Buddies Program

Mt. Vernon New Life Church of the Nazarene | Mt. Vernon, OH
Initiative: : Facility upgrades, community programming, therapy dog training 
2024 Grant: $15,000 & Mentoring

Making Church Accessible to Families of All Abilities

Ten years ago, a family who had never been able to attend church came to a Sunday service at Mt. Vernon New Life Church of the Nazarene. Before then, they had not found a place where they knew their autistic and nonverbal son would be safe, loved, and cared for.

The leaders at New Life wanted to serve this family well and become a safe space for other families like theirs, and that’s how their “Buddies” program began. The program director has a background in teaching, with more than 20 years of experience in special education. She oversees the dedicated Buddies room along with other New Life staff and 12 trained volunteers.

Children can learn about Jesus in an environment that fits their needs while parents can attend Sunday service and receive tools to help their kids thrive. To expand the Buddies program, New Life Church of the Nazarene was awarded $15,000 in Kingdom Advancing Grant funds, which will be used to upgrade their facility with sensory swings to accommodate more children, host open house days for the community, and train a therapy dog—Dozer the golden retriever.

What started with just one child has now grown into a program that serves more than 45 students every month. Buddies also hosts a midweek program on Wednesday evenings which includes other students who are friends or family members of a child with disabilities.

“When parents know that their children are not only safe but also actively engaged in spiritual enrichment, parents have the peace of mind necessary to fully immerse themselves in the spiritual community, fostering their own connection to Jesus while the spiritual growth of their children is nurtured as well,” said Salena Lehman, grant coordinator for Mount Vernon New Life.

Part of their plan for the future of the program includes professional training for their next staff member—Dozer the therapy dog. Dozer will play an important role for Buddies by bringing joy to those around him and helping to keep children calm. His handler also hopes to utilize him to build bridges with local schools where she works, further sharing Jesus’ love and spreading awareness of their ministry.

https://www.newlifenaz.net/

The Kingdom Advancing Grant supports innovative church programs and initiatives that are unique in the way they bring people closer to Jesus, that can be sustained over time, and that can be replicated by other Christian churches. Learn more about the Kingdom Advancing Grant and the Brotherhood Mutual Foundation, including the application deadline and eligibility requirements.