Make plans to attend THE COMMUNITY COOKOUT on April 4, 2026
About Us
Our Mission - Why We Exist
Outside the Lines Ministries is a nonprofit organization based in Kannapolis, NC that exists to share the love of Jesus with everyone, everywhere OUTSIDE the LINES (walls) of the church by providing safe, family-friendly events for children and their families in the city. We collaborate and connect with local churches, organizations and businesses in our community to accomplish this mission. We also network with the local school systems to provide a layer of support for the needs of the students and staff. Doing all these things – and more as opportunities arise – gives us occasions to help, love and serve our neighbors, all while building positive relationships with them.
Our Methods – How we connect
Providing fun, safe and free events is the center of what we do. We fulfill the need in our community for an outlet for neighbors to come together from all economic and ethnical backgrounds to have fun in the city. Unity in the community is at the heart of all we do.
Our Events
Active Events
We currently host a Spring event, The Community Cookout & Egg Hunt, a Fall event, called Sweet Street Trunk-or-Treat & Festival, and three Church in the Park events per year. Bears & Prayers, our newest program, launched at the end of 2022.
On Deck Events
Our next project is a treat truck called ”The Promised Van” that we plan to have ready Summer 2025.
On the Horizon
We are currently developing a traveling neighborhood kids ministry called ”Parking Lot Pals” with hopes to begin in the spring of 2025. We are also expecting to host our first stadium Kids Crusade event in Downtown Kannapolis in the summer of 2025.
Our Partners
Outside the Lines Ministries 2024 Year in Review
Thank you!
Thank you for helping Outside the Lines Ministries provide another great year for our community in 2024!
Our 2024 Events
1 - The Community Cookout & Egg Hunt
2 - Church in the Park (June/July/September)
3 - Sweet Street Trunk-or-Treat & Festival
Our 2024 Programs
Bears & Prayers
Our 2024 Community Engagement
1 - Jiggy with the Piggy
2 - Farmer's Day
3 - Faith Night at Atrium Health Ball Park
4 - National Night Out
5 - Celebrate Community Event at Atrium Health Ball Park
Our 2024 Highlights
1 - GREAT weather! Every event we hosted this year had great weather.
2 - We sent dozens of full-sized bears and gave out hundreds of backpack bears this year.
3 - We provided a cookout for Shady Brook Elementary School in October.
*Fun fact: Did you know that the first Outside the Lines Ministries event was held at Shady Brook Elementary School? This was before OTLM was official. One of our longest-running church partners (Kannapolis Church of God) believed in our vision and helped us realize the dream. Therefore, the inaugural Community Cookout was held on April 23, 2011.
We "Soared in 2024", now let's "Thrive in 2025"!
In 2024, once again, we had record-breaking numbers! Our events collectively saw an estimated total of more than 13,000 people this year. We continue to be grateful to all our sponsors, vendors, participants, donors, volunteers, and guests for the wonderful growth of Outside the Lines Ministries each year. We couldn't do it without your generosity and support.