Contact: Jeremy Reynalds, Joy Junction, 505-400-7145, jeremyreynalds@comcast.net

MEDIA ADVISORY, Sept. 28 /Christian Newswire/ -- Joy Junction Homeless Shelter's 22nd Anniversary Banquet is just around the corner.

It will be held at the Hyatt Regency in Downtown Albuquerque on Friday, October 3rd at 7:00 p.m. featuring contemporary Christian music sensation, Jaci Velasquez, and special guest speaker, Coach (Ken) Carter, whose real life story was featured in the movie, "Coach Carter."

With a deeply troubled economy and the privately funded shelter being asked to care for an ever-increasing number of homeless women and families, the upcoming event is one of the most important of the year for Joy Junction.

Joy Junction is New Mexico's largest and only shelter serving homeless women and entire families; providing shelter, meals, clothing and most importantly spiritual teaching and training from the Bible.

Joy Junction receives no federal, state or city funding and is open twenty-four hours a day, seven days each week through the generosity of community-minded individuals. Last year alone, Joy Junction was able to help over thousands of women, men and children to get back on their feet and into a home of their own.

Joy Junction residents arrive at the shelter emotionally broken and with no place to go--they have exhausted their resources and lost their source of income. The ministry helps to meet their deepest needs by providing counseling and spiritual guidance, and enables them to overcome their circumstances and begin following a new direction for their lives.

Joy Junction Founder and CEO Dr. Jeremy Reynalds said, "We have seen tremendous growth in our residents, especially those coming out of various addictions to drugs and alcohol. With a successful banquet and ongoing community prayers and financial help, we can continue to help change the cycle of homelessness and give people the tools they need to become reintegrated into mainstream community life."

Joy Junction believes that God has a plan for the homeless people who stream through the doors of the shelter, and that He values them as individuals. Reynalds said that the shelter with the Lord's help assists its residents in developing the godly character that will serve to turn their lives around. However, community help and a successful banquet is essential for the ongoing and expanded success of this life-changing endeavor.

Reynalds extended a personal invitation to everyone who has watched the Lord's Hand at work through Joy Junction over the last 22 years to come to this event.

"Of course, we'd like to see new friends as well," he said. "We look forward to hundreds of people coming to our celebration and joining in the wonderful work that is going on at Joy Junction."

Tickets ($50 per person, or $500 per table) may be bought on line by going to www.joyjunction.org/banquet, or calling Joy Junction's Corporate Office at 505-217-9586.