Yesterday my friend Joy Gregory passed away from cancer. She has been the Pastor of Joy Fellowship, a church to people with disabilities for more than 25 years and has made this her life's work. All over the world other Joy Fellowships have been birthed because of the work in Vancouver. I met Joy in 1982 and she was a source of inspiration in working with people with disabilities. She always saw the potential in people when others could only see their disability.
Joy Fellowship is a church like none other. It's a church FOR people with disabilities and their families and friends. You might see a worship team of at least 10 people, all playing various instruments or singing loudly and boisterously. There's never a shortage of volunteers at JF, it's something they relish, the opportunity to serve the Lord.
Friends of JF know the best part of attending their service is the alter call. They all raise their hands at the end of the service (there are often more than 100 in attendance) and sing "Here I Am Lord". I've never experienced anything like it anywhere. Their love for the Lord is awesome.
Joy will be missed by so many people, she touched so many lives.
I took this from the Joy Fellowship website, in memory of Joy:
Joy Fellowship is a church like none other. It's a church FOR people with disabilities and their families and friends. You might see a worship team of at least 10 people, all playing various instruments or singing loudly and boisterously. There's never a shortage of volunteers at JF, it's something they relish, the opportunity to serve the Lord.
Friends of JF know the best part of attending their service is the alter call. They all raise their hands at the end of the service (there are often more than 100 in attendance) and sing "Here I Am Lord". I've never experienced anything like it anywhere. Their love for the Lord is awesome.
Joy will be missed by so many people, she touched so many lives.
I took this from the Joy Fellowship website, in memory of Joy:
Saturday, June 9, 2007
Dear praying friends,
Joy Gregory's pilgrimage has come to an end. She has been in the Palliative Care Ward of V.G.H. for more than a week. This morning it was agreed that she needed to be given a sedative to see her through these last very tough days. Before that had happened, late this afternoon, Jesus came for her, and she was ushered into heaven and the celebration there has begun. Her mother, Elizabeth, was by her side at the end as were four of her faithful "stretcher bearers." Thank you, Heavenly Father, for giving us Joy.
God has been very present. A staff from one of the Bethesda Group Homes arrived with a resident who is in a wheel chair several days ago. Joy perked up and welcomed him most lovingly and God was close. A friend from college days has been up twice in the past few days. Your prayers for Elizabeth are being answered. She has been so brave.
How precious are the prayers of the saints at a time like this! God bless you for your faithfulness in prayer.
Love, Ruby
Dear praying friends,
Joy Gregory's pilgrimage has come to an end. She has been in the Palliative Care Ward of V.G.H. for more than a week. This morning it was agreed that she needed to be given a sedative to see her through these last very tough days. Before that had happened, late this afternoon, Jesus came for her, and she was ushered into heaven and the celebration there has begun. Her mother, Elizabeth, was by her side at the end as were four of her faithful "stretcher bearers." Thank you, Heavenly Father, for giving us Joy.
God has been very present. A staff from one of the Bethesda Group Homes arrived with a resident who is in a wheel chair several days ago. Joy perked up and welcomed him most lovingly and God was close. A friend from college days has been up twice in the past few days. Your prayers for Elizabeth are being answered. She has been so brave.
How precious are the prayers of the saints at a time like this! God bless you for your faithfulness in prayer.
Love, Ruby
