The Sonshine Community
Inclusive ministry with adults living with developmental disabilities.
About Sonshine Ministry
For more than 25 years, adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities — and their friends — have gathered at Yates Baptist Church for food, music, friendship, and faith. The Sonshine Community is a place where everyone belongs and God’s love shines through shared life together.
We meet nine months each year, on Wednesday evenings at 5 PM. Come for a meal. Stay for the music. Leave knowing you are known.
What We Do
Wednesday Gatherings
A shared meal, music, and a short lesson on faith and life. Every Wednesday brings laughter, friendship, and joy — plus special events like Vacation Bible School and holiday celebrations.
Sunday Worship
Many in the Sonshine Community worship with Yates on Sundays and help lead in song and prayer. Each spring, Sonshine Sunday celebrates the beauty of belonging — a joyful reminder that God's light shines through every life.
Art & Music
Through art, rhythm, and song, the Sonshine Community expresses faith in every color and voice. Creativity opens doors where words fall short — uniting us in joy, beauty, and shared imagination.
"Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand — shine!"
Matthew 5:15–16 (The Message)
Each Sonshine friend reminds us that God's light shines through every person. Their joy and courage call us to a more hopeful faith.
Volunteer With Sonshine
What Volunteers Do
Helpers prepare and serve meals, lead crafts and music, teach lessons, and form lasting friendships. Showing up on a Wednesday evening is one of the most rewarding things you can do.
Sign Up to VolunteerSafe Sanctuary Certified
All volunteers complete background checks and training every three years. Yates is committed to the safety and dignity of every person in our care.
Read the Safe Sanctuary PolicyOur Partners in Friendship
The Sonshine Community thrives through faithful partnerships that share our commitment to belonging and love. Together with organizations across Durham, we create spaces where every person is welcomed, celebrated, and known.
Reality Ministries
A Durham organization building genuine friendships between people with and without disabilities — rooted in the belief that everyone belongs.
realityministriesinc.orgDCCLP
The Durham Center for Child and Literacy Partnerships fosters inclusion and opportunity for children and families across our community.
dcclp.orgTower of Blessing
A faith-based organization serving individuals with disabilities and their families through programs that promote belonging, dignity, and community.
towerofblessing.comAn Invitation
"Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God."
Romans 15:7 (NRSV)
Come as you are and share life in a community shaped by Christ's love. At Sonshine, we learn from Jesus how to love one another with joy and patience. Every shared table becomes a glimpse of God's kingdom — wide open, welcoming, and full of grace.
Get InvolvedVolunteer With Sonshine
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