Christian City…A City Within A City

Nestled on a 500 acre campus among stately pines and pleasant walkways, sits a beacon of light to many…Christian City. With the humble motto of “Loving people…loving people” Christian City reaches out to young and old and those in-between by providing safe homes to abandoned and abused children, affordable housing to seniors on limited income, as well as providing professional care to those in need of assisted living, nursing and rehabilitation, Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Additionally, Christian City is a well respected community for active retirees. Seniors can live out their latter years in a secure neighborhood setting with opportunities to participate in fun activities, to make new friends, to attend worship, to do their banking, socializing, and to get involved helping others through volunteer work. Christian City is affectionately referred to as a “City within a City” because of all the conveniences it offers and the strong sense of community that the residents feel.

It all started around a kitchen table. Back in the early 1960’s Ms. Millard Price was looking for a way to provide a safe place for homeless children. She met with her Minister at Southwest Christian church, Jim Dyer, who agreed that this was a worthy endeavor and a calling from God. Others began to get involved and share the vision, especially members from numerous independent Christian Churches throughout Georgia and beyond. Ms. Price offered to bear the cost of the first cottage, and Dr. and Mrs. Byron Harper, Jr., central participants in the visionary team, offered to donate the first 50 acres. The dream was becoming a reality, and the mission was clear: To minister to the needs of families with particular emphasis on children, the aged, and the infirm, by providing residential, health and social services in accordance with the principles of the Christian Faith.

The first of eight cottages opened on Valentine’s Day in 1965 with eight little boys. Full time houseparents provide a nurturing family environment complete with sit down dinners, household responsibilities and traditions that create a sense of belonging. The funds to provide this care are raised through individuals, civic and professional groups, corporate sponsors, and the faith community, along with some support from the Department of Family and Children’s Services. Over the past 43 years, Christian City has been “home” to over 1,000 abandoned, abused, and neglected children. Licensed for up to 64 children, Christian City also provides foster care placement with well qualified Christian families.

A few years following completion of the Home for Children, construction began on hundreds of patio homes for active seniors followed by nearly 300 apartments for seniors on limited incomes.

As the needs of the residents continued to grow, so did Christian City! It was a natural progression to begin construction of an assisted living facility, a skilled nursing facility and rehabilitation center, and eventually a full continuum of care for the aging all on one campus.

At Christian City, the “future is now” and the needs of many are at our doorstep. A brand new state-of-the-art Children’s Village will be completed this summer. When the original children’s cottages are vacated, they will be renovated to make room for a new ministry for developmentally disabled “adult” children.

Over the past 43 years, Christian City’s campus has grown from 50 acres down a quiet country road, to 500 acres bustling with life and filled with hope for over 1,000 residents. The dreamers keep dreaming… and God keeps providing.

Christian City is a nonprofit, nondenominational organization. For more information, please visit our website at http://www.christiancity.org/ or call at 770-703-2636.

WORLD GYM DONATES CARLOADS OF GIFTS TO CHRISTIAN CITY

Fayette County World Gym employees delivered car loads of gifts for the children who live at the Home for Children/Children's Village at Christian City. World Gym members and employees from all three locations came together to make the holidays special by choosing children to sponsor from an angel tree.

Located in Union City, Christian City has been providing loving homes to abandoned and abused children on their campus for over forty years. Sponsorships and financial support are needed year round.To find out more about Christian City and how you can make a donation, become a volunteer or Sponsor A Child, please call 770-703-2636 or access http://www.christiancity.org/

CHRISTIAN CITY APPOINTS THOMPKINS AS EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT

Christian City President and CEO Robert Crutchfield announced today the appointment of Mr. Terry Thompkins as Executive Vice President for Senior Operations at Christian City.

"Mr. Thompkins brings a wide range of expertise and experience to Christian City. I am impressed with Terry's record of success in the senior services industry and feel certain that Christian City will flourish with the addition of Mr. Thompkins to our staff," Mr. Crutchfield stated.

Terry is a graduate of the University of Central Florida with a degree in Business Management. He received his Master of Divinity from Emory University, Candler School of Theology, and is an Ordained Methodist Minister. He holds a license as a Nursing Home Administrator in the states of Georgia and Oklahoma as well as being a certified Retirement Home Professional through the American Association of Homes and Services for The Aging.

Terry served as Executive Director of Wesley Woods, Inc from 1995-2005, and has worked in the Services and Housing for the Aging field for over 15 years. Active in the community, he has been a member of numerous Boards of Directors including YMCA of Newnan, Georgia Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, The Keith Brooking Children's Foundation and the United Way.

Mr. Thompkins comments, "Christian City has a long and strong heritage of meeting the needs of those we serve in an outstanding fashion. I am honored to serve the residents and employees in this tremendous ministry and look forward to the future with great hope and expectations."

Conveniently located in Union City, just minutes from Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, Christian City is home to over 1,000 seniors and operates with a staff of more than 400 employees and 200 volunteers. Christian City boasts a vibrant retirement community including life-lease patio homes, options for independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing and rehabilitative care, apartments for those on limited income and facilities for those who suffer from Alzheimer's disease.

As a nonprofit organization, Christian City also cares for abandoned and abused children on campus through their Home For Children/Children's Village, and will soon launch a new program offering residential care for the developmentally disabled. For more information call 770-703-2636 or access http://www.christiancity.org/.