story

In September of 2006, Ken Thomas and Gabe Norris launched Connect Ministries with a vision to help churches get outside their walls and in front of new people; a vision to resource churches to connect with their communities. In fulfilling this mission, Connect Ministries offers to churches two resources — Connect 3on3 and WinShape Camps C3.

Long before launching Connect Ministries, Ken and Gabe began partnering with a local church in Franklin, TN to sponsor an annual 3on3 Basketball Tournament and Family FunZone. This event regularly draws over 4,000 people in one day of competition and fun. With other cities and churches regularly contacting them about hosting this great event in their community, it was clear that this was an innovative and effective tool for churches to use to reach those outside of their walls. Connect 3on3 was the first resource offered to churches by Connect Ministries.

After much prayer and deliberation, Ken and Gabe began dreaming about other resources that would help churches accomplish this same mission. The answer was both easy and natural — provide a local day camp for kids that will bring an excellent program and free churches up to build long lasting relationships. Thus, the birth of Connect Day Camp. In its first summer of 2007, Connect Day Camp traveled to two cities — Cullman, AL and Plano, TX. Through Connects partnership with Chick-fil-A’s WinShape Foundation, Connect Day Camp is now called WinShape Camps C3 (Camps Connecting Communities). Now, churches across America use C3 as an opportunity to partner with their local Chick-fil-A’s and connect with new families in their area.

Staff now consists of:

Ken Thomas, Gabe Norris, Josh Rhodes, Angela Fielder, Mark Lamb, and Diane Owen.

And as of July 2009, our new headquarters in the Athens, GA area.