Joyce Reynolds
Joyce Reynolds has been involved with us almost since the early years of UV. I knew of the Reynolds since I went to high school with their daughter. Joyce and her husband Dr. Reynolds have always been very generous towards the mission of Urban Vision. I’ll never forget the beautiful baby shower she hosted at the Chapel in Akron for me, Rodney, and baby Micah. The overwhelming support God’s people gave to me and Rodney during those early years came through people like Joyce.
Joyce is a very dedicated passionate person who really puts action behind what she believes. James 1:22 definitely described Joyce; as a doer of the Word she worked tirelessly to help see the mission of reaching people within our community of North Hill with the gospel. Joyce helped run countless Christmas stores, yard sales, and silent auctions that continued to further God’s work. She would creatively come up with crafts that our Kids’ Club kids would do and dared to lead over 200 urban children, taking care to see the kids would be loved and take home a truth or a verse they learned. I’ll never forget going into the home of one of the kids from the neighborhood and seeing a craft that was displayed on the kitchen window reminding the family of a truth from God’s word.
Joyce also loved helping us shop for the Christmas store. What a job that was trying to get ready for over 200 kids who would come to find the perfect gift for the families they loved! Joyce counted countless paper Urban Vision dollars and spent many late nights setting up and pricing the many gifts displayed. She knew where to get the multicultural dolls needed. Oh, the shopping carts we use to fill up at Walmart! It was quite daunting a task, but Joyce always was up for the challenge. We learned the maximum amount a Walmart cash register can handle the hard way. From overloading the registers at Walmart to filling several vans with the items, Joyce got fully behind the Christmas Store with Dignity.
Every little thing matters and will be used for God’s glory when done for him, and Joyce would help behind the scenes as well. Once, Rodney and I needed a refrigerator for our home. I had been looking at new ones for quite some time, but we just continued to wait because it was quite an investment for us in that particular season.
As I was shopping late at night for groceries and feeling worn out, Joyce called me. “I think I have someone who wants to give you a refrigerator. He said you could go to the store and pick one out.” Sure enough, I had a new refrigerator provided by the Lord through the thoughtfulness of Joyce.
There is so much! I could go on, but it is very clear Joyce loved her Lord and served at Urban Vision with all that she had to give. So today we wanted to honor and celebrate Joyce who has done so much in service to our Lord and Savior. May her love for God and love for others be an inspiration to all of us. We are proud to honor Joyce Reynolds, recipient of the Co-laborer in Christ Award.