Special Needs

Christianne & Tony Lange Co-Directors

All persons with disabilities are welcome at Eastside, and we try to constantly improve our ability to minister to them. That effort is carried out through the Special Needs Ministry Area.

Tony and Christianne Lange are the volunteer directors in this area. They began their involvement with disability ministry in 1993 when they volunteered at a "Joni and Friends" Family Retreat, sponsored by the ministry of Joni Eareckson Tada. They now serve as Directors of the JAF Southern California Family Retreat in Murietta Hot Springs, where families affected by disability come for week-long conferences providing respite, encouragement and relaxation.

By profession, Tony is an Avionics Installer at the LaVerne airport. He was able to put his technical skills to good use on a Wheels for the World trip to Poland in 1995, helping to refurbish wheelchairs for use by disabled persons in Poznan and Warsaw. Before moving to California, Tony was actively involved as a leader in Young Life in Phoenix, Arizona, as well as being involved there with a local coalition for disability awareness.

Christianne is a marketing Account Executive at Ambassador Advertising in Fullerton. Ambassador represents over twenty national religious radio programs, including "Joni and Friends," a short feature program that Christianne personally represents. She graduated from Cal State Fullerton in 1999 with a BS degree in Human Services.

Tony and Christianne have been members of Eastside for four years, and as part of their service as volunteer co-directors of Special Needs, they helped us with the planning and presentation of our first "Disability Awareness Sunday" in 1998. Their experience in ministry to disabled persons is a valuable asset in our efforts to meet these needs as a church.

Tony says, "What we're excited about is the prospect of seeing several ministries that have been sort of doing their own thing working together under one umbrella. We hope to help in that process, and in educating the whole church about what we are doing and can do in ministry to people with special needs."

Currently, our Special Needs Ministry includes:

KING'S KIDS - a Sunday Bible Fellowship for developmentally disabled and behaviorally challenged children, at 11:00am in Room E-14.

SPECIAL EDITION - Sunday Bible Fellowships for teens and adults with special needs, which meets at 9:30am in Room E-10.

SIGNING MINISTRY - Signing for the deaf is available at New Song Worship Sundays at 11:00am. Tuesday nights there is an American Sign language class from 6-8:00pm in Room 127, taught by Nancy Watson. (For information call Nancy - Voice/TTY # is 996-9669 or email her at signnancy@aol.com).

Braille – For the visually impaired, Pastor Graydon’s message notes are available in Braille at the Sunday morning worship services. If you have a need for other church material in Braille, please contact the church office (714) 871-6844.

The Lange's also serve as Eastside's liaisons with the HELPING HANDS SCHOOL - A year-round licensed school for the developmentally disabled which operates as a ministry of Eastside under Jan Tounzen, Director.