Century Christian Church reaches out to community in ministry

March 24, 2019 | 3:07 am

Updated March 23, 2019 | 9:32 am

According to members of the congregation, Century Christian Church’s ministry is to reach out, not reach in. | Photo by AP Imagery

Century Christian Church’s ministry is to reach out, not reach in, said congregation member Melissa Jagoe, and over the last couple of years, Reverend Betty Sivis and Brie Greer, youth services director, have been cognizantly working to build the church congregation through inclusion.

Programs that were already working in the church have been enhanced through their efforts and the congregation notices the changes as well.

Greer is a college student focusing on working with adolescents with learning and behavioral disabilities. Two years ago she started at Century Christian Church and worked with Meggan Clark, a congregation member who was leading a program for children on the Autism spectrum.

“We offer a safe environment every Sunday and our goal is to allow parents a place to worship each Sunday while their children are cared for by Brie and her assistants,” Jagoe said.

Greer is CPR and First Aid certified and previously worked at Wendell Foster’s autism program. The church program’s aides, many of whom have training as well, are learning helpful skills that Greer feels is similar to an internship.

The children’s program has been successful because many parents finding the routine the program offers while running simultaneously with the worship service beneficial to their children.

“We all start in the sanctuary together and we end the service back in there together,” Greer said. “But we offer the opportunity for all children to go back [to the classroom] and dive into a Bible story, have a snack, do a craft and then return for communion.”

Greer said siblings of children who are on the spectrum often come as well as others included in the children’s program. Greer said the key to the success of the program is the routine it offers. They follow the same schedule each week and they end with a discussion of what they want to pray about for that week.

“We talk to God but not as a prayer but as a ‘Hey, God,’ moment. We make it less formal and just have a discussion with God,” Greer said.

Sometimes, the children want to stay in the sanctuary with their parents for the sermon and sometimes, the parents ask for them to come back to the sanctuary prior to the arrival of the program at the end, and this is OK, Greer said. It is one of the reasons for the aides.

“We want the parents — and the congregation members — to know we are in this together,” Greer said.

Sivis agrees and said that these children are changing the congregation as well by their unpredictability. One child enjoyed dancing at the altar next to Sivis but has since grown accustomed to the routine of the program and no longer joins Sivis. Although Sivis said she misses the dancing during the worship, she was reminded that this was progress by the girl’s mother.

“We have to feel our way through it,” Sivis said.

After reading a book that recommended finding a place where Jesus leads you within the community, Jagoe and Sivis began brainstorming about Owensboro’s needs. Out of this came Parent’s Night Out, something that began this month and will be held monthly at the church.

“All parents need time — to have a date, to go to the grocery or even just sit at home,” Greer said. “It is a service we can offer.”

The coordinators wanted the program to be affordable for all families and wanted to include all school ages so parents could feel comfortable letting their children enter for the three hours it is offered. A medical release is also required for all children attending the night.

During the program, the children play games, eat dinner and have a devotional all while being cared for under the established Autism program guidelines.

The church already hosts two lock-ins each year and the success of these nights led them to feel this would be the next ministry the church could offer to the community.

“Most families came [for the program] and have stayed [with us],” Sivis said. “They were not openly rejected from other churches but some had been told they [the churches] were just not used to handling the behaviors and sensitivities [associated with Autism].”

One of the children in the program speaks some but prefers to draw and is known to put the picture on the altar for the congregation.

“Having the kids around is opening hearts,” Greer said.

Sivis said the reason for the success goes back to the Disciples of Christ value of having an open table and open doors and this is their message to parents – they are not alone.

“You can feel you are alone but you are not and do not have to be,” Sivis said.

Another opportunity the church offers in their ministry outreach is a community garden, something Sivis said has been on the church property for many years but has recently seen a new and renewed interest in the last couple of years.

“We just weren’t tooting our own horn,” Sivis said about their outreach programs getting new attention, thanks to social media.

The garden plots are free to community members and the only requirement is that part of the proceeds go to the Help Office of Owensboro.

“We’ve learned — I’ve learned so much,” Sivis said about incorporating these programs into their outreach.

For more information about the Autism program, Parent’s Night Out, worship or the community garden, email or call 270-684-0286. The church is located at 1301 Tamarack Rd.

March 24, 2019 | 3:07 am

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