Vineyard Church in the News

Samantha Tidball, Youth Pastor, Received Distinguished Youth Minister Award

Ann Arbor, MI — Samantha “Sam” Tidball, Ann Arbor Vineyard Youth Pastor, has been awarded “The Distinguished Youth Minister Award” from The Center for Youth Ministry Training (CYMT), based in Nashville, TN. CYMT is a graduate program that equips youth ministers and churches to develop theologically informed and practically effective youth ministries.

As a 2010 graduate of the program, Pastor Tidball was selected for the award by other CYMT alumni for her significant contributions to the profession of youth ministry. While serving as youth pastor at Vineyard Church, where she pastors teens and their families, she received grants from the Vibrant Faith Institute and the Search Institute to develop a curriculum for helping teens and their families strengthen their relationships. The six-week course was successfully launched this past fall, with more courses scheduled for the coming year. Tidball also serves as a professional Youth Ministry coach — currently training a Youth Pastor from another church, writes youth curriculum for the United Methodist Publishing House, and contributes to the Vineyard Youth USA Blog.

Pastor Tidball graduated from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI in 2008 with a major in rhetoric communications and a minor in youth ministry. After graduation, she moved to Nashville where she received in-depth theological training and coaching through the CYMT program. “I knew I wanted to be a youth pastor since I was in ninth grade,” said Tidball. “My church youth group and its leaders had such a huge impact on my life.” She eventually became a Youth Director for Nolensville (TN) First United Methodist Church, where she served for five years before taking on her present position in 2015.

She and her husband Andrew, who holds a post-doctorate position at the University of Michigan, live in Ann Arbor with their two children, Desmond and Briley. Vineyard Church of Ann Arbor is a growing multi-ethnic, multi-generational church that blends vibrant faith with a sympathetic and discerning approach to culture.

Other News & Press Releases

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Ann Arbor church eliminates $2.9M in medical debt for Southeast Michigan residents

ANN ARBOR, MI – It’s Christmas in July for thousands of Southeast Michigan residents. Or, perhaps more accurately, Easter.

The Vineyard Church of Ann Arbor used this year’s Easter donations to wipe out $2.9 million in medical debt for 2,120 people in Washtenaw, Jackson, Hillsdale, Ingham, Livingston, Monroe, Oakland and Wayne counties.

Notification letters went out this week, and church leaders want to get the word out that it isn’t a scam, said Pastor Donnell Wyche.

Read more about “Ann Arbor church eliminates $2.9M in medical debt for Southeast Michigan residents” on MLive.com.

Workers surprised with donut deliveries on Christmas Eve

ANN ARBOR, MI – Volunteers delivered 100 dozen Washtenaw Dairy donuts to more than 75 businesses and hospitals after a Christmas Eve candlelight service at Vineyard Church on Saturday.

For the last 10 years, Vineyard Church of Ann Arbor has been delivering donuts to workers on the job during the holiday.

“Our senior pastor Donnell Wyche’s birthday is also tonight, and he just wanted to have the opportunity to share some joy on Christmas for those who are working, and he happens to really like donuts, so that’s how we chose donuts,” said Julius Buzzard, the church’s executive director.

Read more about “Workers surprised with donut deliveries on Christmas Eve” on MLive.com

Greater Works: Living with a Naturally Supernatural Power - Missio Alliance

Pastor Donnell Wyche joined MaryKate Morse, Tammy Dunahoo, Tara Beth Leach, and Todd Hunter to explore how a recovery of life in the Spirit leads to a more robust discipleship for followers of Jesus. You can download the audio from this workshop from Missio Alliance.

Of the many reasons for Jesus coming, one of the most often overlooked is that he came to make way for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on “all flesh.” Dallas Willard was fond of saying that the Spirit was given in succession to Jesus so that Jesus might be everywhere that he needed to be—through the Church in particular. John’s Gospel reminds us that, “it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you, but if I go, I will send Him to you.” Clearly, the Spirit was sent to empower the Church to continue the ministry of Jesus beyond the time of his bodily presence. If that is true, how is it that so few Christians experience the sort of life that Jesus envisioned for us? Perhaps our discipleship needs a recovery of the Spirit. This forum will explore how a recovery of life in the Spirit leads to a more robust discipleship for followers of Jesus.

Washtenaw County Churches Serving Meals For Thanksgiving - 89.1 WEMU

As part of the Thanksgiving celebration, churches in Washtenaw County are opening their doors to help feed the public.  With this story, we continue with our series on how different people celebrate the holiday in our county.

Read more about Washtenaw County Churches Serving Meals For Thanksgiving.

Ann Arbor volunteer opportunities this Thanksgiving - Click on Detroit

Thanksgiving Meal for the Homeless – Every year, The Vineyard Church of Ann Arbor organizes a Thanksgiving Meal & Ministry for the homeless, which includes a meal and a pop-up clothing shop of clothing donations. Volunteers are needed for a variety of tasks.

Read more about “Ann Arbor volunteer opportunities this Thanksgiving” on Click on Detroit.

Helping Feed Others At Thanksgiving - Anna's Kindness

On a holiday traditionally spent with family, four Forsythe Middle School students and their parents spent part of their Thanksgiving helping the less fortunate in the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti area.

Read more about “Helping Feed Others At Thanksgiving” on Anna’s Kindness.

Hundreds gather at Vineyard Church for Thanksgiving meal

More than 250 people from around Ann Arbor gathered at Vineyard Church for an annual free Thanksgiving meal on Thursday, Nov. 24, 2016. Roughly 120 people helped volunteer from cooking food and turkey, to donating money and helping to serve the meal at the church, according to Tom Probst, co-coordinator for the homeless ministry at Vineyard Church, 2275 Platt Road. Read more about hundreds gathering at the Vineyard Church for Thanksgiving meal on MLive.

At police-community forum, Ann Arbor residents voice concern over lack of transparency

Dozens of residents showed up to the Bryant Community Center in southern Ann Arbor Tuesday night to listen to and participate in a forum on police-community relations. The event was hosted by representatives of Hillard Heintze LLC, the Chicago-based security firm currently conducting a review of the Ann Arbor Police Department. Learn more about this community-police conversation at the Michigan Daily.

Rally Against Violence held by Ann Arbor-area religious leaders

Religious leaders gathered on Tuesday, July 12, in Ann Arbor in the aftermath of recent shooting deaths of black men by police and the attack at a protest in Dallas that left five law enforcement officers dead. Read more about this rally against violence on MLive.

Pastor Donnell Wyche joins the Vineyard Justice Network

VJN is thrilled to announce that Donnell Wyche, senior pastor of the Ann Arbor Vineyard, is joining our advisory committee this year. Donnell has been committed to developing his church and leaders in the area of racial reconciliation, and he will help VJN develop better resources as well!  Check out his sermon below on why #greekwidowsmatter and why race matters to God.

Read more about Pastor Donnell Wyche joining the Vineyard Justice Network advisory committee on Vineyard Justice Network.

Pastor Donnell Wyche interviewed for SermonSmith

On episode 91, Pastor Donnell Wyche was interviewed for SermonSmith. Listen to Pastor Donnell’s SermonSmith interview.

Pastor Donnell speaks at InterVarsity's Leadership Institute

Pastor Donnell Wyche was the keynote speaker for InterVarsity’s Leadership Institute which took place July 2018 at Cedar Campus in Cedarville, Michigan.

Pastor Donnell speaks at 2018 Vineyard Missions Leaders Gathering

Pastor Donnell Wyche gave the plenary talk on Tuesday, October 2, 2018 on being Sane and Grounded. Watch the talk on the Vineyard Mission Leaders video channel.

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2275 Platt Road
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
(734) 477-9135
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