Ministering to those with Special Needs

By Dick Norton, Special Needs Ministry Director

First Baptist Church has become a community leader in ministry and outreach to families of children, teens, and adults who have physical, cognitive, and/or emotional disabilities. This dynamic ministry is constantly adapting to the varied acute and chronic needs of its participants and their families. Identifying the populations with disabilities, assessing their needs, training a cadre of volunteers, establishing proper classroom environments, praying for direction and support, educating the congregation, and preparing Christian curriculum are foundational components of this Special Needs Ministry.

Acquiring more volunteers is perhaps our most difficult task. The Lord constantly challenges this ministry to press on and experience continual growth. We recently experienced a new challenge as a result of the successes experienced by our Life Groups: Families with special needs have asked if we can provide a Bible-based curriculum for a number of family members. A care facility here in Eugene has graciously offered their building to assist with this request. Now all we need is an increased number of volunteers.

Allowing our ideas, thoughts, and perspectives to be shaped by scripture is essential to viewing people with a disability the same way God sees them. In 1 Samuel 16:7, the Lord said to Samuel, Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.

When faced with disability, the question “why” often dominates. We read in John 9:1-3, As He went along, He [Jesus] saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind? Neither this man nor his parents sinned, said Jesus, “but this happens so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.

Each of us responds differently to the idea of having impairment. How we feel about people with disabilities can vary as well. Our attitudes can be shaped by a number of things, but negative feelings need not be a sign of spiritual immaturity or insensitivity. They may actually be a genuine lack of understanding or a very real fear based upon some experience in the past. The key to developing a Godly attitude towards people with impairment is found in Philippians 2:5: Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.

Please pray that our church body will be aware of the needs of families with disabled members and ask God to alert us to ways in which we can minister to these families. If you or someone you know can assist in a classroom, please let use know. The expansion of this ministry is reliant upon your prayers as well as your assistance.