Ministry to people with disabilities needs lots of hugs, handshakes, smiles_50304

Posted: 5/03/04

Ministry to people with disabilities
needs lots of hugs, handshakes, smiles

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

Starting a ministry to special-needs individuals is as simple as a smile, handshake or hug, say Texas Baptists who lead such efforts in their churches.

Welcoming special-needs people into a congregation is the key to ministering to them, said Michelle Guppy, a leader in the special-needs ministry of Graceview Baptist Church in Tomball.

Often, the family of a disabled child feels awkward in church settings because they fear their child is bothering the rest of the congregation, Guppy said. They notice church members acting uncomfortably around their child. Sensing this, many such families choose not to attend church.

When church members greet the child and touch his hand during conversation, it goes a long way to overcoming the discomfort, Guppy said.

“As a parent, all they want is to feel welcome,” said Guppy, mother to a 10-year-old autistic boy. “We're not going to church to be healed, but to be welcomed. We want to go somewhere our children will be welcomed, and someone will tell them about Jesus.”

Many special-needs families know each other, Guppy said. When a church welcomes one of the children, word quickly spreads to other families that the congregation wants to minister to the special-needs population. Nearly one in five Americans is disabled in some manner, according to the 2000 United States census.

“If you welcome them, they will come,” she said. “They're out there.”

Graceview went beyond welcoming special-needs individuals. The congregation went and found them.

The church advertised a weekly four-hour time where volunteers would care for the child while the parents could relax.

Denise Briley, director of the church's special-needs ministry, followed the special education school bus to each home in the community.

In Bible studies, Dale Sage, founder of the special friends ministry at First Baptist Church in Longview, tries to recruit public school teachers to be leaders. They have received state training in handling special-needs individuals. But she also trains volunteers with a passion for helping disabled people.

Training helps people be more sensitive to the needs of the disabled, Sage said. Workers begin to understand what methods work best with each person. Training also helps provide a safe environment.

At First Baptist Church in Longview, all special-needs individuals 10 to 75 years old are in one group to begin Sunday school. They sing songs and do hands-on activities such as crafts and plays.

Then the group divides into smaller classes. Sage tries to put the special friends into classes of people who are the same age and learning ability.

Those who are able to sit through the worship service do, Sage said. The group tends to sit together with the teachers, who can help when needed.

Sage admits it is difficult to know how much of the classes and service each person comprehends, but she said class members need to know God loves them. Church members can serve as practical examples of how God loves them.

“We feel strongly that it is not teaching them the Bible story or a memory verse that is important,” she said. “We believe it is most important to teach them God loves them.”

The ministry blesses the family, Guppy and Sage agreed. It allows families who have not attended church to enter a fellowship. Worship becomes a family event.

“It brought the joy back,” Guppy said. “We've been blessed with faith through our journey.”

The work also blesses the church and the volunteer workers, Sage and Guppy added. The church is carrying out the Great Commission by reaching what has been a neglected group. Workers see the happiness in the eyes of the people they minister to daily.

Sage routinely attends her students' events at school and arranges camps and rallies for them. She takes them to the Baptist General Convention of Texas Special Friends Retreat yearly.

“It gets to the point you don't even see their handicaps,” Sage said. “They're just Jane and Bob and Sue.”

Graceview Baptist Church is holding a conference about special-needs ministry Sept. 24-25. For more information, visit www.thejoyministry.org.

The Baptist General Convention of Texas Special Friends Retreat is scheduled Oct. 1-2 at Mount Lebanon Baptist Encampment. For more information, contact Diane Lane at (800) 355-5285.