Dear Pastor,
We appreciate you. Thank you for bringing us God’s Word so consistently. You are a gift to us and we are grateful for your shepherding love and faithful guidance.
Thank you for giving us this opportunity to share some things that are near and dear to our hearts.
Disability Ministry Needs You
You can bring a message to the rest of the church family that disability ministry is essential to the church. Why? Because Jesus showed us by example by serving people with special needs all the time, i.e. the lame, the blind, the sick. He was the first disability pastor.
You can bring awareness to the rest of the church.
You can express how you love this people group and the ones who love and serve them.
You can befriend a few folks with disabilities and invite them to the front of church — to pray, to give testimony of God’s goodness in their lives, to display a talent, etc.
You can support creating a staff position for disability ministry.
You can encourage budget spending for this often unreached people group.
Do you know Lamar Hardwick? He is known as the “Autism Pastor.” (For more information about Pastor Lamar, just google “autism pastor”.) Lamar encourages pastors (and all of us, really) to “Value people over programs” and to “Value circles over rows” in relationships. Lamar also shares the idea of: Service FOR individuals affected by disability but also service WITH individuals with disability, giving all of God’s people opportunities to share their gifts and to serve.
Pastor, we invite you to get to know some of our unique challenges. Our families typically have more things to consider and prepare before heading out to church. Some of our loved ones have medical equipment and alternative feeding supplies and special foods that need to be prepared and packed.
Many of our children have severe anxiety and transition resistance and we have to take extra time to prepare them mentally and emotionally for leaving the house, getting in the car, out of the car, into the building, to the room and being okay with us leaving them in someone else’s care. This scenario that usually resolves for most children at a young age, is often perpetual and more extreme for our kids.
And so… our loved ones with disabilities need your love and support but so do the rest of us in the family — Parents, Siblings, Grandparents, etc.
One helpful article written by Ryan Faulk who works for the organization Joni and Friends shares three simple ways lead pastors can support special needs ministry.
1) Ask meaningful questions,
2) Talk about Disability from the Pulpit, and
3) Multiply Leaders. You can find the full article here:
https://www.joniandfriends.org/3-simple-ways-lead-pastors-can-support-special-needs-ministry/
To the Pastor whose church doesn’t yet have a special needs or disability ministry – we don’t want you or your church family to miss out on the tremendous blessing that comes with serving ALL God’s people. AND…
– You don’t have to figure it out by yourself. There are resources (we will list some below.)
To the Pastor who is feeling ill equipped to start or ramp up ministry to families affected by disability. You are not alone. There are resources.
Here are a few:
Lamar Hardwick. Dr. Hardwick was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. He was 36 years old when diagnosed. Dr. Hardwick has had articles published by various autism and disability websites such as The Mighty, The Huffington Post, Key Ministry, and The Autistic Self Advocacy Network. His articles and blogs can also be found on his website www.autismpastor.com. Dr. Hardwick is the author of the best-selling book I am Strong: The Life and Journey of an Autistic Pastor, and also Disability and the Church: A Vision for Diversity and Inclusion.
Key Ministry – Key Ministry promotes meaningful connection between churches and families of kids with disabilities for the purpose of making disciples of Jesus Christ. Check out the many ways that KeyMinistry.org can help you and your church serve the disability community.
Sandra Peoples – Author of three books, including her most recent release, Unexpected Blessings: The Joys and Possibilities of Life in a Special-Needs Family. Sandra is currently a PhD student at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in the area of family ministry with an emphasis on inclusion for special needs families. She has a unique and broad spectrum perspective in disability because she has a sister with Down Syndrome and a son with level three autism. Sandra serves the Southern Baptist of Texas Convention as their special-needs ministry consultant, helping churches around the state start and strengthen their disability ministries. She also teaches a disability ministry cohort through Gospel Centered Family.
Stephanie Hubach – Research Fellow in Disability Ministries and Visiting Instructor for Educational Ministries at Covenant Theological Seminary. Author of Parenting & Disabilities: Abiding in God’s Presence and Same Lake, Different Boat: Coming Alongside People Touched by Disability (Revised and Expanded Edition, February 2020) and All Things Possible: Calling Your Church Leadership to Embrace Disability Ministry
Soar Special Needs: SOAR Special Needs empowers families with special needs to SOAR in their local and faith communities. SOAR has assisted over 400 churches to date both nationally and around the world. We have the goal of assisting 1000 churches in the next 5 years. Luke 14 displays God’s heart for those with disabilities and they are meant to be included in every church.
And US!
Tom and Julie Meekins of Champions4Parents.com
WE ARE HERE FOR YOU!
We want to support you.
We are happy to chat with you by Zoom or by phone, or engage in a series of emails with you to help you think through next steps unique and specific for your ministry situation.
Email us at Champions4Parents@gmail.com to get the conversation started.
Don’t miss out on a blessing. Do be like Jesus and follow His example of love and support for the disabled. Do consider the needs of the rest of the family.
Thank you, again, Pastor, for “listening.”
On behalf of families affected by disability, we are
Tom and Julie Meekins
Much love,
Tom and Julie Meekins
CONNECT WITH US:
We invite you to connect with Tom, Julie, and Amy through:
Email: champions4parents@gmail.com
Phone: 410-746-9010 (Voice or Text)
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Champions4Parents
Don’t forget our website: www.Champions4Parents.comAnd check out Amy’s book at www.HeartReCHARGE.com
