October 25, 2022
At Northside Christian Church in Fortson, Ga., children and young adults with disabilities are experiencing the thrill of participating in team sports—some for the very first time—through a new ministry called the Adaptive Sports & Activities Program.
August 17, 2022
In these briefs we feature news about Encounter, a support and recovery ministry at the Elizabethtown (Ky.) Campus of Southeast Christian Church, and also an Adaptive Sports and Activities Program at Northside Christian Church in Fortson, Ga. Also, briefs about GNPI, an upcoming Spiritual Formation Leadership Summit in Tennessee, and more.
February 16, 2021
About 25 Christian churches and churches of Christ were among the more than 700 serving as virtual experience host churches for “Night to Shine,” an event for people with special needs. On Friday at a “Shine-Thru” celebration hosted by The Crossing in Las Vegas, guests were greeted in-person by Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow, whose foundation sponsors “Night to Shine.” “The secret is out!” The Crossing wrote on its Facebook page. “All of our guests are being welcomed by Tim Tebow himself! We are so honored that he chose to attend our Night to Shine event.” This is the seventh
February 14, 2018
By Justin Horey On the evening of Friday, February 9, limousines will line up in front of Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena in coastal Florida. As guests in tuxedos and gowns make their way down the red carpet toward the entrance, cameras will flash and onlookers will yell, “You look great!” “We love you!” Some of the honored guests will be in wheelchairs. Some will use walkers. Others will struggle to speak. On this night, the occasion is not an award show or a celebrity gala; it’s “Night to Shine,” a prom-style formal event for people with special needs created by
September 9, 2016
By Michael C. Mack Parents of children with special needs long for a break””just a few hours to do whatever they want. “At the same time,” says Bobbie Lynn Rider, “letting go of control and trusting someone else with your loved one can be difficult.” Rider””a blogger at www.graceandfortitude.com, a site that encourages and blesses mothers and caregivers of special-needs individuals””along with her husband, took their daughter to a parent”™s-day-out event at Karns Church of Christ in Knoxville, Tennessee, hosted by the church”™s “Forever His” ministry. About 90 volunteers made the event a success for the 25 or so special-needs
August 26, 2016
By Joe Boyd We live in a competitive culture. We see this at every turn, but are more aware of it every four summers when two cycles converge””the presidential election and the Summer Olympics. Both, in very different ways, show us that deep in our core we can”t help but compete. Of course, we don”t need these macro-events to know this. We”ve all been to a Little League game or a dancing competition where, seemingly, the kids are having a good time but the parents and coaches are driving the competitive fervor. It can seem we grown-ups spend a lot
By Jennifer Johnson “The disability community is often a hidden community,” says Ryan Wolfe, developmental disabilities pastor at First Christian Church (Canton, OH). “In every city, they largely take care of themselves. But you don”t have to read much beyond the parable of the great banquet in Luke 14 to realize this group is close to God”s heart.” Wolfe and his wife began serving the disabled in their area by volunteer coaching in the local Challenger Baseball league. “We were outsiders,” he says. “We were the only coaches who didn”t have a kid playing, so we got a lot of
January 4, 2012
By Brad Dupray Capital Area Christian Church in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, has connected with its community in a far deeper way than most churches. In addition to its heavy involvement with community organizations, the church recently raised more than $600,000 in donations from local businesses, organizations, and individuals for construction of a large playground that continues the church”s efforts at making its campus a key part of its community. From the start, the church has worked at using its 53-acre campus to benefit the community and connect people to Christ. Don Hamilton ministers with Capital Area Christian, the only congregation he
November 16, 2010
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. “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
April 7, 2026
John B. Penrose Jr
April 7, 2026
David Faust
March 27, 2026
Rick Cherok