Thank you for your interest in being a buddy for our ministry. Listed below are the areas in which we serve our families and friends.

On Sunday mornings, special needs buddies provide support allowing our friends to be engaged either in their age-appropriate ministry and/or our Special Needs Ministry area. We offer support at both the 9:30 & 11:00 a.m. service times.

Embrace Community is a weekday program for adults with disabilities in the Middle Tennessee region. Our goal is to enrich the lives of those impacted by disability by fostering community through recreational and leisure activities. We currently meet from 9:30am–12:30pm. Volunteers assist the teachers by engaging friends in class activities.

We partner with Williamson County’s Young Life Capernaum (YLC) to host “Club” nights. YLC is a fun, high-energy outreach ministry that serves high school students with developmental and intellectual disabilities across Williamson County. Twice a month, they have “Club,” where they share a meal, sing songs, play fun games, and hear about how the God of the universe loves them and wants to be in relationship with them. Throughout the rest of the month, YLC has caring adult volunteer leaders who seek to build relationships with these adolescents and help them walk in their faith. For more information, contact Kelsey Neises at [email protected].

We partner with Enrich for Life to host their Faith Friends Bible Study for adults with special needs. Led by Cyndy Muirhead and Allison Bender, the group uses Lifeway’s Access curriculum as they study the Bible together, pray, and engage in other fun activities. For more information, contact Allison Bender at [email protected].

Once per month, we provide a respite event for families. Families are able to drop off all of their children (age 3 through adult) to enjoy three hours of fellowship and fun. We start the event off by sharing a meal with the volunteers before welcoming the families. Some options for service include supplying the volunteer meal, rotating through the activities with the attendees, or leading an activity as part of the rotation (music, dance, art, or other activities).

Buddies can join friends with special needs at camps, retreats, mission trips, or any other catalyst events with Kids and Student Ministry. During these events, buddies would help their friends meaningfully engage with their peers during the activities.

Frequently Asked Questions

How old do I need to be to volunteer?


We require our volunteers to be in at least sixth grade and/or age 13 to volunteer independently.

How soon can I start volunteering?


Before volunteering, all adults ages 18 and older will need to have a clear background check. All volunteers ages 13-17 must provide a letter of recommendation from a teacher, mentor, or a coach who knows your character. This letter can be emailed directly to Carley Ellis.

How often should I volunteer?


We have dedicated volunteers who buddy weekly, every other week, or once per quarter. Your attendance is based on your own availability and preference.