Beyond Sunday: Faith. Friendship. Belonging.
In September 2025, several friends gathered in a living room and began to dream. They dreamed about what could be possible for the many individuals with disabilities and their families living across Northwest Florida. They dreamed of a place where families could find friendship, support and faith, not just on Sunday morning, but throughout the week. They dreamed of communities where people with disabilities would not simply be welcomed, but celebrated, and given opportunities to lead.
That dream became Beyond Sunday Fellowship.
Beyond Sunday Fellowship is a Christian parachurch ministry serving Northwest Florida. Our vision is to see Jesus-focused communities throughout the region where individuals with disabilities and their caregivers belong, are celebrated, and thrive.
Our mission is simple: to welcome individuals with disabilities and their families to share faith, friendship and community.
We create welcoming environments where people of all abilities are treated with dignity, build real relationships, and experience practical support. We are not a church, and we encourage individuals and families to attend the church of their choice on Sundays. Through community partnerships, Beyond Sunday Fellowship offers inclusive programs and events throughout the rest of the week.
While we are a Christian ministry, we welcome people from any faith tradition or no faith tradition at all. We do not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, age, ability, gender or religion. Anyone who supports dignity, respect, and inclusion is welcome to participate.
One of the things that makes Beyond Sunday Fellowship unique is our desire to work alongside churches. Our goal is not simply to create programs for people with disabilities, but to help churches become more inclusive communities as a whole. Too often, disability ministry can become separated from the rest of church life. We believe inclusion should reach much further.
For families who have felt excluded or discouraged by past experiences, we hope to help rebuild trust and create a path back to the church. We want people with disabilities and their families to know that there is a place for them in the life of the church. At the same time, we want to encourage churches to look beyond a single disability ministry and consider how accessibility and inclusion can become part of the entire church community. That means listening to families, equipping volunteers, sharing resources, and helping churches think differently about what true inclusion can look like.
Through partnerships with Risen Savior Lutheran Navarre and Navarre United Methodist Church, that vision is already beginning to take shape.
The partnership with Risen Savior Lutheran was a natural fit. The church has led a monthly service for people with disabilities called Jesus Cares since 2019. Pastor Craig Born and his wife, Jennifer, have welcomed Beyond Sunday Fellowship with open arms. Together, we have planned standalone activity nights for families and supported Jesus Cares by offering extended time following the monthly service for crafts, games, and fellowship.
In the summer of 2026, we hosted an all-ages, all-ability Vacation Bible School with Navarre United Methodist Church. After connecting with Children’s Director Christine Gersic, Beyond Sunday Fellowship worked with the church to develop an inclusive VBS experience designed with individuals with disabilities in mind. We helped train volunteers, offering practical guidance on supporting participants with disabilities, and helped develop a condensed VBS curriculum and an environment designed to minimize unnecessary transitions and sensory overload.
Over two nights, 15 participants of all ages gathered for worship, Bible lessons, crafts, and hands-on activities. But Beyond Sunday believes people with disabilities shouldn't only be the recipients of ministry. They should have opportunities to serve, lead, and use their gifts, too. During VBS, participants with disabilities helped lead the program and bring the lessons to their peers.
Beyond Sunday Fellowship began with a conversation in a living room. Today, that conversation is becoming a growing network of families, churches, volunteers and community partners who believe there is more possible.
More friendship. More belonging. More opportunities for people of all abilities to discover and use their God-given gifts. And more ways to experience the love of Jesus beyond Sunday.
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