What A Gift!!!

Geof's family grew up with the Baker family. Geof and his brother Jon were around the same age as the Baker kids - Joel, Phillip, and Melissa. Geof and Joel were the exact same age and went off to Harding University together. After their Freshman year, Joel left school and has been missing for about 8 years. They have not heard from him or seen him since. They used to hear during those early years that he was living on the streets and involved with substance abuse, etc. But stopped hearing about him after a few years. I believe this year, his mother was going to have to declare him dead since his social security card had been inactive for so many years. An unfathomable mystery and devastating experience. Joel's sister, Melissa, lives in Nashville now where I have gotten to be friends with her thru Geof. She is like a sister to me now and I've enjoyed so much seeing God work in her life. I went with her and her mother to pick out her wedding dress a few weeks ago. So fun!!! This past Sunday at Otter Creek, Melissa responded and walked down front during one of the final songs. Geof and I went down there when we realized she was crying. We had no idea what was wrong. Maybe her mom was in a car wreck that morning, maybe someone in her family was sick, etc.. When we reached Melissa, she looked up at Geof with huge tears steaming down her face and a smile that would knock you over and said, "They found Joel!!" Geof just held her and we all bawled with unimaginable disbelief and joy. He is now in a group home in New Orleans, and is ready to see his family again - they will go see him on Christmas Day. Merry Christmas to the Baker Family!!! What an awesome gift! As you get together with your family this Christmas, give a little extra THANKS to God for this Christmas miracle. And give your brothers an extra little squeeze too. Merry Christmas! Top: Melissa, Geof, Joel, Jon, Phillip