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Congregational Programs

Friendship Bible Study

Friendship Bible Study will help you build a one-on-one Christian relationship with a student who has a mental impairment. This relationship will provide a conduit to integrate your new friend into your Christian community, giving them a chance to share their gifts with the Body of Christ. The lives of both students and church volunteers are profoundly changed through the sharing of these gifts. In central Indiana, more than 150 students are served through Friendship classes started by 16 congregations and supported by many more. The friendships developed in these classes extend beyond the classroom and give the student necessary support groups and role models with benefits that impact behavior and quality of life.

Handycamp

Handycamp is a 5-day summer Bible camp experience for adults who have a mental impairment. This camp is unique because it matches each camper in a one on one Christian relationship with a volunteer companion. These companions range in age from 14 through retirement age. Many of them return to Handycamp every summer. Through recreation and Bible study, the lives of all that attend are changed. LDM sponsors Six camp sessions that provide a camping experience for up to 240 campers.

Friendship Saturday

Friendship Saturday is a combination of Friendship Bible Study and Handycamp. Congregations provide a full day of worship, prayer, singing, and day camp type activities. This program is focused to offer a day of respite for the families who care for their adult sons and daughters in their homes that are mentally impaired.

Serving Hands

LDM's mission is to minister WITH persons who are mentally impaired. Serving Hands is a weekday - day program that mentors persons who are mentally impaired to be servants of the Church. One day each week Serving Hands' servants will have an opportunity to visit a local church or Christian organization to offer their volunteer service.

Love Notes

An army of Christian volunteers send notes of encouragement to all that participate in our Friendship and Handycamp programs. Each person receives a card or note on their birthday, at Christmas and during the Easter season. Many of them also receive notes throughout the year. It is amazing how this simple gesture can influence the lives of the people we serve.

SonRise Retreat

SonRise Retreat is a weekend (Friday through Sunday) for volunteers and guests mini Bible camp, sponsored by LDM at the FFA Training Center in Trafalgar, IN. This retreat is for adult guests who are mentally impaired. The guests' ages range from 18 to 65. Guests are paired with volunteers who range from age 14 through retirement. Activities include Bible study, arts and crafts, campfire, karaoke, dancing, hiking, and enjoying God's creation.

SonRise Retreat has three major goals:

• Provide a needed Respite for the families that are caregivers for our guests.
• Share the love of Jesus Christ with adults who are mentally impaired and give them a weekend that is Christ-centered.
• Give volunteers an opportunity to become a friend with a person who is developmentally disabled. Love and patience are the only requirements.

© 1999/2007 LDM Inc.