8 Inches Away

“Jacque attends one of the 300 schools labeled failing in Florida,” shared John Bryant, pastor at Joy Lutheran in Palm Bay. “His family attends the little Haitian Pentecostal church that meets in the strip mall by the liquor store.” 

“Jacque is autistic. He refers to himself in the third person and he has no physical boundaries,” Pastor John said. “He gets right up in your face, in your bubble. The reality is a lot of people have trouble relating to Jacque.”

Joy Lutheran is located in a very diverse area. “A lot of people won’t live here because of the diversity.” Pastor Bryant has a long history with Luther Springs. While he served at Zion Lutheran in Hickory, NC they offered a Luther Springs Day Camp each summer. Now, at Joy, they do the same. 

“We have around 35 children who come from the neighborhood and only about 6 of them are from Joy.” While the church recognizes the power and importance of Day Camp, they acknowledge that the children in the area, children like Jacque, can’t afford to pay for day camp, so the church includes the full program in their budget each year. “We include it, but the church really hasn’t had to pay for it, because we have families who want to pay for it every year,” he shared. 

Jacque’s first summer at Joy Day Camp was in 2018. “His behaviors never seem to be an issue at day camp,” shared Pastor John. Jacque returned in 2019, but in 2020, due to Covid there was no day camp. 

On the first morning of Day Camp 2021, Pastor John pulled into the church parking lot and there sat Jacque and his mother – one hour early. “No one is here?” Jacque shouted. 

“That is because you are an hour early,” replied Pastor John warmly. His mother needed to get to work, so Pastor John allowed Jacque to stay in the office until day camp started. 

“He came right up to my face – 8 inches away,” Pastor John smiled. 

“Rev-er-an’t’ Byrant! We didn’t have day camp last year. It made Jacque sad. We have it this year. It make Jacque happy. It is the one week in the summer that Jacque have friends.”

The camps and programs of NovusWay, Lutheridge, Lutherock, Luther Springs, and Lutheranch offer children a safe place to be their whole selves, just as God created them. Whether it is on one of our sites or in a congregation reaching out into the community, God is present offering the welcome and joy.