13 June 2026, Mind in Christ (MINT), a ministry under Faith Community Baptist Church that serves individuals with intellectual challenges and their families and caregivers, organized a special Parents’ Appreciation event: Together in Love.
Among those invited was Janice Tay, Founder and Clinical Director of Bridging the Gap, who was given the opportunity to share her journey. A journey she never expected, but one that would lead her to discover faith, purpose, and God’s presence in ways she never imagined.
“So today, I’m here not as a founder or an educator, but I’m here as a mother, a mother whose life took a path she never expected, a mother who never imagined the journey God had prepared for her family. A mother who has experienced rejection, fear, grief, disappointment, anger, bitterness, exhaustion, and uncertainty. But also, a mother who has experienced God’s grace, strength, love, wisdom, and faithfulness every step of the way.”
Her testimony offered a glimpse into a journey that many parents with diverse needs may quietly understand, the journey of stepping into a life they never expected and carrying emotions they never imagined they would have to face.
Facing Diagnosis
Janice shared the story behind her son’s name, Emmanuel.
“Emmanuel means ‘God is with us.”
Emmanuel was born prematurely, and his birth came with many complications. For their family, the early days were filled with fear, anxiety, and uncertainty as they wondered what the future would hold.
“Will he live? Will he survive? Will he be normal?”
When Emmanuel was diagnosed, Janice experienced a mixture of sadness, fear, uncertainty, and even relief. Not because she wanted a diagnosis, but because after years of questions, they finally had some answers. Yet, those answers also brought them new questions.
“Will he be accepted? Will he have friends? Will he be independent?”
Looking back, Janice shared that even through the uncertainty, God was quietly carrying their family and preparing them for a journey that would require faith, perseverance, and dependence on Him.
Facing the Parenting Challenges
One of the hardest parts of Janice’s journey was watching Emmanuel struggle socially. Like any parent, she wanted her child to be accepted and loved. Instead, she watched him being misunderstood, struggling to fit in, and experiencing rejection and bullying.
“I knew the wonderful, loving boy that he was, but many people only saw his difference.”
There were also difficult choices along the way. One of the most heartbreaking for Janice was stepping away from her career to focus on her family and letting go of something she had built and seen as part of her identity.
With this, her husband, Max, Director of Strategic Partnerships & Marketing of Bridging the Gap, became the family’s main breadwinner. However, due to the demands of work, much of the day-to-day caregiving still fell on Janice.
Then, something even more unexpected happened when Max was retrenched, leaving the family to face another difficult season of uncertainty. Losing their main source of income during an already challenging time was frightening. They found themselves asking.
“Why would God allow this to happen at such a difficult time?”
But looking back, Janice shared that what first felt like a setback was part of something bigger.
“What initially happened to be a setback was actually part of God’s bigger plan.”
Receiving God’s Provision
Continuing her testimony, Janice shared how God’s provision became visible even during uncertainty.
“For the first time in many years, Max was fully present at home. He became part of the small, everyday moments of parenting that his demanding work schedule had often kept him from experiencing.”
What first felt like an unexpected setback became an opportunity for more time together, restoration, and deeper connection of their family.
“When I look at the relationship between Max and Emmanuel, I see God’s hand all over it.”
Looking back, Janice saw how God could turn circumstances around in ways they never expected. What felt like loss became gain. Uncertainty became an opportunity and closed doors became a new chapter for their family.
The Mission of the Journey: BtG’s Birth
As Janice reflected on everything their family had been through, she began to see that the journey was not without purpose. Along the way, they met other families who felt lost and overwhelmed, searching for support within systems that did not always feel easy to navigate.
“We saw many of our own fears reflected in their stories. God placed a burden on our hearts, and that burden became Bridging the Gap.”
Janice shared that Bridging the Gap was not started simply because they had a business plan. It grew from a journey they had lived by themselves, a journey of love, challenges, faith, and purpose.
“One mother’s pain and transform it into a mission to serve other families.”
The support of their church community also became an important part of their journey. Emmanuel was welcomed, included, and made to feel that he belonged. Their experience also shaped their family, including their daughter Isabelle, who grew up with empathy, patience, and understanding for people who are different.
Today, Janice sees their journey differently. What once felt painful and uncertain became part of the purpose God was leading them towards.
And through it all, Emmanuel’s name remained a reminder.
“Emmanuel was never just a name. It was a promise – that God walked with us through every therapy session, every disappointment, and every tear. And God is still with us today.”
For families walking through their own unexpected journeys, Janice’s story reminds us that we may not always understand the purpose in the moment. But sometimes, purpose unfolds through the very journey we never chose.
A Word of Encouragement
Janice ended her testimony with a message of encouragement for families walking on a similar journey.
“Your journey matters. Your sacrifices matter. Your love matters.”
She reminded parents that their child is not defined by a diagnosis and that they are precious, valuable, worthy of love, and deeply loved by God.
“I once asked God, ‘Why my child?’ Today, I find myself asking a different question: What would I have missed if God had not brought us through this journey?”
Through the years, Janice realised that God had not only carried their family through the journey but had also changed their hearts and given purpose to their pain. What began with questions, fear, and uncertainty became a journey of faith, love, and purpose.
And perhaps, this is the encouragement Janice hopes to leave with every family:
“You may not have chosen the journey, but your journey can still hold meaning, purpose, and hope.”
Watch Janice share her journey, faith and the story behind Bridging the Gap:
https://tinyurl.com/Find-God-in-a-Journey
