JNVCC Featured in Echoes Magazine!
The Food Brought the Kids, The Kids Brought the Parents” — A Story of Community and Faith
We are honored and excited that Jim Ned Valley Church of Christ was featured in the latest issue of Echoes, the magazine of the H.E. Butt Foundation! The article, written by Bekah McNeel, is titled “The Food Brought the Kids, The Kids Brought the Parents.” You can read it here: https://hebfdn.org/echoes/the-food-brought-the-kids/
This story beautifully captures what so many of us have experienced firsthand: how God has used something as simple as a Wednesday night meal to draw our community closer to one another and to Him.
The Power of a Shared Meal
When we first started serving dinner on Wednesday nights, the goal was simple — to create a welcoming place for kids to eat, laugh, and learn about Jesus. But as the Echoes article highlights, something special began to happen.
The food brought the kids, but soon the kids brought their parents. Now, every Wednesday night, our building fills with families, conversation, and laughter. Around the tables, new friendships form, faith grows, and our community feels just a little more like family.
The meal has become more than dinner — it’s ministry. It’s where relationships begin, prayers are shared, and the love of Christ is made visible in something as simple as passing a plate of food.
Growing Together Across Generations
One of the things Echoes points out is how rare it is for a church to bring together all generations. Many congregations struggle to bridge the gap between children, teens, and adults — but that’s one of the things that makes Jim Ned Valley so special.
From babies in high chairs to grandparents leading devotionals, our Wednesday nights (and every Sunday) are filled with people of all ages learning and growing side by side. After dinner, kids, teens, and adults all head to their classes — each group learning God’s Word in ways that speak to them.
And when the meal is over, our youth take the lead in cleanup — a simple but powerful reminder that everyone has a part to play in serving one another.
Our Story Keeps Growing
The Echoes article also highlights how our connection with the H.E. Butt Foundation and Foundation Camp helped shape our ministry. What began as kids going to camp turned into something much bigger: family camp.
Parents began to come along — and over time, that same spirit of togetherness has carried back home to Tuscola. Today, our family camp draws more than 160 people, and our church continues to grow in love, connection, and mission.
Every time we gather, whether at camp or around the dinner table, we’re reminded that God is working through small acts of service and hospitality to do big things.
Gratitude and Vision
Being featured in Echoes is not about recognition — it’s about reflection. It’s a chance to see what God has done through the faithfulness of this congregation. From those who cook and serve, to those who teach, clean, invite, and pray — every act of love matters.
This story reminds us that:
God works through ordinary things — like food and fellowship.
The next generation needs to be seen, included, and empowered.
Growth happens when we open our doors and hearts to others.
Ministry is not about programs — it’s about people.
We’re thankful to everyone who helps make Wednesday nights and family camp such a blessing. May this article encourage us all to keep finding new ways to welcome, serve, and grow together.