After almost 10 years of meeting in a high school for Sunday morning worship my church family, Grace Community Church, will soon move into a new building. We’re excited about how God will use us and the new building to reach out to people in our small town.
Uneasy and Uncomfortable
Lately, God has been nudging me about starting a special needs ministry at our church. So I wrote a column about the idea for our June newsletter. You can read it below.
And He answered and said to them,
“Go and report to John what you have seen and heard:
the blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed,
the deaf hear, the dead are raised up,
the poor have the gospel preached to them.”
Luke 7: 22
Lately, God has been pushing me in a direction that is neither comfortable or easy. The closer our building comes to completion, the harder He pushes. When I ask Him to stop, He keeps pushing. When I ignore Him, He gets in my face.
The shoving match began when Hiram and I, curious about the construction progress, walked through our church building awhile back. The building’s handicapped accessibility – no steps, wide halls and doorways, handicapped bathroom stalls – pleased me since I remember how hard Mom worked to get Dad and his wheelchair into my childhood church. That’s when God started pushing. Could our church reach out to disabled people in Boone?
About the same time, I spoke at a church with a bang-up ministry for families of kids with special needs. I interviewed the program director, thinking her expertise would be a valuable addition to a chapter of my new book. The more she shared about their ministry, the more God pushed. I asked Him to stop, but He pushed harder. Families in Boone could benefit from such an outreach at Grace.
Next, I interviewed Dr. Jeff McNair, a professor of special education who also teaches a Sunday school class for disabled adults. I began reading his book, The Church and Disability, which says things like this. “Rarely are children with disabilities included in Sunday school to the degree such children are present in the community. In interactions with Christian kids at church, I have asked them where they have had experience with children with disabilities, and most often they will say in their class at public school.”
When I tried to ignore what God was saying, He got in my face, using McNair’s words again. “All levels of Christian education are wrong…because they overlook some of the most needy, the poorest, the most disenfranchised people in the world. How could any group that claims to be Christian be so blind as to miss this group? To miss such a group in the light of the gospels and the example of Christ is so wrong.” Could Grace Community Church help right that wrong?
Our church could, but do we want to? Right now, I want Him to let us rest. After 9 years of unloading a trailer every Sunday and doing Sunday school in hallways, don’t we deserve some time to rest instead of reaching out to people who require a great investment of time, energy and discomfort?
But I suspect He didn’t provide the building of this church so we could rest. And I suspect He’ll keep pushing us until the most compromised of Boone’s citizens have the gospel preached to them. After all, our new church building is equipped to welcome the blind, the deaf, the lame, and intellectually disabled. But are we?
Oh God who provided a building, would You please equip our hearts?
Come Back Next Time
If you’re interested in starting a special needs ministry at your church or have already done so, please come back for the next post in this series. Maybe we can put our heads together and figure out how to begin.
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Lawanda,
I am praying for you. Thank you for using your loss to minister to other families. Be sure to check the Key Ministry and Inclusive Church websites. Their resources are invaluable.
Jolene
Awesome posting! A few years ago the Lord called my 3 year old to heaven and she was born with cerebral palsy. Since that time God has been wanting me to start a special needs ministry not only at the church I’m currently a member of but also throughout the community and other church’s to help families of special need childen and just be their voice. Keep me in prayer as this journey will not be and easy one but with God all things will work together for the good of His people.
Hi Whitney,
My best advice is to visit the Key Ministry website and the Inclusive Church website. Both have oodles of resources and advice for churches starting special needs ministry. Key Ministry is hosting a web conference in early November for people just like you. Check this link for more information: http://inclusionfusion.org/
Hope that helps,
Jolene
My church is in the very beginning stages of starting a special needs ministry. I am mom to a special needs child and will help coordinate the program. I would love any advice you could give me!
Michael,
Thank you for the information and for the link to your website. Most of all, thanks for what you’re doing for the special needs community. I hope to connect with you in the near future.
Jolene
In 2003 my wife and I embarked on a new journey…having church for the special needs community. Our oldest son (now 33) had not understood church sermons, lessons, etc, had been excluded from youth activities, but excelled in Special Olympics and in special needs activities in public school. With 20 yrs experience as children’s pastors we listened and God provided plan. Please visit http://www.specialchurch.com to find out more. We would love to help others reach this ‘silent community’.
Hi Cassandra,
How good to hear from you again. The description of your church’s program sounds very wise. Start small. Expand to meet more needs. Provide external support and encouragement for parents beyond the Sunday services.
Based on your gracious advocacy work on behalf of your kids in the schools, I’m guessing your church is very grateful for your efforts and your talents are being put to good use.
Jolene
Jolene,
My prayers are with you as you embark on the path that God is definitely leading you. I pray that He gives you the strength to move forward and that He would bring others alongside to help with His ministry.
The church my family goes to has started a special needs ministry for the kids during Sunday school and are looking at expanding it so that it is available during both Sunday services.
My husband and I have begun a group for the parents to get together once a month and have a place to come for support, encouragement, ideas, learn about program in our area and advocacy. We are very excited about what God is doing here. We knew that God was wanting us to do this for quite some time, but finally heeded to His call!!!
Cassandra