A seat at the family table
Jim and Joy Burton with Stan Walker during the 2013 Red Shield Appeal campaign. (Photo by Benjamin Moyes)
For Jim and Joy Burton, opening their home on Christmas Day is a Christmas tradition.
The Burtons attend the Bonnell’s Bay corps on the New South Wales Central Coast, and while they are involved in many corps based ministries, their passion lies in the service they provide to men recovering from addiction.
Jim was the chaplain at Miracle Haven for 20 years, before it was relocated to the Dooralong Transformation Centre in early 2013. For the last eight years he has volunteered his time to the men of the centre, helping them find freedom from their addictions.
Through his ministry, Jim accompanies clients to court and is a listening ear to both those in recovery and staff at the centre. Joy speaks proudly of her husband’s ministry, and the influence it has had on her own life.
“He just loves them with a passion. And through him, I’ve learned to love them with a passion too.”
It was this passion for those in recovery that influenced the Burton’s decision to start inviting the men who had completed the rehab program to their house for Christmas Day lunch.
“I felt led to open my home over Christmas to help the guys feel part of a family, so they weren’t alone on Christmas Day,” says Jim. “I want them to feel loved and accepted. To not only tell them they are important, but to show them in a practical way.”
The Burtons have also volunteered on Christmas Day at the rehabilitation centres at Miracle Haven and now Dooralong, helping to serve the men a Christmas meal. By spending their Christmas this way, the Burtons feel they are able to get more out of it and they delight in seeing the joy on the men’s faces.
“To serve the boys from Miracle Haven and Dooralong their Christmas dinner is a humbling experience, and they are very special to me. It shows the guys that we are prepared to go out of our way on a special day to help them have a wonderful Christmas,” says Jim.
For Jim and Joy, connecting at Christmas time is about being intentional with their actions and their outreach to those around them.
“It becomes so much more than just a meal at Christmas. I guess it’s what we should be like all year. I love Christmas, because of this feeling that everyone is so generous, peaceful and loving,” says Joy.
“I think the privilege of seeing lives changed has to be the number one thing out of all of this. My life was changed, and it’s only because people invested in me, so investing in other people is really special.”
The spirit of Christmas is something that Joy loves, and it’s something she wishes we could experience all year long. However, all too soon, the stress of everyday life returns. For both her and Jim, connection over the Christmas season is about being intentional in your outreach, helping to involve others in your family, and introducing them to Jesus.
“Connecting is about relationships and being concerned about the people in your life or people on the fringe of your life. In that case, it is bringing them into my life or involving them more into my family and helping them to connect with Jesus,” says Jim.
This Christmas, Jim and Joy will once again open their home to the guys from Dooralong, and if needed they will help serve meals to those at the Dooralong centre too.
Comments
Love these 2 servant hearted people ... Privileged to minister alongside if them for 5 Christmas seasons ... Very grateful for their impact on many lives including my own.
Many years ago Jim shared Christmas at our family table - wonderful to see what the Lord is continuing to do through Jim and Joy.
Joy and Jim are two of the most genuine, joyful, loving people I have ever encounted in my life. It's not only Christmas that they open their home. Quite often after church on a Sunday they'll ask..."what are you up too? Come join us for lunch". They are the epitome of 'Gods People'.
when walking a gross into mirrical haven in 20011 for the second time i was shatered to know that i was lost angry scared man that was so sick with mental issuse i hated the thought of it all again evey one hated me and i right back the world was a dark dark place and life was shit but i knew this was my last chance when i met jim there was kindness orra that shon from his hart he loved us all and showed it constenly in his cuddles and he would come and sit with you in the dinning room and eat with you and you always knew this man cared i talked time and time with him and he became freindly face i got close to him telling him thing that i was perpeared to take to my grave he made my open up to him and that was a gift from god to me we became good freinds and as my eyes slowly opened i became a better person he is my freind counesler spirital giuder mentor and i talk to him all the time his advise i hold in the most valuble respect i have seen him at court working to keep guys at the farm and not back in jail and his hart brake when a mother losses a child and he stands as a mate or chaplin giving solise to then his love for use to get better is his greatest reward i offten go to his home to talk and help out he has become like a father to me the respect that he has in the courts with the lawyers and judges is perfound i love him like a father and our talks give me grate happyness i will be ther for him always like a brother son or just best mate