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THURSDAY. MAY 6. 2021 PICKENS COUNTY PROGRESS PAGE 3A
“Abound in hope,
Executive Director Steve Lowe speaking at The Joy
House Annual Banquet.
By Ali Metcalf
The Joy House
Tuesday evening, April
27, Executive Director and
Pickens native Steve Lowe
shared with more than 250
guests at YoungLife’s Sharp-
Top Cove how The Joy
House’s story began 20 years
ago in the heart of a 3 3-year-
old electrical engineer seek
ing to follow the will of God
to bring restoration to teens
and families.
Steve shared example
after example of how God
has showered The Joy House
with unexpected blessings
throughout the years, from
the perfect piece of land off
Cove Road to the “just right”
staff members to build the
ministry together. Lowe
stated how a “faithful God
who makes a way” has been
the story of the ministry all
along.
The evening was espe
cially reflective on the
tremendous impact Garry
Barber, The Joy House’s
beloved Counseling Center
Director who passed away in
December of 2020, had on
the ministry, the community
and even the mission to
come. Abby Elam, who
served alongside Barber for
many years, tearfully ex
pressed how he mentored her
and fellow counselor, Bill
Wattenbarger, to be coun
selors “offering grace and
compassion” to the people
that walk through the Coun
seling Center doors. Elam is
grateful to be able to provide
Zach Phelps, Jennifer and Don Boggus, and Terry and
Janice Luck attend The Joy House annual banquet cele
brating 20 years of ministry.
message from Joy House banquet
Former resident and his father, Eli & Joe Riddell, share their testimony about The Joy House Teen Residential Pro
gram alongside Executive Director Steve Lowe to a crowd of250+ guests at The Mill at SharpTop Cove.
services that are affordable
for the community, much due
to the generosity of the min
istry supporters, and she as
sures that the ministry will
carry on the mission that Bar
ber so passionately lived,
which includes loving, caring
for, grieving with, and lean
ing into the lives of their
clients.
Multiple client testi
monies were shared from
both the teen residential pro
gram and community coun
seling center. In a video
testimony, George Parton
shared how the Counseling
Center “saved [his] life” as
he and his wife, Laurie, testi
fied to the impact their coun
selor, Wattenbarger, and the
ministry has had on them
since the tragic passing of
their son, Brent. On stage, fa
ther and son, Joe and Eli Rid
dell, shared about their
family’s journey through The
Joy House Teen Residential
Program, a regional ministry
serving multiple north Geor
gia counties. Both testified
that have learned to listen
more and respect one another
better. Eli, now a graduate of
the program, is finishing up
his 11th grade year and has
dreams of attending college.
Even during these very chal
lenging times, the ministry
chooses to “abound in hope,”
the theme of the evening, for
what’s to come, including
breaking ground on their new
girl’s home “any day now”
and pursuing plans to build
the Garry Barber Memorial
Counseling Center. Lowe
challenged the community to
do what we can for one an
other to keep families strong
and to reach out to those chil
dren in our lives living in un
fortunate circumstances.
A recording of the annual
banquet is available to be
viewed online at The Joy
House’s website, thejoy-
house.org, where you can
learn more about this local
501(c)(3).
The Joy House’s multi
faceted ministries are all
based on the “ability to pay”
of their clients, which means
most of their funding comes
from the generosity of the
community. The event raised
approximately $73,000 in
gifts and pledges. You can in
vest in this ministry online at
thejoyhouse.org or by texting
“GIVE” to 770.692.3722.
Renasant Bank recognized for supporting veterans
Mila Lane, branch manager
of the Renasant Bank's Jasper
office accepts a donation box as
part of Post 149's local mer
chants fund drive.
Lane did not let Covid re
strictions prevent her office
from participating in a safe way.
The funds raised in this pro
gram are all spent locally to
help veterans in need, offer
scholarships, sponsor children's
sports and support Scout pro
grams. Look for the patriotically
decorated donation boxes when
you shop in local stores. Call
706-253-1715 or email to al-
postl49@gmail.com to enroll
your business in the program.
Support the businesses that sup
port our local veterans.
55 Burnt
Mtn. Rd.
CHEROKEE
CLOSEOUTS
IN JASPER 1
open Mon-sat, 9 - 7 706-692-9917