Mobile Servant Spotlight Joanna Chandler

At Redeeming Grace Church, we believe the church is not a building, it’s people serving together to glorify God. We regularly highlight a volunteer or staff member who serves with RGC because they make everything we do possible!

Today, we want to introduce you to Joanna Chandler, who serves multiple ministries in the church! Here's what a fellow member had to say about her:

Having walked alongside Joanna for over twenty years, through life’s joys as well as many difficult challenges, I can attest to Joanna’s commitment to God and the Church. It could have been easy for her to walk away during the hard times, but Joanna pressed into God and the Word, allowing her circumstances to be a means to minister to and comfort others, modeling 2 Corinthians 1:4.

As a single mother, Joanna has been an example to her high school and adult children, and their many friends, of one who stands strong in the face of adversity and walks by faith and not by sight.

Joanna’s joy for the Lord is evidenced in her commitment to love and care for others as the Lord has loved and cared for her.

~ Sharon Gingell, Member of RGC

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What volunteer roles are you involved in within RGC?

I currently serve as a GriefShare facilitator, and in the Medical and Women’s Ministry Planning Teams, I regularly care for women facing divorce and single parenting and assist in preparing/serving food for various events such as weddings and funerals.

How did God lead you to be involved in those areas?

In ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬-‭5‬, Paul shares how God comforts us “in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God”. These verses have given me hope and purpose after the traumatic death of my son, divorce, and being a single mom. He has given me a heart for fellow sufferers, those who feel alone, confused, and lost in their pain. It has been an honor to sit in the academy of affliction with others and see God’s redemptive work in my life and those around me. 

I began facilitating GriefShare at our church after attending a session with a friend. I invited her, remembering how GriefShare had been the first safe place where I could finally be honest with my feelings of anger, confusion, and isolation. As a facilitator, I have the privilege of witnessing participants' growth, hope, and redemption from the first week, where some cannot voice their loss, to the final weeks, where they encourage others to share the depths of sorrow and celebrate victories. Often, our participants are not believers. Yet, they come each week and hear the gospel truth and find hope, comfort, and community amidst their pain. 

As a single mom, I want to instill in my children a heart to serve others and provide opportunities for them to meet other godly men and women in the Body of Christ. Serving in the kitchen at various events and on mission trips has been a natural way to foster these relationships.

How have you seen God at work in our church community?

For over 20 years here at RGC, I have grown in my delight in Christ and awareness of His delight in us. The Christ-centered teaching and worship and how our church has shown the love of Christ to my family and me through many trials have been life-giving. This testimony is also reflected in the greater community as others hear what God has done and are drawn to him. I have been recently encouraged by the Equipped to Care sessions over the past month. It has been amazing to witness the way members are wrestling with their own sufferings, crying out to God, and seeking to walk alongside others. 

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How have you seen God at work in our church community?

For over 20 years here at RGC, I have grown in my delight in Christ and awareness of His delight in us. The Christ-centered teaching and worship and how our church has shown the love of Christ to my family and me through many trials have been life-giving. This testimony is also reflected in the greater community as others hear what God has done and are drawn to him. I have been recently encouraged by the Equipped to Care sessions over the past month. It has been amazing to witness the way members are wrestling with their own sufferings, crying out to God, and seeking to walk alongside others. 

family

Can you tell us some interesting facts about you? 

I enjoy going on mission trips with my kids (Joel, 23, Grace, 22, Josiah 20, and Hope, 17) and seeing them thrive in caring for others. I love playing games and hanging out with my family, my children and their friends.

I love being outdoors: gardening, walking my dog in the woods, sitting on the beach. 

I have been a part of Moms in Prayer at Robinson Secondary School for over 11 years. I pray with other Christian moms, some who attend RGC, for the staff, students, and our children. It is a privilege to see God living and active in our public school system.

In case you didn’t know, Joy Yang and I are sisters and our kids attend Robinson.

Check out past Servant Spotlights here!