When we consider special needs and disability ministry, we have to realize that there are several perspectives coming into play. Of course, we always want to put the needs of the child or adult with a disability at the forefront. There is a team that, if working together, can create an environment that helps everyone to know that Jesus loves them and that we truly want them to know they belong in our community. That team consists of parents or caregivers, staff, and volunteers. Each of these allies bring something unique to the table.
Parents or caregivers, staff, and volunteers each have a vital part to play in making disability ministry vibrant as they work together to implement three focus points. Everyone needs to look at Awareness, Attention, and Action.
AWARENESS – A focus on awareness will have us all reflect on having the realization, appreciation, and understanding of what God says about disability ministry. God makes it clear in Scripture that every person with disability from babies to aging adults has value and is vital to church life. We need to move from the idea that we are “ministering to them” to the understanding that we all need each other and God uses each of us to bring glory to Himself and sharpen each other in our faith walk. All members of the team need to work together to do whatever we can to include all people impacted by visible and invisible disability into church life. We need to have the attitude that “all are welcome, all belong – now how can we make it work?”
1 Corinthians 12:22 says that the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable.
In Romans 12:4-5, we read, “For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. NIV
We need to move away from making those with disabilities the object of ministry and instead understand that we all are members of one body and need each other.
As staff and volunteers, our mission is to make available for every person – Bible lessons and Bible study that can be understood, fellowship, and opportunities to serve within the body.
ATTENTION – Let’s move forward by concentrating on who needs support right now.
Parents and caregivers who are caring for children and adults with disabilities have a lot on our plates. We are often misunderstood, under validated, and often exhausted. We are desperate for a community where we and those we care for are welcomed and truly wanted. We need a listening ear and a commitment to help us make it work for our family at church. We need our loved ones to be seen as individuals and not as a diagnosis.
We need to give attention to both visible and invisible disabilities, those that are obvious and those that cannot be seen. If a parent or caregiver tells you that their loved one has a hidden disability, always give them the benefit of the doubt and determine to find out how best to serve that person, that family. Let’s not assume. Let’s listen carefully.
We could write pages and pages about hidden disabilities to raise awareness and probably will do that someday soon, but for purposes of this blog post, we will move on.
We have experience as church staff and we know that it can be overwhelming to find a way to meet every family’s needs. The most important thing that we can do hands down is to give each child and adult a welcoming vibe. We don’t have to be perfect. Even if we were to have everything in place, something in ministry is bound to go a little crazy. So, let’s remember the “why” as we carry out the “how”. God expects us to make sure that everyone belongs in His church. So, in the staff role, we have a two-fold responsibility – one to the families and the other to the volunteers.
Volunteers are the heart of the church. Church staff cannot do a good job without good volunteers to help them carry out the work of the Lord. We know from having volunteered in over a wide range of ministries that it can be a little confusing at times, exhausting, unpredictable, and the most rewarding thing we do all week. We want to remember to work well together, to greet everyone with warmth, to help everyone know that they belong, and that it is our blessing to serve.
Whether we are parents or caregivers, staff, or volunteers – we all need to be committed to working together as a team. We want to come together to brainstorm solutions that will bless all members of the church family.
ACTION: And then, we need to take action – make a plan and implement. We have taken time to understand what God says about disability ministry. We have given attention to those who need support. Now, it is time that we put all this awareness and attention into vibrant action.
Let’s take all that brainstorming we’ve done for the benefit of the person with a disability – from the perspectives of parents or caregivers, staff, and volunteers, get together with the team, and create a solutions list. Then, we’ll need to make a plan to implement, setting priorities.
The action plan will need to include facility options, equipment and supplies needed, and the people who will be assigned to carry it out.
If we understand that we all want the same thing – a church home where all members have the opportunity to grow in faith, to belong to the community, and to serve in some capacity – and we make that our commitment, we can come together and create a beautiful church home.
Feel free to reach out to us at Champions4Parents@gmail.com.
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
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Champions4Parents
Don’t forget our website: www.champions4parents.com
And check out Amy’s book at www.heartrecharge.com
