By Blake Ragsdale | Charity & Children Editor
The invitation to be a part of Special Olympics USA Games was a big experience for a small-town man.
Thirty-eight-year-old Chris Kiser lives with the other men at Stegall Home, one of Baptist Children’s Homes’ (BCH) nine statewide homes for adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities. The home is located in Marshville, NC, a town of fewer than 3,000 residents. His local participation in Special Olympics ultimately led him out of the quiet, rural-farming community to the exponentially larger Twin Cities of Minneapolis-Saint Paul, MN.
For Chris, it was a proverbial big-city adventure that began with his first flight on a private jet. He had his photo taken with North Carolina Governor Josh Stein and First Lady Anna Stein. He attended his first Major League Baseball game, sitting in a stadium that seats more than 38,500 fans as the Minnesota Twins faced off against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He competed with athletes from across the country on a stage bigger than anything he had ever experienced.
Chris describes the experience as “life-changing,” but not because of private jets or spending several moments with government leaders.
“It’s new friendships,” Chris says. “I made more friends at the USA games than ever before.”
For Chris, living at Stegall Home has allowed him to build lasting relationships, find community, and experience new opportunities, including Special Olympics. That chapter of his life began when he moved into the home in 2021.
“I mean, the guys here are great. I think this was God’s plan for me to live here because I lost my dad back in 2023,” Chris says. “The staff are nice. I love it here.”
Chris’s family learned about BCH’s ministry for adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities and believed the family-style environment would be a good long-term fit for him.
“Chris jumped into Special Olympics pretty much within the first few years he was with us,” says Mallory Hammonds, BCH’s on-site Qualified Professional at Stegall Home. “He was very interested in being involved, so we got the ball rolling on that.”
In Chris’s case, “getting the ball rolling” is more than just an expression. The sports he competes in, bowling in the summer and bocce in the fall, both center around rolling a ball toward a target.
Bocce, a precision sport that combines strategy and accuracy, challenges athletes to place their balls as close as possible to a smaller target ball. Chris quickly developed a passion for the sport, one that would eventually take him to the Special Olympics USA Games.
Chris won gold at the fall tournament at the state level. This win made him eligible to be invited to the USA Games.
“I didn’t know I was getting picked,” Chris explains. He was sitting in the office at Stegall with his mother, Linda, by his side, as he received the news.
The experience became real on the day of the Opening Ceremony when Chris stepped onto the field at Huntington Bank Stadium, home of the University of Minnesota football team.
“I walked in that stadium and I said to myself, ‘I can’t believe I made it this far,’” Chris says. “I was totally blessed to be there.”
Because some of the USA games were televised, Chris’s roommates at Stegall were able to watch him compete at times.
Chris won the silver medal in singles competition, bronze in unified, and his team won gold. His mother was there cheering him on throughout all of it.
When asked if she was his biggest fan, he simply responded, “Definitely.”
“And I know his dad would be so proud of him, too,” Mallory adds.
Chris keeps up with the new friends he met through social media. He actively encourages others to participate in Special Olympics so they too can experience the opportunities and relationships that have meant so much to him.
“I tell people, y’all got to do Special Olympics,” Chris concludes. “I hope these other guys at Stegall get to have the experience that I had. It’s life-changing.”
Editor’s Note: Chris’s story is dedicated to the memory of his beloved father, John Kiser.
What are the Special Olympics USA Games?
The Special Olympics USA Games is a national competition that brings together athletes from across the country. Chris earned his invitation by winning gold in bocce at the state level. At the Games in Minnesota, he won silver in singles, bronze in unified, and gold with his team. Learn more about the Special Olympics USA Games at Special Olympics.
What is a BCH home for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities?
Baptist Children’s Homes operates nine homes across North Carolina for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. They are family-style residences rather than institutional settings — residents live together with on-site staff support, build community with one another, and take part in work, recreation, and church life.
Who lives in BCH’s IDD homes?
Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities whose families believe a supported, family-style environment is the right long-term fit. Chris moved into Stegall Home in 2021.
How do families learn about BCH’s IDD ministry?
Most families come through a church connection, a referral, or by reaching out directly. Conversations start with a phone call and there is no obligation attached to asking questions.
How can I support this ministry?
- Learn more: bchfamily.org
- Give today: bchfamily.org/give
- Say yes this fall: bchfamily.org/offering
Bringing children home — to family, to community, and to Christ.
