The Shepherd's Rest: Matt & Katie Roddam and Mike & Maleika Gay

Study Focus: To be decided after first meeting.

Group Overview: This group is all about getting rest for parents and caretakers of children with special needs or injury or illness. We will have a movie and pizza for the first meeting, as well as childcare (including the Ark!).
Whether you want to fellowship or unplug and watch the movie (or find a corner and nap!), this is a no pressure, no expectations time for you to get the rest God wants for you (see Psalms 23:2-3). 

The first meeting will be a stepping stone to start a group geared toward care providers for parents of special needs children and family members caring for those with injury or illness. 

Leader Bio:Mike and Maleika have been married for 11 years. They have 7 amazing children and 3 beautiful grandkids. In 2018 their 2nd to youngest daughter Kielyn(Ki) got her worldly diagnosis of Rett Syndrome. After taking a period of time to grieve, they have been standing on what Jehovah Rapha says "By his wounds we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5, 1 Peter 2:24). Over the last 7 years they have felt the lies of isolation that can come with having a child with different needs. The truth however says "Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:2) and they have felt the benefit of coming together to build eachother up in truth and love on eachother through the good times and hard times. "a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance," (Ecclesiastes 3:4)

Matthew and his wife Katie have been married 12 years and have three beautiful children, 8, 6 and 4. The oldest, Zoey, was born with Polymicrogyria and Micro Cortical Dysplasia, West Syndrome, and Cerebral Palsy. This shattered their views and forced them to lean on God alone. Daniel 3:17-18 has been a foundational verse: circumstances don't change who our God is, nor should they change how we trust Him.