Central Church of Christ’s Special Needs Ministry Shares the Gospel Through VIPs
Central Church of Christ in Mount Vernon, Ohio, serves community members with Down syndrome through its “Very Important Persons” class. The ministry pairs each participant with a buddy for Bible lessons, singing, outings, and gospel-centered service opportunities.
- Central Church of Christ launched its VIP class five years ago for people with Down syndrome.
- Participants meet with buddies for Bible lessons, singing, trips, restaurant outings, and more.
- The ministry has expanded into clowning, parades, nursing home visits, and outreach.
By Jennifer Taylor
Central Church of Christ (Mount Vernon, Ohio) is committed to serving people with special needs. Five years ago the church launched its “Very Important Persons” class for community members with Down syndrome. Each participant is matched with a “buddy” who becomes a special mentor and meets on Wednesday afternoons for Bible lessons, singing, trips, restaurant outings, and more.
VIP Class and Buddy Mentoring
“An outgrowth of the ministry has been clowning,” says associate minister Don Linn. “The group rides in parades and visits nursing homes together. Not only is it fun for them, but we’ve discovered people treat them differently. Kids approach them instead of shying away because of a disability. It gives these ‘VIPs’ a real way to share the gospel with others.”
Clowning, Parades, and Gospel Outreach
Several families have joined the church because of their participation with the VIP program.
Jennifer Taylor, one of Christian Standard’s contributing editors, lives in Nashville, Tennessee. Read her blog at www.christianstandard.com.
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