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Faith
Our unwavering commitment to provide supportive for families in
need started 80+ years ago! Dayton Christian Center is one 19 urban
ministries in the United States called Neighborhood Action Programs,
supported by National Ministries American Baptist Churches USA.
The official date of ministry for Dayton Christian Center is 1921,
through mission outreach took place as for back as 1908 when the
initial focus was to serve a large immigrant population settling
in West Dayton. In 1919, the Dayton Baptist Union, the Women's American
Baptist Home Mission Society and the women of Dayton Baptist Churches
met to organize the “Christian Service House” located
on the corners of First and Broadway. The Center was a place where
people could learn to make furniture, use a day nursery and health
clinic, cook and sew and take educational classes. The Christian
Services House operated from this location until 1944 when a fire
forced temporary relocation to the corners of Summit and Blain Streets.
In the fall of '45, the Christian Service House was officially renamed
the Dayton Christian Center. A new building was erected in 1951,
where it stands today at 1352 West Riverview Avenue, just a few
blocks away from its modest beginnings. In 1952, affiliation with
the United Way of the Greater Dayton Area allowed for additional
programs. In 1991, the four-bedroom house beside the Center was
purchased and became known as the Hospitality House. Missionaries
from the U.S. and abroad have graced this facility over the year
and many meetings, lockin's and luncheons took place. It's now called
the Annex and holds office and residency space for Dayton Christian
Center personnel, work crews and local agencies.
| Huey
has talked with families and helped them work through
problems with their children. He has directed families
to services offered in the agencies of the collaborative
as well as other community agencies. |
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Service
Since its' inception, Dayton Christian Center has played an important
role in the neighborhood, adapting its's programs to serve a changing
ethnic population to suit a variety of economic and social needs.
In fact, all the Center does is in the context of community. This
is revealed in the old mission statement “to celebrate the
Good News of Jesus Christ by empowering the people of God through
worship, education, work, and community involvement”. Our
goal has always been to anticipate and address immediate and future
needs of individuals and families by providing vital services such
as quality affordable childcare, educational programs and workshops
and recreational activities. In addition to these services, we offer
emergency assistance and material goods when available. With these
services comes the opportunity to share Christ's grace and love
and encourage spiritual development in order to overcome personal
challenges for building a better future.
Progress
Recently, adaptation include updating the Center's image and mission.
A progressive new log created based on a new acronym-DXC. The X
stands for Christ. Students of the Bible will know that the New
Testament was originally written in Greek. The Greek letter chi
(pronounced kie) is virtually identical to the English letter X.
Chi is the first letter in the name Christ and the word Christian
in the Greek language. (So the acronym could be read D-Chi-C). The
name DXC stands out because it is unique, yet it explicitly says
who we are. We have literally put Christ into the center for our
identity. We also revised our mission statement to read “DAYTON
CHRISTIAN CENTER is a faith-based community center that nurtures
youth, empowers families, and promotes community.” This statement
sums up our vision for DXC in its entirely.
These changes have kick-started a renewal in the way we do outreach
ministry. DXC is building strong relationships in the community
for collaborative ministries. One association, which focuses on
community beautification and restoration through neighborhood participation,
is the Southern Dayton View Neighborhood Association. This organization
has a strong history with DXC, sharing space, and on several occasions,
sharing Board members. The Dayton Northwest Weed & Seed Initiative
is a nationally funded collaborative running a Safe Haven program
where life skills, job coaching/readiness assistance, recreation,
education and enrichment activities will be provided, as well as
a community police sub station. Through the Wright Computer Connection
organization, a Computer Clubhouse was created as DXC and we've
received grants to run it. Our childcare ministry transitioned to
serve only school-age youth in our SuperSchool program. DXC supports
a free health program called Community Nurse/Community Advocate,
in conjunction with the Montgomery Country Combined Health District.
We are also a part of the West Dayton Service Network offering various
advocacy services to families in need. On the horizon are other
exiting collaborative projects as our neighborhood is saning ans
we change to reflect those needs.
There are approximately 200 children, 25 adults and numerous volunteers
who participate in some of the Center's activities yearly. There
are ample opportunities for volunteers to put their faith into practice
through our programs. With the vision that God has gives us and
the resources that God is sending, DXC continues to be a stable
community center in a distressed community. This ministry will be
a prophetic witness to the “goodness of the Lord in the land
of the living”
1352 West Riverview Avenue
Dayton, OH 45407
Phone 937.275.7174
Fax: 937.275.3222 Next
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