Thomas N. Denman and Christine L. Denman,
Associates in Mission Service, are lay missionaries
working in the Red Bird Missionary Conference.
Thom is assigned to serve with his wife, Chris, in Kentucky. Serving as lay missionaries, they are
co-directors of The Joy Center in Big Creek,
which is a Christian Community Outreach Center
located in a rural mountain area of aoutheast
Kentucky. The Denmans are responsible for leadership and development of all Christian education programs and activities.
“The Joy Center ministry truly reflects God’s mission in the world as we strive to have JOY, by putting Jesus first, Others next, and Yourself last!”
“My wife Chris & I plan and direct, along with other leaders, the children, youth and adults in Christ centered activities at “The Joy Center.” We feel God wants us to be Christian examples to people and families in our community when we “ walk the walk”, not just “ talk the talk”. I feel that God wants me to be a Christian example in all aspects of my life, not just those related to my job assignment. I do a lot of encouraging the people in our community to let God work in their lives. We daily seek the Lord’s guidance in all that we do."
God has truly blessed the work being done at “The Joy Center” by providing the families here with a new building, after 20 years in the original old Big Creek grade school building. The new building includes a chapel for worship and classrooms for Sunday School and Christian education. 90% of the work on the building was done by all the children, youth and adults that come to “The Joy Center”, which was done after school, or on weekends and during the summer.
Chris is serving at The Joy Center along side her husband.
“My husband Thom & I plan and direct, along with other leaders, the children, youth and adults in Christ centered activities at “The Joy Center ”. We feel God wants us to be Christian examples to people and families in our community when we “ walk the walk”, not just talk the talk.
"A main focus at “The Joy Center ” is the children. Some of the children, the ones who seem to ‘fall through the cracks’, are the very ones God has blessed us with. The exciting thing is to see the children who we worked with 25 years ago are now serving the Lord at “The Joy Center ” as Sunday School teachers, worship leaders, and preachers! We feel that our great mission is to go into all the world and preach the gospel...by the Word and our deeds. The Lord has given us a tremendous opportunity to serve Him at “The Joy Center ”.
Both native of Orrville, Ohio , Thom attended the College of Wooster , in Wooster , Ohio . He graduated in 1974 with a B.A. degree in physical education. Prior to his present position as community worker, he was Program Director of the Boy’s Club of Orrville, Ohio, a position he held for six years.
Chris attended Kent State University in Kent, Ohio pursuing a degree in early childhood education. She has served at “The Joy Center” since 1980. Prior to that she was director/teacher at the Trinity United Methodist nursery school in Orrville, Ohio .
Thom and Chris, are the parents of two grown children, Beth and Eric and two grandchildren, Dylan and Lucas.
Missionary Advance #773919
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