I walked into Joy Reigns for the first time and I experienced pure joy.
To say I grew up Catholic would be a gross understatement. It was as much a part of who I was as were my eyes, my ears, or even my big Lebanese nose.
I was as involved as a person could be: enthusiastically attending CCD, and singing in the folk group.
So when I was rejected by the Catholic Church for coming out and being my authentic self time and time again I was devastated, to say the least.
As an adult, I searched for a spiritual home. I had been anticipating the happiness I would feel when I finally found one, & although I eventually settled in a huge Lutheran Church in Baltimore, I still felt like something was missing.
Then I walked into Joy Reigns for the first time and I experienced pure joy.
The community at Joy Reigns, and more specifically the band, encouraged me to grow in my faith and I found myself falling more and more in love with God instead of being a blindfold follower.
They have supported me when I was at my best and my lowest.
They helped me grow so much that when my wife and I decided to become foster parents it wasn’t just something we did because we were good people. I knew in my heart that it was God calling for us.
Joy Reigns has been supporting us, loving us, and giving us the strength to welcome more children in, no matter how long or short they live here.
- Jen Molina-Mabe