Journey Homes: Compassion Beyond Construction
Our partnership with Jamaica Relief Ministries (JRM) is a perfect example of our impact beyond our local home building efforts. We invite you to learn more below, and consider supporting the local JRM Thrift Store, which helps fund JRM efforts in Jamaica.
Our connection to the beautiful island of Jamaica and its people started many years ago with a family adoption from Jamaica. While JRM began in 2001, our formal relationship with Jamaica Relief Ministries started in 2018 when Duane Cross, a former employee and brother-in-law to Journey Homes’ general manager Titus Troyer, became more deeply involved with the ministry. Duane, with the support of his wife Verba, currently serves as Director of JRM. Titus serves on the board of directors for the organization.
Here’s a short video of our 2023 trip, which best illustrates what we do:
JRM works closely with CPFSA, the government child welfare agency in Jamaica, to identify deserving families through their “Family Connect” program. While JRM impressively builds about 20 homes annually for underprivileged families, Journey contributes by constructing one or two homes on each trip. It's our way of lending a hand in the incredible work JRM does, providing safe, loving homes for families who are in danger of losing their children due to their living conditions.
Journey Homes’ roll is deeply rooted in construction efforts, but JRM has many other active ministries in Jamaica including:
We’ve been sending teams since 2018. Here’s a few highlights:
Plans are currently underway to return to Jamaica in January of 2025 to build more homes.
We took two crews on two separate weeks in 2024. They had a great second build with Jamaica Relief Ministries, which will allow a single mother to reunite her children because she now has adequate housing for herself and her children. This build went so smoothly that the crew had time to do some cleaning, painting, and repairs at the Mission property of JRM as well.
We built this beautiful home for a single mother currently separated from her children due to lack of adequate housing.
We completed two home additions, which enabled foster families to provide for more children who would otherwise have to live in a group-home situation.
We divided the work into a pair of teams across a two-week period. One of the houses we finished was for a single mother who had lost her previous home to arson.
This year was a smaller project—an addition for an older home. We used some of the leftover time to help build the outreach center at the mission.
This house was finished earlier than expected. We followed up with a small addition for the home of a mother with a handicapped daughter. The girl had been sexually abused—possibly due to her condition. The addition provided added security and privacy for the family.
Visit Jamaica Relief Ministries and the JRM Thrift Store in Goshen to learn more. If you, your church, or your organization would like to get more deeply involved, Brad or Titus would be happy to talk with you more about their experience.
Monday - Thursday | 9AM - 6PM
Friday - Saturday | 9AM - 5PM
Sunday | CLOSED