In a heartfelt and moving post on LinkedIn, Shawn Thornton, president of the disability ministry Joni and Friends, recently shared his experience of becoming “buddies” with a young man with Down syndrome named Paul.
Thornton said he attended one of the ministry’s Family Retreats this summer simply to “serve as a buddy to Paul,” a participant whose joy and faith deeply impacted him.
Quoting Paul’s own words as the title of his post — “All of my abilities and gifts I have come from God, and I do it for the glory of Christ” — Thornton introduced “my buddy, Paul” alongside a photo of the two together.
Paul, 32, impressed Thornton not only with his courage in living with a disability but also with his passionate and unembarrassed love for Jesus Christ. “At first, I was a little nervous stepping into the role,” Thornton admitted, recalling his arrival at the camp. “But Paul broke the ice right away, and I instantly fell in love with his joy and his love for Jesus.”
Thornton highlighted some “fun facts” he learned about Paul, referring to him only by his first name.
Firstly, Thornton noted that Paul has a passion for God’s Word and knows the book of John “like the back of his hand.”
Secondly, he has neat handwriting, in fact “his handwriting is better than mine,” the ministry’s president said.
Paul also has some “serious hand-eye coordination”, which Thornton “learned the hard way” after he lost games in “cornhole” and basketball to his buddy.
“He doesn’t love heights but still found the courage to ride a horse and even give the climbing wall a try!” he added.
Thornton noted that Paul lives with several physical challenges, including heart complications and the absence of ear canals. To help him hear, he uses small black magnetic devices behind his ears that rely on bone conduction, which also affects the pace of his speech.
However, what stands out most in Paul is not his disability but his “clear and genuine faith,” he said.
“He doesn’t just repeat what others say. He can explain his walk with Christ and how he finds hope,” Thornton testified. “He truly has a gentle spirit, a heart for others, and, as his dad says, ‘the manners of Jesus!’”
At the start of the retreat, leaders informed volunteers like Thornton to tell their assigned buddies about an upcoming talent show.
“And right away, Paul said: ‘I know what I’m going to do… I’m going to play the piano and sing and ask everybody to sing with me. I want to lead everyone in worship, and I’m going to sing Jesus Loves Me,’” recalled Thornton.
“I wish you could have been in the room at that talent show, because the Spirit-filled worship was truly moving. When asked about his talents, Paul didn't hesitate to give glory to God.
“What a testimony! Paul’s faith is so clear, so sincere. And I think of the challenges this young man faces in the world. He's often misunderstood, and he faces many injustices. But he's choosing hope through hardship because he sees God's grace growing him!"
Thornton concluded that Paul had become a buddy not just for the week of the retreat but a “buddy for life.”
