Renewed Hope 2025: a celebration of transformation in Ghanaian communities

April 14, 2025

Introduction

Ghana, located in West Africa, is a nation rich in history and culture, with a population of millions. Theresa, founder of Joy of the Lord Missions, is from Ghana, she’s shared her testimony on our YouTube channel. When Theresa was a child, she encountered the truth of the gospel. Before giving her life to Jesus Christ and accepting Him as Savior, she suffered through suicidal thoughts. She simply couldn’t understand why children go hungry, and why some people were treated better than others. It wasn’t fair and it didn’t make sense that even children had to go without the necessities to survive. Many years later, as a woman, Theresa moved to Canada, and she never forgot life as a young girl in Ghana. Joy Missions is Theresa’s organization; she created it to give back to the community she’s from.

Theresa aims to share the gospel, reflecting its impact on her during childhood, and to offer support to individuals facing significant needs. She regularly visits Ghana with food, medical supplies, and monetary contributions she has saved. Theresa has contributed to numerous lives through her personal resources while also raising her own family. Her passion led to the creation of Joy of the Lord Missions, allowing others to support her work financially and help spread the word. Joy Missions is a run completely by Theresa, with the help of a few Canadian volunteers. For information on our activities, past events, souls we’ve met along the way, and upcoming projects, please visit our website.

Joy Missions hosts 2 annual events – Love in Action and Renewed Hope. Love in Action is geared specifically towards children. Theresa creates an incredibly unforgettable environment with music, food, transportation to and from local villages just to have as many children participate as possible. “If they want to come, we’re going to get them there” she says. The goal is to tell them about Jesus, show them that there is joy even in sorrow, in hunger, in pain, in trial. With Jesus, all things are possible, and it does get better. Theresa knows what it’s like to be a child growing up in Ghana and that it’s not easy, and she also knows the difference of life when walking with Jesus. She’s the perfect role model to show kids how to be kids. That’s Love in Action.

Renewed Hope is an event focused on the mission to embrace, support, and provide for those frequently marginalized by society. We aim to make a difference in the lives of the elderly, widows, and disabled individuals, showing them that they are loved and valued. With Renewed Hope 2025 around the corner coming up in May, this article will delve into what it is all about.

Supporting the Elderly

In the Western world we don’t seem to think of the elderly as marginalized. Many have their families to take care of them, there is government support, and a plethora of services specifically available to their demographic, if need be. For the most part, the elderly are self-sufficient and live an abundant life. Many have the ability or choice whether to work, volunteer, or retire and many have the privilege to remain homeowners while making memories with their loved ones.

In Ghana, the elderly face a more dismal reality, elderly widows often face rejection and isolation due to lack of money or care. Joy Missions steps in to offer them a sense of belonging and acceptance. We encourage them to share their life stories and experiences, fostering a community where they can find solace and support. Many of these individuals have faced numerous trials and challenges, but through our help and the involvement of others participating in the event, they find renewed hope and joy in their lives. Joy Missions invites the elderly to their annually held event, Renewed Hope, so they can experience what they deserve. To be welcomed, embraced and loved - supported with whatever they need. An environment catered to them; where we want them to share their ideas, and eager ears await to hear what inspires them. Everyone shares stories within the group, their lived experience, life lessons, dreams, and their most cherished memories.

Most of the elderly are widows and they have gone through so many trials. They have faced a lot of rejection, even from their own family. Some don’t even have children to take care of them. Giving an opportunity to share their life experience with others is unique for them. To have a platform to express their understanding of what the meaning of life is, sharing their perspective on how they view life. Communicating the various paths and pitfalls they’ve walked through in life. To the benefit of others in similar situations in the group, they share how they overcame challenges and struggles specific to their lives. When asking Theresa about the event, she reflected:

“People come out of their shell to share their life experiences with the younger widows and generations that are there. They come in and share while they were a widow, how God helped them. The situations they encountered where they felt there was no hope for them, but somehow God brought hope or a light to their darkness, and the joy they found in God. For those who don’t know God, we counsel them that Jesus is coming soon and if you died today where would you be? Where would you spend eternity?”

Empowering Widows

While many of us might assume in the Western world widows are typically elderly, in Ghana there are many young widows and widowers. Younger widows face unique hardships, often accused of being cursed or responsible for their spouse's death. They struggle to care for their children and face societal stigma. We empower them to look to Christ for strength and support, offering them a community where they can share their experiences and find encouragement from others who have walked a similar journey.

These younger widows have gone through a lot. Young females have been accused of killing their spouses. This accusation of killing their spouse is normal in some parts of Africa. Having been accused, the individuals are left to care for their children alone, without assistance or support from their extended family members.

Theresa shares:

“I’ve experienced this as I was once a widow. My husband of 17 years passed away and left me with 2 children. The oldest was 11 years old, and my second, 9 years old. I was a widow for 7 years and all the property that I had, even though I lived in Canada, our property back home - the family (recently deceased husband's family) took it away from me. I was left with nothing. No one was concerned about my well being, or even my children. So I know how society treats younger widows when their husband or spouse passes away. If you have a little bit of land, a family member of your late spouse will come and take it away from you. You’re going to struggle to survive and raise your kids all alone, in darkness and despair. These younger widows who go through this loss, go through lots of hardship. Many of them are accused of being cursed because it is considered bad luck that your husband or wife died. They are accused of being bad luck. So, these widows are left alone with their kids in absolute struggle. Some go to sleep on an empty stomach at night, because whatever they have, they give to their kids. They must sacrifice for their kids, and they themselves are malnourished. Joy Missions comes in and gives them pre-health screening. Let’s say there are some who are middle aged, we conduct the pre-screening, and we can share with them for example, what menopause is, and what it is all about. Providing life teaching, but also how they can better themselves, put their hope in Christ, and Christ alone – no one else. To look to Jesus for help, He’s the husband to the widow. A Father to the fatherless. Giving them the encouragement and strength that Jesus is who they can hold on to and He will strengthen and help them. We ask the elderly widows to come in and encourage the younger widows. They share what helped them through their difficult times. Sharing their experiences and testimonies from previous years, how God helped them, what they found, what they went to. Whatever help we can, we give it to them.”

Embracing the Disabled

Disabled individuals are frequently rejected by society and their own families. This is a worldwide issue. Joy Missions works to change this narrative by bringing awareness to their plight and empowering them to live fulfilling lives. We educate the community about the value and purpose of these individuals, emphasizing that they are fearfully and wonderfully made by God. Through our outreach program, and the Renewed Hope event, we provide them with love, acceptance, and the strength to face each day with hope in Jesus.

Individuals with disabilities in Ghana encounter serious challenges primarily because they are not able-bodied. These precious individuals are rejected by society, by their community, and even their friends and families. Their lifespan is very short because nobody cares about these individuals. Can you imagine? Your life is particularly harder and needs to be navigated with the utmost patience and care. But it’s because of this, what makes you unique and special, that you face unnecessary scrutiny and avoidance, when help would benefit you most. I know many of us could never imagine what life would be like even for a second in the shoes of what many in Ghana face for a lifetime. Theresa reflects:

“When I was a child, just a little girl, when they (disabled) were born, they used to drown them. There was a river, where they used to throw these kids away. That is why I have been touched and impacted and want to make a difference in these individuals’ lives. The stigma has to go away. We must educate them that these are God given children. And these are God given people. God has a plan and a purpose for these disabled people. Now what we want to do: we want to bring awareness to the entire community and the people to know that they are created – fearfully and wonderfully made. God brought them and made them who they are because He has a plan and purpose for their lives. Our teaching is basically also empowering them to do something for themselves. More than that, to look to God, who their creator is, regardless of what others think about them, or society stigmatized them or pushed them aside. That they can come freely and boldly to the throne of grace. God will accept and receive them, that they are individually, uniquely made in function, and that God has a purpose for their lives.”

Theresa's childhood memories influenced her desire to contribute positively to the lives of individuals deserving care and support. Everyone is worthy of love, but sometimes in our quiet moments alone we can question whether we truly are worthy of that love. We all need to be reminded, to be shown through loving actions and words, that we indeed are worthy of love.  Theresa created the event Renewed Hope to ensure the disabled people in various communities are invited to feel loved and cherished. To be validated that they are loved, not only by others, but most importantly by their heavenly Father, their creator.

“Because they are also pushed aside, and nobody will regard them in their society or community, we bring them to empower them. We embrace them, we love them, we give them new hope, and strength to face every day with a different vision: to know that Christ is their hope. Christ is their Savior. Christ does not push away; He embraces everyone, encouraging them to come to Him. To lay down their labor – all those who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, He will give you rest. That’s the rest we want to give them, in Christ.”

Think of Mephibosheth in the bible. We read about his story in 2 Samuel. As the grandson of King Saul, Mephibosheth was born into royalty. However, his disability and the fall of his family led to a significant loss of status and privilege. Due to an accident when he was young, leading to his disability, it impacted his life. In ancient Israel, disabilities were often seen as a sign of weakness or divine disfavor. People with disabilities were frequently marginalized and had limited opportunities. Mephibosheth's disability likely made him dependent on others for mobility and daily needs. His condition probably led to a sense of isolation, both physically and socially. He lived in Lo-debar, a place far from the center of power in Jerusalem. King David's decision to show kindness to Mephibosheth is particularly significant given the cultural context. By restoring Saul's land to Mephibosheth and inviting him to eat at the king's table, David not only provided for his physical needs but also restored his dignity and status. Mephibosheth's story is often seen as a powerful symbol of grace and mercy. Despite his disability and the potential threat, he could pose as a descendant of Saul, David chose to honor his covenant with Jonathan (Mephibosheth’s father and David’s best friend) and show compassion. Throughout the story, Mephibosheth is in vulnerable situations and is used as a pawn in attempts to deceive the king. However, his story is one of redemption, he is brought back to a place of honor despite his physical limitations. This story also illustrates God’s love and care for the marginalized and vulnerable. David’s actions reflect God’s heart for those who are often overlooked or undervalued by society. Mephibosheth’s disability adds depth to his story, highlighting the transformative power of kindness. It also serves as a reminder of the value and dignity of every individual, regardless of their physical condition.

Renewed Hope is an event created for anyone who resonates with Mephibosheth’s story. Living a life where your disability becomes your identity. Introduced as someone nobody cares about, a life secluded and totally ignored, and viewed as bad luck in society. Renewed Hope does the opposite. Adopting the thought pattern and heart of David in putting these individuals first, showing the love God has just for them.

In Western society, social media is one of many methods we leverage to share events, invite people to join, or generally share information. Upon speaking with Theresa, it was fascinating to learn about how she invites individuals in Ghana to the Renewed Hope event. It takes months of preparation and prayer in Canada. She sends all the supplies for the event, including but not limited to food, and any medical equipment she can afford to buy and ship to Ghana. Upon arrival, she does outreach. She goes into local communities and villages and invites the elderly, anyone who doesn’t have anyone to care for them, widows and widowers, and the disabled. She goes to villages where there are many poor. Inviting them, one on one, to the event a few days before.

“We go with a little token of gifts – maybe some rice, oil. Most of them go through starvation. We rent buses and cars to go and pick them up. They don’t have money for transportation, so we provide transportation. "You just come out" she says to them," just come and celebrate Jesus," you know? That’s one of the ways we reach out to these lost souls because many of them do not know Jesus Christ. We want to show the kind of love that Jesus Christ has for us, we want to reach their heart by showing kindness to them, through the love of Christ. At the end of the program we have an altar call, inviting them to accept Christ. Everyone comes! We invite them to come and give their life to Christ, He’s the only way, the truth and the life, the only savior. We’re seeing, God is working.”

A Community of Love and Acceptance

For these three groups, the elderly, widows and widowers, and the disabled, we want them to have a sense of belonging, acceptance, love, and welcoming. At Joy Missions, we believe in the power of love and acceptance. We reach out to the elderly, widows, and disabled individuals, offering them not only physical assistance but also emotional and spiritual support and encouragement. Our programs are designed to show them the love of Christ and invite them to find solace and strength in Him. Through our efforts, we aim to create a community where everyone feels valued and embraced.

In a world where many are marginalized and forgotten, Joy Missions offers hope and compassion to all individuals. Embracing those who are often rejected by society through our annual event Renewed Hope, in May. We focus on welcoming some of West Africa’s most vulnerable, helping however we’re able, to those who need it most, be it through monetary donations, food, or medical equipment. 

With less than a month to go until our Renewed Hope event in May, we welcome and appreciate help from anyone willing to give. Donate to Renewed Hope 2025. Love in Action, our event geared towards thousands of children is in November 2025. We look forward to publishing an article soon to share the inspiration behind the event. To support our largest event at Joy Missions, visit our website. For those willing: Donate to Love in Action here.

Conclusion

We extend our gratitude to everyone who has helped support us, your contributions have had a profound impact. We sincerely appreciate your prayers and donations. Your generosity enables us to assist many more individuals than we could independently, such as Jaqueline. Your donations allow us to provide help whenever the opportunity arises to make a difference. Life is a precious gift, and we don’t know when our time is up. When we have the opportunity to demonstrate love, express kindness, or assist someone in need, it is imperative that we seize that opportunity rather than let it pass by.

Joy Missions is entirely dependent on donations to achieve its goals. Should you choose to contribute, we commit to providing regular updates on the impactful initiatives your generosity supports.

Join us in our mission to bring renewed hope to those who need it most. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of the elderly, widows, widowers, and disabled individuals, showing them that they are loved and valued.

Dedication

We want to dedicate this article to two wonderful souls who passed away in March 2025. A brother we met in May 2024 and our young girl, Jaqueline.

This young man was a part of our Renewed Hope event in 2024. His memory lives on in our hearts and we cherish the photos and videos of him dancing and rejoicing on that day. That’s what the event is all about.

To our dear Jaqueline, who passed away March 10, 2025, a beautiful young girl who we grew close with, was incredibly ill in the last years of her life. We could not have expected the Lord would take her so young at 14, but it was Jaqueline who had an impact on so many lives. We’re humbled to have her story featured on our website and will remember her always at Joy Missions. Until we meet in eternity, sweet Jaqueline, we love you and will miss you. Rest in the arms of your loving Lord and savior.

Jaqueline,

I know the young life you lived was anything but easy

You picked up your share of scars along the way

Now you are standing in the sun, you’ve fought your fight and your race is run

The pain is all a million miles away

The thought that makes me smile now, even as the tears fall down

Is that the only scars in Heaven are on the hands that hold you now