2023 Ability Ministry Shine Trip - Tennessee Fall

In September of 1981, Sam Stone was the editor of the Christian Standard magazine at Standard Publishing. Sam worked next door to Mount Healthy Christian Home, where both of his parents lived. One morning, on his way to visit his parents, he ran to another resident in the hall, Marjorie Broxon. Marjorie had cerebral palsy and was in a wheelchair. She spoke slowly and with difficulty. This made her sometimes hard to understand. However, Sam knew Marjorie, and frequently stopped to chat with her. That day, they spoke for a few minutes, like usual, and he started to go on to see his parents.

Yet as Sam turned to go, Marjorie said, “You know I like it here. There are good folks operating the home. But all of the other residents here are a lot older than me and I don’t have a chance to do many things I’m able to do and want to do. I wish our churches provided a home to help handicapped people.”

“Well, yes, that would be nice,” Sam agreed, “but you know it would take a lot of money to build a facility like that.”

Without hesitation she responded, “It took a lot of money to build Mount Healthy Home, too.”

From that moment forward, Sam worked to create and Build Ability Ministry.  Before he passed away in 2021, Sam Stone, left us with these reflections: “So, what have I learned in the past 36 years. I know the government, private business and social groups help those affected by disability but the Disability Community needs more than a place to live, they need a place to be embraced. A place that will embrace them and a place to embrace others. What is that place called; it is 'The Church.' Where else should one be able to experience the kind of embrace that He who created relationship should be embraced? A place where everyone should be able to come just as they are. The problem is over 90% of churches don’t know how to embrace the Disability Community or allow this community to embrace others . . . We must give the Disability Community the chance to minister as much as being ministered to.”

Thanks to Sam's vision, we at Southeast Christian get the chance to embrace those at Ability and love on them the way Jesus would.  Shine Ministry & additional Southeast Christian Church members will be traveling to Louisville, Tennessee to serve the residents at Ability Ministry.  The Shine Ministry will be encouraging & interacting with the staff & residents while also leading worship during Sunday service.  The team will be serving in a variety of ways, such as: cooking, cleaning, outdoor clean-up, maintenance, games, & crafts. 

Serving at Ability is always an awesome experience and we are​ looking forward to another outstanding trip.

We look forward to serving you,
Southeast Christian Missions Ministry Team​​​​​​