TNL (Disability Ministry)
Singing at TNL
Tuesday Night Live (TNL) is the main event of Reality’s ministry to individuals with developmental disabilities. The heart of TNL is friendship rooted in Christ’s love. Our hope is that life-long friendships will be made among participants and volunteers.
Participants & volunteers at TNL have the opportunity to participate in many events and activities throughout the year, which include TNL gatherings, Pass the Peas dinners at Blacknall Presbyterian Church, Girls’ & Guys’ Nights at the Reality Center, the Kings & Queens Dance, the TNL Talent Show, summer outings & camps, field trips and Bible study groups.
TNL is a joyful evening full of laughter, singing, food and fun. On alternating weeks our Teen/Young Adult (14-25 years old) group and our Adult group (over 25 years old) gather for pizza, group games, singing, and a short message from the Bible. Each friend with disabilities is matched one-on-one with a volunteer “buddy” for the evening. Our volunteers include high school students, college and grad school students and adults from the community of all ages. There is no cost to participate in TNL, but an RSVP is required in order to plan for volunteers and food.
If you know someone who would like to be a part of any of our programs, please contact Samantha Fisher, Director of Special Needs Ministry (919-688-7776, samanthacfisher@gmail.com)
Schedule
Although everyone is welcome to come check out TNL, it is extremely important that we know you’re coming! Please contact Samantha Fisher before attending an event.
Pass the Peas
Blacknall Presbyterian Church has partnered with Reality Ministries and generously invites each TNL group to enjoy dinner together, monthly, in their fellowship hall. The dinners are paid for, prepared and served by Blacknall members to provide an atmosphere for deeper conversation, fellowship and service. We call these dinners “Pass the Peas (PTP).” While the Teen/Young Adult participants & volunteers are enjoying PTP at Blacknall, the Adult participants & volunteers are having TNL at the Reality Center!
Summer Activities
On many Tuesday nights during the summer we organize group activities such as bowling, swimming and going to the movies. Additionally we take a limited number of participants from both groups on a 4-day trip to an outdoor adventure camp in Tennessee, River’s Way, and host a week-long Day Camp at the Reality Center that includes many of the same components as TNL along with crafts and fun outings.
There is a cost for summer programming according to the cost of each activity, but we would never want to exclude participants who cannot afford the cost. Please let us know if any activity is cost-prohibitive and we will do everything we can to work out an alternative.
Volunteering
Because our hope and vision is for life-long friendships between friends, Tuesday nights are a great entry point for building those relationships. Over the years, though, we’ve learned that lasting relationships happen when TNL friends take the opportunity to spend time together outside of Tuesday nights. Whether that is in the car on the way to an event, participating in a field trip to the movies or zoo, or a lunch date—true friendship grows out of sharing life together. Our prayer is that you would approach TNL as an opportunity to share your life with a friend with a disability. Many of our TNL friends live in group homes where staff and housemates come and go, so consistent friendship in a loving community is a critical need that you can help meet!
Contact Samantha Fisher to find out how to be a TNL volunteer.