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Advancing Mission Together with Faith, Service, and Community

Join the Southeastern Conference of Seventh-day Adventists as we serve, worship, and grow together. Explore our ministries, events, and resources to deepen your faith and strengthen your connection to our community

Empowering Every Ability

2025 Disability Inclusion Retreat

Join us for a transformative retreat dedicated to fostering inclusion and celebrating the unique talents of individuals with disabilities. Experience uplifting worship, insightful training, and heartfelt fellowship as we work together to create accessible and welcoming communities for all. Be inspired by stories of resilience and discover how you can make a difference.

Ready to Serve, Equipped to Respond

Disaster Response Training

Join us for hands-on training designed to prepare you for real-world emergencies. Learn how to mobilize relief, support affected communities, and respond with compassion and faith. Be part of a dedicated network of Adventist volunteers committed to making a difference when disaster strikes.

Faithful Living, Purposeful Giving

A Spiritual Journey into Christian Stewardship

Join us for a powerful retreat designed to inspire a lifestyle of intentional stewardship rooted in faith. Through engaging sessions, personal testimonies, and interactive workshops, you’ll gain practical tools to honor God with your time, talents, and resources. Walk away spiritually renewed and financially empowered to serve with greater purpose.

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3rd Annual Disability Holiday Social Celebrates Inclusion, Joy, and Individuals in the Body of Christ in Central Florida

Written by Jennifer Sankey-Battles, Ph.D., RN

Orlando, Fla., December 14, 2025 — The Mount Sinai Seventh-day Adventist Church Fellowship Hall in Orlando came alive with joy, laughter, and meaningful connection during the 3rd Annual Disability Holiday Social, an event dedicated to promoting disability inclusion and empowering individuals of all abilities to actively participate in worship and social life.

Held on December 14, the celebration brought together people with varying abilities from across Central Florida for an afternoon of interactive fellowship, delicious and nutritious food, and practical information on building inclusive faith communities. The event emphasized recognizing and utilizing the gifts and abilities of individuals with disabilities, fostering a welcoming environment where everyone belongs. This was realized when individuals with disabilities assisted with setting up the fellowship hall to be ready for guests.

The tables were beautifully decorated with green tablecloths and gold table runners with an elegant gold lantern and poinsettia centerpiece. Attendees enjoyed a lively lineup of activities, including Mix and Mingle Jingle, Fitness Fun with Shellita Boxie, Songs of Joy, andAmerican Sign Language Charades, all designed to encourage participation, movement, and shared laughter. In the spirit of service, participants also assembled 50 hygiene packets for distribution to individuals who are unhoused, with special attention to the needs of people with disabilities.

Catering was provided by GM Services A, offering meals that were both flavorful and nourishing, while Eunice Simmonds captured the memorable moments through photography. Throughout the event, smiles, music, and heartfelt connections filled the room, reflecting the inclusive mission at the heart of the gathering.

The Disability Holiday Social was sponsored by the Versacare Foundation and the Southeastern Conference of Seventh-day Adventists and organized by Jennifer Sankey-Battles, Ph.D., Melinda Wilson, and Keyroy Barnes, disability advocates whose support underscored a shared commitment to disability inclusion within faith communities. Organizers emphasized that every church is encouraged to establish a disability ministry, ensuring that individuals of all abilities can worship, serve, and socialize together.

As the afternoon concluded, Ola Dawson, Disability Ministry, Assistant Leader (Mt. Sinai) closed with prayer. One message rang clear: we are one body of Christ (1Corinthians 12) intentionally including and celebrating people of all abilities.

Those interested in learning more about how to get involved in disability ministries or receiving training on disability inclusion are encouraged to contact Jennifer Sankey-Battles, Ph.D., Health and Disabilities Ministry, Director at 352-735-3142.