TCN Church Adopts Local Public School

"Community service, coupled with the gospel message, has a huge missional impact, often with immediate results." - Rev. Terry Tieman, Executive Director Transforming Churches Network

Recently, members of Grace Celebration Lutheran Church on Trinity Road in Cordova, Tennessee, attended the adoption ceremony at Cordova Elementary School.

The church has been engaged in a revitalization process as one of more than 500 churches nationally working with Transforming Churches Network, also headquartered in Cordova.

“Experience shows us that community service, coupled with the gospel message, has a huge missional impact, often with immediate results,” said Rev. Terry Tieman, executive director of TCN. “In fact, our research shows that nearly every congregation that does four to six community outreach activities per year has been revitalized.”

The morning ceremony at Cordova Elementary was an introduction to the school’s Honors Awards ceremony, and many parents and grandparents attended.
On this crisp winter morning, the school choir opened the program with a rendition of “A Hot Cup of Cocoa.”

Principal Tamera Avanzi welcomed the representatives from Grace Celebration, which included pastor Steve Schneider, Shannon Massey, Andrea Lytal and Dave Borchardt, who serves as president of the congregation. School counselor Myrna Parker expressed appreciation for the church.
Miska Bibbs, coordinator for Community Partnerships and Volunteer Services for Memphis City Schools, spoke of the importance of school adopters and the positive effect that their presence has on academic achievement and students’ personal growth.

Grace Celebration Lutheran Church has worked with Cordova Elementary School over the last several months providing judges for the schools ThinkShow, offering Thanksgiving food baskets to 23 of the school’s families, and celebrating Christmas with the Community with some 60 children and parents this past Christmas.

The church also invited all of the 750-plus students to its Trunk or Treat Fall Festival, which welcomed a record number of nearly 1,000 attendees in October. Most recently, the church donated 32 coats, and bags full of pants, shoes and socks to the school’s coat closet.

“Cordova Elementary is so privileged to be adopted by Grace Celebration Lutheran Church,” Avanzi said. “Our school community is excited about having a partner to reach out to for guidance and possible resources that will help our students develop to their maximum potential.”