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Testimonials

Testimonials

The lines of the play parallel a Bible story that we pray are now embedded in their minds as a seed for God to grow. What a blessing!

Brenda Hendricks

Youth Leader

Through Contagious Joy, I have become the person I have always wanted to be.

April Lugo

Angel Tree Child

I am so thankful for these experiences for myself as a child, and now for my own children!

Michelle Merrill

Youth Member & Parent

It helped our children develop a greater sense of confidence, all while giving them an opportunity to spread the Good News and make fun memories with their cousins.

Rose VanLieu

Parent

Testimonials

B.C. Blemaster

Contagious Joy Board Member

Contagious Joy is all about doing something so special to help someone, while making them smile. It is something so simple, but it can change the world.

Watching God connect these two generations with warmth and laughter while accomplishing His purposes was truly a joy! Our schedules were busy, full, and sometimes chaotic, but it was a wonderful and joyful time. I am awed by God that He entrusted these young hearts into our care for a season of serving, giving, and sharing.

Diana Santos

Youth Leader, Palisades Community Bible Church

As a youth group leader, our team focused on three things: instruction in the Word of God, outreach or service opportunities, and recreation or fellowship.

Using Contagious Joy material allowed our young
people to use the creative arts to share the gospel
(outreach) while enjoying fellowship with one another
(recreation). It was fun for a purpose! The kids were
able to exercise their gifts of drama, set design,
etc., in a very warm and welcome atmosphere of
the senior homes. Our youth loved being there, and
they loved the seniors. To God be the glory!

Brenda Hendricks

Youth Leader

As a Bible Study leader of a group home situation, Contagious Joy allowed young people to experience the arts in a way that they probably would NOT have otherwise. 

These kids struggle to get through a day sometimes with never a chance to be a lead role, or support character, or soloist in a play or drama. One young man had a very hard time reading, yet after two weeks of practice had all of his lines memorized because a staff person took time to read the script to him. The lines of the play parallel a Bible story that we pray are now embedded in his mind as a seed for God to grow. What a blessing!

April Lugo

Angel Tree Child, Cast Member

Contagious Joy has shown me what it truly means to serve others. For a period of my life, I felt extremely lost

I was angry with myself; I was angry with my family; I was angry with my life. I felt as if I were unraveling. Contagious Joy changed my whole outlook. Where there was anger, there was now hope. Where there was anxiety, there was now friendship. When I signed up for Contagious Joy, I thought I would be bringing joy to others and part of that is true, but it also brought joy to myself. It forced me to grow, to learn, and to become more confident. I recommend Contagious Joy to anyone because, through it, I have become the person I have always wanted to be.

Taylor Breinich

Cast Member

Contagious Joy was something that came around to me out of nowhere. I was someone at the time who needed something spontaneous and unplanned to help steer me off of the course I was on.

I was friends with the wrong crowd, I was coming from a broken family, dealing with depression and unattainable pressures from family. Faith wasn’t an aspect of my everyday life. Faith was a stranger, not something I was well acquainted with or familiar with. God has a funny way of giving you something you absolutely need when you don’t know you need it and when you were absolutely not expecting it. Contagious Joy gave me an opportunity to express myself creatively, foster friendships with people that were from my church that would be good influences for me. It gave me a safe place to have fun that also exposed me to a different aspect of life in nursing homes that I had never been exposed to before. For the first time I realized that there were needs that extended beyond myself. I also enjoyed the connections that I made with them after and before the plays. If I could bring a smile to someone, let them be heard as they told their life stories, and make them feel seen when we would come around offering flowers, that would be enough for me. Contagious Joy gave me an opportunity to see that there was a much bigger world aside from me and that I could contribute to it all while building positive friendships that were fostered in a positive and safe Christ honoring place.

Rose & Jay Van Lieu

Parents of Young Leaders

Participating in Contagious Joy plays has been a special experience for our children and
family. It has helped our children develop a greater sense of confidence, empathy and respect for older individuals.

This also gave them an opportunity to spread the Good News and make fun memories with their
cousins. If you are looking to fuel your children
and family in any of these ways, consider
getting involved with Contagious Joy.

Chris Nissen

Looking back on some of the decisions I have made in the past, I have come to the realization that the tougher the decision was to make, the more I benefited from it.

I was in my sophomore year of high school as school let out, I was very excited for a summer filled with friends, fun and very little responsibility. At the peak of my excitement, my mother approached me with the idea of performing a play for elderly people wo live in care facilities. I quickly thought of reasons why I could not participate.” A few weeks passed and my summer was not what I anticipated. Then I decided to confront my mom and let her know I changed my mind. I needed to do something constructive, so that’s when I was determined to take part in the play she had asked me about earlier. She already had gathered a few neighborhood children, my sister, and a couple of friends together. They were all excited to do this play, with or without me. In the beginning, I had no idea that the adventure I was beginning to embark on was going to have such a tremendous impact on my life. I expected the residents to receive at least a little joy out of the play, but what I did not expect was I got in return. I left each performance with such a warm feeling inside and I couldn’t wait to go to the next care facility and do it all over again. I was surprised at what little effort it took to put a smile on someone’s face and change their whole day. I am extremely pleased with my decision to donate a small amount of my time for others’ well-being, and whether I should make this exchange again will be the easiest decision I will ever make.

Michelle Merrill

As a child, my mom always wanted us to be busy and use our time in a productive manner serving others.
Her passion was bringing happiness to the elderly so she decided to put on some plays for local nursing homes. During the times of practices and performances, we had a lot of laughs and made new friendships. More importantly, seeing the joy on the residents’ faces was something I’ll never forget. Now my own children are involved in putting on plays, and it has been such a blessing to watch them give of themselves to make others happy. It has truly taught them the meaning of selflessness and has also given them more confidence in the process. I am so thankful for these experiences for myself as a child and my own children!

Ethan Merrill

Youth Member

At first, I thought that putting on plays for nursing homes would be boring.

It wasn’t until after the first play that I realized how it made me feel when I saw the smiles on the seniors’ faces. When I looked out at them, I could see them clapping and smiling, and it made me smile. It made me realize how good it feels to give to others. I didn’t feel a lot of pressure to be perfect. I realized that no matter what, they will listen to you even if you don’t deliver your lines perfectly.

Brynn Keyser

Neighbor

I took part in a Contagious Joy play when I was four years old. That was 15 years ago!
I still remember my experience to this day. I felt a sense of community and hope and had a lot of fun in the process. I am thankful for this experience and hope others will feel the same joy that I did when they participate.

Vince Amato

Neighbor

Being a part of Contagious Joy was the best decision I have made for God. 

During rehearsals for our play, we read part of the Bible, and the story “The King’s Love for His People.” During my summer with Contagious Joy, I was the closest I have ever been to God, and I made the decision to make Him the Lord of my life. I started to document some of my prayers and felt I really bonded with God. Not only was it a way to have fun and use my acting skills in the summer, but it was also for a good cause. One of the best parts about participating in Contagious Joy was seeing the smiles on the residents faces. It brightened their day and brought them so much happiness. Contagious Joy is about spreading the Word of Jesus and our Heavenly Father and bringing joy to our communities.