. The money we raised there has helped provide the

foundation for the Family Room.

Our building continues to be on the market. Pray that God either provides a

buyer or that we yet find a way to make that project happen. We continue

to be open to that. In the meantime, there are opportunities in front of us to

purchase/manage a motel or two as a way to address housing needs, all in

the context of Christian community. As always, we prayerfully seek God’s

guidance.

We would love to have you consider a year-end financial gift for JOC. That

money will help us continue our presence in the motels and on the streets,

provide for the Family Room, and provide for our small but dynamic staff.

Our work happens because you support us. We can show up, love people

in Jesus’ name, and build relationships because of you. Continue to be

faithful in prayer for us. We face big challenges and big opportunities. But

we have a bigger God. Our prayers together are the key to accessing His

power.

We pray for a blessed Christmas and New Year’s for each of you.

Blessings,

Shawn

PS: All gifts are tax-deductible.