Access-Life

In 2023 Access-Life, Inc. planned and executed 2 Expos including our 11th one in Texas and our 13th one in Tennessee as well as our 7th international mission trip with an Expo and outreaches in Belize. The venues included Grapevine, Jefferson City and Roaring Creek and combined together with past Expos in Central Florida, Jacksonville, Pembroke Pines and West Palm Beach to total 58 Access-Life outreaches since the ministry began in 2010. Overall, 1,439 people including participants, volunteers and exhibitors attended these free Expos and mission trip for individuals and families with disabilities that feature boat rides, bank fishing, kayaking, archery, animals, climbing wall, games, arts, crafts, lunch and more in the United States and received much needed power wheelchairs, manual wheelchairs, rollators, walkers, crutches and a variety of medical supplies in Belize. As always, Bibles were given out, The Gospel shared through our bracelet craft and folks were prayed with and for at each of these core ministry activities. Funding for these outreaches comes from a variety of people, churches, businesses and organizations, and private grants which also help cover ongoing ministry administrative cost. As always God provided all we needed. On top of our core outreaches, we focus on having an ongoing presence in each of the communities in which we minister through area Outpost activities. Our main Outpost activities are Easter Spring Flings that feature arts, crafts, games, prizes and Resurrection eggs that tell the true story of Easter and all that Jesus has done for us and Christmas Jingle and Mingles that feature similar activities and share the true meaning of Christmas through the nativity story. In 2023 we held a Spring Fling in Central Florida and a Jingle and Mingle in East Tennessee as well as a Fall Fun Day in East Tennessee serving over 150 participants and volunteers. All of these programs are hosted by local churches to further connect people to resources they need in their area. Our Crafting Community program continues to knit dish cloths and other items for our Belize mission trip and we take prayer requests and praises at each of our Expos which are prayed over by our Prayer and Care program team, too. Finally, our intern program is still in full swing and an enormous help with ministry logistics and raising awareness of disability with the next generation. 2023 was another year of God meeting the needs for the ministry financially as we received $255,174 [our highest total to date] in support from a variety of donor sources. He has continued to bless our funding each year including $134,783 in 2022, $224,607 in 2021, $195,906 in 2020, $213,371 in 2019, $184,816.62 in 2018, $184,860.16 in 2017, $183,067.41 in 2016, $196,646.99 in 2015, $157,413.83 in 2014, $160,208.81 in 2013, $139,231.00 in 2012, $118,171.00 in 2011 and $55,311.00 our inaugural year of 2010. establishing our intern program in 2023. Going forward the ministry intends to maintain our outreaches in Belize, East Tennessee and North Texas as well as holding Spring Flings and Jingle and Mingles locally in established ministry areas. We might be adding a third type of Outpost activity geared more towards sports called GymBALLooza in 2024, too. Also, per our 3-5 year ministry plan we will be further establishing our intern program and adding a full-time staff person in 2025.