Rural Missouri - October 2022 - 36
MISSION
POSSIBLE
Joplin ministry offers a hand
up to those in need
by Heather Berry | hberry@ruralmissouri.coop
M
Above: Mike, a student
in the Forge program,
takes a moment to
read his Bible. Below:
Another Forge student,
David, roasts coffee beans
which will be sold by the
Worth Shop under the
name Redeemed Bean,
" coffee with a cause. "
arsha Whitford remembers what it was like to be a single
mom in the '90s, living paycheck to paycheck while
attending college. " I was living life and trying to get by. I
guess it seemed like I had it all together because people
began seeking me out and asking if I could help them find solutions
to some of their needs, " recalls Marsha. " It was great to help, but it
also became overwhelming pretty quickly. "
It was around that same time Marsha met her future husband,
James. The two often found themselves working side by side ministering
at homeless camps in the Joplin area. But it was a mission
trip to Texas that solidified the couple's hearts to help improve the
lives of others from the inside out. The two soon married and began
brainstorming a way to truly help change lives, and Watered Gardens
Ministries was born in 2000.
" The name Watered Gardens comes from a scripture in Isaiah
58 where God is saying if you will give of yourself, you'll be like a
watered garden, " says James. " He gives the promise of a flourishing
life as we learn it's better to give than receive. "
Today, with a staff of 30 and more than 600 volunteers, the
nonprofit aims to help those in need earn the basic necessities for
life. Watered Gardens helps people achieve their goals by rewarding
work ethic instead of simply giving whatever is needed. The
organization's motto, " Work awakens worth " is
compassionately shared in every situation with
those seeking assistance as the organization
chooses to walk alongside a person as they
move forward toward a better life.
" We've got to start using our heads with our
hearts and love people enough to know it can
be harmful to just hand people whatever they
seem to need, " James says. " It feels good to
give and God instructs us to give, but we need
to understand that sometimes not giving over
and over again is often the best answer. "
Today, Watered Gardens has four different
properties in downtown Joplin offering
XX RURAL MISSOURI | OCTOBER 2022
Rural Missouri - October 2022
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Rural Missouri - October 2022
Contents
Rural Missouri - October 2022 - Cover1
Rural Missouri - October 2022 - Cover2
Rural Missouri - October 2022 - Contents
Rural Missouri - October 2022 - 4
Rural Missouri - October 2022 - 5
Rural Missouri - October 2022 - 6
Rural Missouri - October 2022 - 7
Rural Missouri - October 2022 - 8
Rural Missouri - October 2022 - 9
Rural Missouri - October 2022 - 10
Rural Missouri - October 2022 - 11
Rural Missouri - October 2022 - 12
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Rural Missouri - October 2022 - 15
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Rural Missouri - October 2022 - 17
Rural Missouri - October 2022 - 18
Rural Missouri - October 2022 - 19
Rural Missouri - October 2022 - 20
Rural Missouri - October 2022 - 21
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Rural Missouri - October 2022 - 24
Rural Missouri - October 2022 - 25
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Rural Missouri - October 2022 - 27
Rural Missouri - October 2022 - 28
Rural Missouri - October 2022 - 29
Rural Missouri - October 2022 - 30
Rural Missouri - October 2022 - 31
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Rural Missouri - October 2022 - 33
Rural Missouri - October 2022 - 34
Rural Missouri - October 2022 - 35
Rural Missouri - October 2022 - 36
Rural Missouri - October 2022 - 37
Rural Missouri - October 2022 - 38
Rural Missouri - October 2022 - 39
Rural Missouri - October 2022 - 40
Rural Missouri - October 2022 - 41
Rural Missouri - October 2022 - 42
Rural Missouri - October 2022 - 43
Rural Missouri - October 2022 - 44
Rural Missouri - October 2022 - 45
Rural Missouri - October 2022 - 46
Rural Missouri - October 2022 - 47
Rural Missouri - October 2022 - 48
Rural Missouri - October 2022 - 49
Rural Missouri - October 2022 - 50
Rural Missouri - October 2022 - Cover3
Rural Missouri - October 2022 - Cover4
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