what we do
Weekly Gatherings
Weekly Gatherings
Weekly Gatherings
Every Thursday we gather together as many kids from the community as we can and we fellowship, play, pray, study scripture, and eat dinner together!
Mentorship
Weekly Gatherings
Weekly Gatherings
Every year we pair kids and teens with a Jesus-loving adult who will spend time with them, guide and support them, as well as point them to Jesus in every situation.
Women's Night Off
Women's Night Off
Women's Night Off
Ladies, Laughing, and Leftovers! Our monthly women’s ministry is all about girl time, a night off, and dinner to take home for the family! We know how hard the women in the community work, so we provide a space once a month for some encouraging girl time and a night off dinner-duty.
Special Events
Women's Night Off
Women's Night Off
As often as we can we take the children and teens out on adventures sometimes as small as picnics in the park to renting out a skate rink! We hope to one day take them to camps, retreats, and service trips.
board and staff
Denika Nickeo
Sierra Jarrell
Sierra Jarrell
Board of Directors
Chairman
Sierra Jarrell
Sierra Jarrell
Sierra Jarrell
Board of Directors
Co-Chairman
Claire Jordan
Sierra Jarrell
Claire Jordan
Board of Directors
Co-Chairman
Megan Hill
Scottlyn James
Claire Jordan
Board of Directors
Secretary
Scottlyn James
Scottlyn James
Scottlyn James
Board of Directors
Treasurer
Lindsey Bowen
Scottlyn James
Scottlyn James
Administration Staff
Program Director
Katie Jane Knoblauch
Katie Jane Knoblauch
Katie Jane Knoblauch
Administration Staff
Founder, Executive Director
Our Care
Holistic Approach
The holistic approach to caring for the youth and community of Athens looks like tending to and focusing on every facet of each person's being. That is their physical, spiritual, mental, and emotional needs. At Sideways Sunlight Ministries we see each individual as a whole person which enables us to give well-rounded care. We believe this is the best approach to caring for a community whose struggle is so multi-faceted.
Here is a look at the specifics of this approach in our programming each week!
Physical Needs: Each week a nutritious meal is served to every kid. It is important to us that the kids learn new healthy foods worked into meals they find delicious. We also intentionally encourage the drinking of water and provide each child with their own water bottle. No other drinking options are provided.
Spiritual Needs: Our program is Faith-based and Jesus-centered. Teaching the Bible, prayer, worship, and fellowship to the kids is at the center of our gathering and the true heart behind the ministry!
Mental Health Needs: Many of the children in our program struggle with behavioral issues which can stem from a lack of proper cognitive function. Children in our program often associate with PTSD, depression, anxiety, grief, and toxic stress. We are careful to be mindful for our children who struggle and give them the resources we have to help support them.
Emotional Needs: The toll of poverty and social oppression has taken a toll on every single one of the children/youth who come through our program. We give lessons and resources on managing emotions, conflict resolution, and coping mechanisms throughout the year. As well as a major focus on encouragement, leadership development, and gentleness towards their situation.
Our Care
Trauma Informed
At Sideways Sunlight we are very aware of the struggles the children in our program face which is why we take a trauma informed approach to our ministry.
"Trauma-Informed Care is an approach in the human service field that assumes that an individual is more likely than not to have a history of trauma. Trauma-Informed Care recognizes the presence of trauma symptoms and acknowledges the role trauma may play in an individual’s life- including service staff. On an organizational or systemic level, Trauma-Informed Care changes organizational culture to emphasize respecting and appropriately responding to the effects of trauma at all levels." (Institute on Trauma and Trauma-Informed Care, 2015)
our prayer
Join us in Prayer!
Our prayer for the children and teens in our community is that Jesus would be the center of their hearts. That the good news of love and salvation would awaken their hearts and lead them into a beautiful journey with the Father. We pray that through the work of the Holy Spirit they create a prayer life of their own and seek God in everything they do.
We come to God and ask that He builds them up into faithful leaders that share the love of God and the sweetness of freedom to their community and to the world. Nobody believes in these kids more than God does so we are always partnering with His heart for them.
