God continues to unfold His story of love for us since the beginning of time. For more than 30 years, Linda and I have been privileged to witness a chapter of His love story as part of His work as we ministered with our friends with intellectual disabilities.

Our chapter began in 1991 through a friendship with Bill who had an intellectual disability. We witnessed God multiply that friendship into launching the first Friendship group, then a second group, and a third. It wasn’t long after that God birthed Lutheran Disability Ministries (LDM) with the mission to equip churches to minister with adults with intellectual disabilities. Early in 1994, Linda and I joined LDM in their mission.

Over the years we have been blessed with countless stories of God transforming lives of our friends with disabilities, their families, support staff and hundreds of volunteers, first through LDM and now with Connection Ministries.

There is nothing more joyful than to watch God at work. After thirty years of co-laboring with our friends the time has come to pass the baton of Connection Ministries’ leadership to another, Tracy Cornforth.

Even though Linda and I are retiring, God isn’t finished making stories through Connection Ministries. This summer we traveled to Rolling Meadows Christian Fellowship near Chicago. For their first Summer Friendship Gathering. Pastor Paul Klopke moved to Chicago to be the chaplain at the Lutheran Home, where he shared our vision with them.  

Linda and I are not going away! In fact, we have been promoted to “Volunteers.” As volunteers, we can continue to watch God transform lives not only in our home church’s Friendship Group but also as we visit other groups with our comfort dog, “Nellie.” In addition, I am privileged to become part of Connection Ministries’ Board of Directors.

This ministry is a miracle, something that only God can do. What’s amazing is that God chose to work this miracle through us! We have been blessed with hundreds of people who volunteer in the Friendship groups, people who pray, and support God’s work with their financial gifts. Even though I am retiring, it is my prayer that together we will all will remain faithful to the work God is doing through Connection Ministries. 

The gift of your time, talent, and/or treasure matters!

• A New Friendship group needs volunteer companions. In fact, every group could use more companions. It is our goal to have 1:1 ratio of friends with disabilities to companions.
• $50 pays the mileage expense for a Friendship group consulting visit.
• $100 provides the training for new Friendship groups.
• $500 will help with the cost of a new episode for our video Bible series or new resources like a devotional series.
• $5000 will fund the planting of a new Friendship group for the first year.

It doesn’t matter how you give, or how much you give, God will use it to change lives! 

You can give online at https://connection-ministries.org/give/. Or you can return your gift in the enclosed envelope (Please note that our address has changed). Consider making your donation a reoccurring gift.

If you would like to learn more about helping as a volunteer companion in a Friendship group, please contact us at connect@connection-ministries.org. 

We ask that you keep the ministry and the many churches that work with us in your prayers.  Pray that God will continue to add to our numbers those whom He is saving. 

Serving Christ with you!

Don Boden
“New Volunteer”