The Holiday Season is Here

The holiday season is here and the house parents and children are having fun putting up the Christmas tree and decorating it. The holiday spirit is everywhere and the children are busy making decorations and celebrating this special time of year. The Christmas season brings joy to everyone’s face, and it reminds us that Jesus is the reason for the season.

Please consider sponsoring the children who live in the cottages at Christian City; you can donate online at the Christian City website. If you would like to learn more about the Children's Village at Christian City, please visit www.christiancity.org.

Family at The Children's Village

The children at The Children’s Village at Christian City live like your own family—but our family is much larger. Our children still enjoy home cooked meals, family game nights, and devotional time together. There is one main difference between your family and our Children’s Village family; our house parents are taking care of eight children plus their own. Imagine cooking with two ovens because one is too small or using industrial size pots because you have to cook enough food for ten or more people. They do laundry with two washers and dryers because the amount of laundry a week would be overwhelming with only one washer and dryer. Christian City is thankful that we have loving and dedicated house parents that make an impact in our kids’ lives.

If you would like to learn more about The Children’s Village at Christian City, please visit our website at www.christiancity.org. Please consider sponsoring a child. You can help make a difference in these kids’ lives, and by giving as little as a dollar a day, you can be the change these kids need in their lives.

Christian CIty's Annual I Golf "Fore" Kids Tournament

Christian City’s Annual I Golf "Fore" Kids Tournament took place on October 19 at Eagles Landing Country Club. The event raised $25,483 for The Children’s Village at Christian City. All of the players enjoyed a great game of golf, delicious food, and live and silent auctions. We would like to thank everyone who came out to play in the tournament especially our corporate and church teams. We would love to see all of the players come out again next year.

If you would like to learn more about Christian City and The Children’s Village, please visit our website at www.christiancity.org.

Fun at Logos Ranch

Saturday, October 17, the kids at The Children’s Village at Christian City enjoyed some outdoor fun at Logos Ranch. The kids enjoyed great teambuilding and developmental activities like rope courses and paint ball. Everyone had a great time and they had the perfect weather for a great afternoon.

If you would like to learn more about The Children’s Village or Christian City, please visit our website at www.christiancity.org. Please consider sponsoring a child at The Children’s Village. For as little as a dollar a day, you can make a difference in a child’s life. Your sponsorship helps pay for shelter, food, clothing, and education.

Providing a Great Education

At The Children’s Village we recognize that education, in addition to a loving Christian home, is one of the most important tools needed for our children to meet and overcome the formidable challenges they have ahead of them. Our partner schools also understand the importance of a strong education, and the social skills required for our children to succeed throughout their lives.

Success has many faces and often can be measured not only by academic achievement but also an increase in self-esteem, mental, and physical health. Success for Ben at The Lighthouse School encompasses all these attributes and is portrayed in many areas of his life. Ben came to Christian City over 7 years ago and has made huge strides in his education, leadership skills, and self-esteem.

He started The Lighthouse Program as a “typical” new student anxious about a new environment, new friends, and new social opportunities. In less than a year, Ben transformed from a shy 10th grader to a leader to all his peers and teachers. He was given the responsibility and title of Safety Monitor by his teacher. He took ownership of this responsibility recognizing that students are encouraged to try their hand at office work, maintenance, and construction. The position of Safety Monitor evolved into supervising maintenance for all the school. Ben is the “go-to” guy for all safety and maintenance and is the first point of contact for al outside vendors. He shines while taking on his leadership roles, and everyone here at the Children’s Village is blessed to witness God’s work in him!

If you would like to learn more about The Children’s Village, Christian City, or how to sponsor a child, please visit our website at www.christiancity.org.

Real Homes, Real Love

Everyone needs a place where they can know without a doubt that they are accepted and loved. A place where there are healthy boundaries borne out of a concern for their welfare, a place where they are cared for and where adults step up and lift the burdens and worries of life off their young shoulders and let them just be kids again. They need a place where the love of Jesus Christ is manifested and made real in every word and touch. That’s the kind of place we strive to be.

For some, coming to us is the revival of a time when life seemed filled with hope. A time before their world had turned into an existence colored only in dingy hues, where the bright cheery light of day seemed to be fading away. Blue skies and bright sunshine had vanished. Others arrive in survival mode, coping with overwhelming challenges of neglect, abuse, and abandonment. They harden their exterior, and project a tough unaffectedness but inside a gnawing emptiness and fear steadily grows. They don’t have the answers for questions they don’t even yet know how to articulate. They stagger under the weight of emotional pain and brokenness that they long to be free of.

This is where The Children’s Village has the opportunity to minister the love of Christ to these children. We can help remove their burden of fear and hurt because we care for them, compelled by our Lord who is in the business of being a tender Father to the hurting, rejected, downtrodden. We support them, encourage them, guide them, and provide their needs. We show them they can trust in adults who will be there for them, who are committed to their success, protection, and their good. We simply treat them like our own. And, in keeping with our motivation, we help them understand that God loves them even more than we, and that His redeeming love can transform and make beautiful things every life.

To learn more about The Children's Village, Christian City, or how to sponsor a child online, please visit our website at www.christiancity.org.

Everyone Needs Love

Everyone needs love…and everyone needs a good place, a safe place, and a loving place to call home. Many children have never had a home that is a refuge in a life that most of us grew up with a home that is a fortress against life’s storms. Some are battered by neglect, abuse, and fear, and are wearied in a fight never meant to be their own. Here at The Children’s Village, we strive to provide that warm and loving place where they can know without a doubt that they are accepted and loved deeply.

Some children come to us having bounced around in an institutional world never knowing what it means to have someone sincerely care for them, pray for them, and invest time and energy and tenderness into their lives.

If you want to learn more about The Children’s Village, Christian City, or how to become a sponsor, please visit our website at www.christiancity.org

Foster Care...It's A Family Thing!

The Children’s Village at Christian City Foster Care Program assists families with children from birth to age five, by placing their children in Christ-centered community based homes where family role models and an atmosphere of love, discipline, and nurturing are provided.
Foster families are chosen after diligent review and approval process and the completion of IMPACT training which is required and approved by the Georgia Department of Human Resources. Christian City foster care families consist of a husband a wife committed to serving the Lord in a local church body. One spouse must be in home full time to supervise the care and nurturing of the child(ren).

The Forster Care program is committed to loving children and their families, while working towards family reunification. We are always looking for solid Christian foster care families. If you live within 50 miles of Christian City and would like to become a foster parent, please contact the Foster Care coordinator at 770-964-9390.

To learn more about The Children’s Village, Christian City, or how to sponsor a child, please visit our website at www.christiancity.org.

A Warm & Loving Home Environment

From the moment children arrive at "The Children’s Village at Christian City," they are surrounded by a loving home setting where they can bond together with other children of similar backgrounds and situations. These are homes where they learn to interact both spiritually and socially with peers and loving house parents. They attend the same schools, participate in extra-curricular activities, go to church together, do homework together, and learn to make unique contributions to their family.

For more information about The Children’s Village, Christian City, or how to sponsor a child, please visit our website at www.christiancity.org. Please join our Christian City cause page on Facebook and join us in spreading the word about Christian City. You can now donate online through Facebook! Help us raise $100 this month!

President/CEO Bob Crutchfield Reveals Strategic Plan for the Future

Union City, GA - ChristianCity’s President/CEO Bob Crutchfield recently addressed a packed Town Hall meeting to reveal plans for expansion and growth. “After years of hard work, the Board of Trustees approved a long range, strategic plan for ChristianCity”, Mr. Crutchfiled stated. He then explained the ambitious plans for campus improvements as well as new services to become available over the next several months. ChristianCity sits on almost 500 acres just south of AtlantaHartsfieldAirport in Union City, and is home to over 1,000 seniors, as well as being a residential program for less fortunate children.

Some Campus Renovations will take place soon, while more expansive infrastructure changes will be possible as the economy improves. There has already been an increase in clinical staffing, new operational policies and procedures, and new technologies. Additional services becoming available in the next couple of months include: home health services, point of sale pharmacy, hospice care, SOURCE, expanded physical/speech/occupational therapy, and renovations of portions of the skilled nursing and assisted living facilities.

The major infrastructure plans include: new assisted living and memory support facilities, internal roadways, additional life leasing housing, life and activity center, senior community center, health club and pool, a new ministry to developmentally disabled adults, phase two of The Children’s Village, and much more.

A major part of Mr. Crutchfield’s presentation was devoted to extraordinary efforts being made to ensure and strengthen ChristianCity’s commitment to quality care according to the principles of the Christian faith. “We are here to be loving people who love people in need in the name of Christ. That was our mission in the beginning and remains our mission and calling today”, Crutchfield said.Crutchfield went on to say, “ChristianCity’s committed staff has been providing quality residential, health and social services, and opportunities for spiritual growth since 1965. Our 44 year reputation for excellent care for seniors comes from our passion to radiate the love of Christ. This results in extraordinary care, because it’s not our job—it’s our mission!”

For more information about ChristianCity and their services for seniors, the elderly and infirm as well as their residential programs for abandoned and abused children, please visit http://www.christiancity.org/, or call 770-703-2636

Photo Caption: President/CEO Bob Crutchfield addresses a packed Town Hall Meeting

Save The Date! Nov. 30 is the 3rd Annual Hollingsworth House Chair-ity Event

The Children’s Village at Christian City and The Hollingsworth House are pleased to announce that the 3rd Annual Chair-ity Event will be held on Monday, November 30, from 5:00-7:30 at The Hollingsworth House in downtown Fayetteville, GA. We would like to invite you to an elegant holiday affair with delicious food and live entertainment. This event will feature live and silent auctions of extraordinary chairs and other works of art donated by local artisans. The tickets are $25 per person

All proceeds from the event will help the children who live at The Children’s Village have a wonderful Christmas. For more information about the Chair-ity Event, please visit the website at http://www.chair-ity-event.org. For more information about The Children’s Village, Christian City, or to sponsor a child online, please visit our website at http://www.christiancity.org.

Tyson Clabo Scheduled to Come to The Children's Village!

On Wednesday 30, Tyson Clabo, a football player with the Atlanta Falcons, is scheduled to come to The Children’s Village for a pizza party with our boys and girls. Tyson recently donated 200 Falcons tickets and 200 "Tyson Tailgaters" tshirts to The Children's Village at Christian City. The kids will be able to meet Tyson, and they couldn’t be more excited about it! Everyone at The Children’s Village is grateful to Tyson Clabo for taking time during his busy football season to come down to The Children’s Village.

For more information about The Children's Village, Christian City, or how to sponsor a child online, please visit our website at http://www.christiancity.org/. You can make a difference in a child's life; please consider sponsoring a child today.

Want to Stay in Fashion?

Join The Children’s Village and Lizard Thicket on Sunday, November 1, from 2:00-5:00 pm at Dolce Convention Center in Peachtree City for a fashion show benefiting our boys and girls. You can buy tickets at the door for $25. You will see this year’s fashion trends, and you can even participate in our silent auction and bring home one of our great auction items. Don’t miss out on this great event!

For more information about The Children’s Village or Christian City, please visit our website at http://www.christiancity.org. Follow us on Twitter for daily updates on what’s happening at The Children’s Village.

Rain Didn't Stop the Fun for The Children's Village

On Saturday, September 19th, The Excel Logistics Trucking Company hosted a softball tournament benefiting The Children’s Village at Christian City. Although the rain stopped some of the events Excel planned, the children still enjoyed a fun game of touch football in the rain. Christian City would like to thank Excel Logistics for hosting this event! The Children’s Village and our kids really appreciate everything that Excel did to make this a great event!

For more information about The Children’s Village or Christian City, please visit our website at http://www.christiancity.org, and don’t forget to join our Christian City Cause page on Facebook!

The Children's Village is One Big Family

At The Children's Village, kids live in cottages with full time Christian house parents. The cottages are a home for these children, just like your family home. The Children's Village family is probably much larger than yours though, with up to eight children per cottage. And, in some cottages, the house parents have their own biological children too. Imagine cooking dinner and doing laundry for your own family; now think about doing those chores with two ovens and two washing machines because the family is twice as big. That's a lot of meals to prepare and a lot of laundry to fold! The house parents truly make an impact on the children at The Children's Village. We salute them for all there hard work and commitment to making each child feel loved. God Bless our house parents!

To learn more about The Children's Village, please visit our website at http://www.christiancity.org. You can now donate online!

Piano Lessons at The Children's Village

The Children at The Children's Village at Christian City are starting up piano lessons thanks to Ann Edmonson, who not only donated a piano to the Children's Village but also her time to teach the children. Studies have shown that learning how to play a musical instrument improves brain development, teaches discipline, and reduces stress. The kids at The Children's Village are excited for this new opportunity and are even more excited for their weekly lessons!

To learn more about The Children's Village or Christian City, please visit our website at http://www.christiancity.org.

The Children are Back to School

As summer comes to an end, children around Georgia are ready for school to start and the kids at The Children’s Village are no exception. On August 10, the kids at The Children’s Village went back to school and are excited to see their school friends and start activities and school sports. The children receive a great Christian education and participate in activities that improve their development physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

The Children’s Village would like to thank everyone who gave their support and donated school items to the children. We would also like to thank everyone for their prayers. Please continue to pray for the children at The Children’s Village. You can now donate to The Children’s Village online. If you would like to learn more about the Children’s Village at Christian City please visit our website at http://www.christiancity.org.

Christian City's Annual Golf Classic

Join Christian City on October 19th for our annual golf classic at Eagle's Landing. Come support our efforts to sponsor the children at The Children's Village at Christian City and enjoy a spectacular day of high level golfing, outstanding food, and the fun you've come to expect at our classic. There will be trophies for winners, prizes and special competitions, and of course, a live auction with some really special items this year.

Date: October 19th, 2009
Location: Eagle's Landing Golf and Country Club, Stockbridge, GA
Registration: 9:30 am
Shotgun Start: 11:00 am
Individual Entry: $125
Four-somes: $450

Registration includes:
18 holes of golf, cart, range balls, refreshments and post tournament grill-out buffet.
Format: Four-Person/Ft. Lauderdale Scramble
This year's Classic will be held at the lovely Eagle's Landing Country Club

For information about Christian City, the Children's Village at Christian City, or sponsoring a child, please visit www.christiancity.org

Hope for the Children

“In their eyes I truly see a cry for hope. That’s the one thing that I have seen missing and yearned for in the life of nearly every single child and their families. Can you imagine getting up every day and not having any idea what’s going to happen in your life that day? Not to know if you have any hope for any people who care about you, hope for a future, hope for some success in your life, hope that you’re not going to be abused or abandoned. Can you imagine living every day like that? You’ve got to be committed to bringing people hope, to ministering to them. You’ve got to. I can’t think of any better way to sum it up."
-Phil Kouns, COO, The Children's Village

Child Sponsorship Program

Christian City has a new focus on fundraising through their Child Sponsorship Program, where you can become a child sponsor for as little as $30 a month. This is an easy way to support The Children’s Village and is very simply done with a check, debit or credit card. This is quickly becoming the “bread and butter” of their fundraising efforts and is helping to bring in new donors who may not be able to give a “major” gift all at once. It helps them to plan strategically when they can count on regular monthly gifts. If you are able to give less than “a buck a day” on a monthly basis, would you please consider this option?

According to Heidi Becker, Christian City’s Director of Marketing and Development, the greatest need is for operational support. “The ongoing expense of caring for numerous children is astronomical in today’s economy. Each month we get a little further behind as donations dwindle and our costs go up. Meeting our day to day expenses of gas, electricity, food, transportation and other basics is a struggle. Over the years, the Fayette County community has been very generous to the children who live in our cottages. Many have become child sponsors over the past year which is a huge help!”

Heidi says, “ Each child has their own story. Each come from such unbelievably sad circumstances. They did not choose to be here. But, God has chosen Christian City to care for them..and in the past, our Fayette County friends have chosen to sacrificially help. Our prayer is that in these lean times, they will continue to help us so that we can continue to serve these kids in the best way possible.”

For more information on The Children’s Village at Christian City access www.christiancity.org or call 770-703-2636.