Just this week, someone came thanking me for taking the time to teach her granddaughter in our Forever His program. She said that in a previous congregation, it was only the child’s mother who spent time teaching her granddaughter. While I appreciated the kind words, my first thought and response to her was how sad it was for those people who missed out on the opportunity of being with such a wonderful girl! I do not feel like I am doing anything heroic by working with people who have disabilities. I always gain much more than I am able to give them!
So what will disability ministry do for my congregation? In short, it may be one of the most Christlike programs and life changing activities that you and your members have opportunity to be involved in.
Your members will experience life changing “God lessons.” When we started our Forever His ministry nine years ago, I wanted my church family to experience the life-changing lessons to be learned from those who would attend our program. Many Christians do not have first-hand experience with children (or adults) who have a disability. They do not know the struggles of these families. I know of no better way to develop the Christ-like qualities of compassion, patience, gratitude, and unconditional love any better than by opening our doors and our hearts to ministering to these children and their families. If we allow them into our lives, these individuals will be some of our greatest teachers!
You will fulfill the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20). Never did Jesus specify the type of people that needed to hear the gospel. While it is true that some ministered to in our Forever His program are safe and innocent in the sight of God, that is not true of everyone. Some may have physical limitations, but are fully accountable for their sins. While an adult may have a cognitive disability, they may function at that “age of accountability.” Who are we to make the decision that they do not need to hear the gospel? When we look at the life of Jesus, we see how He spent time and ministered to those with all types of disabilities and suffering with all sorts of illnesses.
You will invite amazing people into your assembly. Some of the most joyful participants that I have ever witnessed in worship have been with those who are “Forever His.” We currently have a family in our congregation with an adult daughter who has disabilities. You will never find a more enthusiastic (and sometimes loud) singer than she is! I think of a young adult man who has attended our camps that loves to sing and lead songs such as “It is Well with My Soul.” I have been brought to tears by the purity of voice and worship to God in both of these friends.
You will create a culture of acceptance for people who are different from you. For many, interacting with people who are different than themselves may be uncomfortable, awkward, or even frightening. However, when time was spent with them, walls were broken down. I have known church members, who were at first nervous or scared to participate in a Forever His event, say that once they volunteered and got to know the kids, their fears were gone. They were just children first and their differences were secondary. Then after camp, when a person with a disability came to the worship assembly, it was a comfortable and even exciting thing to welcome these guests into our midst.
You will reflect God and His love into your community. What is your congregation known for in the community? Hopefully, you are known for something and not just a building down the street. Of course, we should be known for our stand on teaching truth and moral purity. But what did God tell us to be known for? John 13:35 says that Jesus’ disciples are to be known by their “love.” After several years of having Forever His camps, I am frequently told by our members that when our congregation’s name comes up in conversation out in the community, someone will mention our disability ministry. We are known as “that church” who loves the “least of these” (Matthew 25:40).
You will be a light for other congregations. I have heard it said that younger people do not believe the church is relevant any more. Perhaps some of these have grown up in congregations that are dwindling in numbers and are “out of balance” when it comes to teaching the gospel. While strong, sound teaching on doctrinal issues such as baptism, morality, and the church are vital and need to continually be stressed, to teach those topics to the exclusion of love, kindness, and compassion is out of balance. We need to teach truth on every topic. We can be a “doer of the word and not a hearer only” (James 1:22), when we minister to those with disabilities.
You will open doors and draw families to your congregation. For Christian families in your community, you will be known as the congregation where they and their child are welcome. All too often, families dealing with disability have been excluded and kept at arms length. They may not have had desperately needed support by their church family. You can make all the difference in the spiritual growth and development of these parents and their children (both the one with a disability and other children).
For the non-Christian who is seeking, there will be opportunity to learn the truth. Their child will be loved and cared for by Christians, while they attend Bible classes and worship. That is not to promote “children’s church” separating these children from the assembly, but perhaps a group of volunteers are prepared to sit with these families and help during worship, taking the child out if necessary due to disruption.
The bottom line is that whether a single person ever becomes a Christian from this ministry or not, you will have planted and watered seeds for the Lord (1 Corinthians 3:6-8). It is God who gives the increase. If we want to look like Jesus, we will do as He did and “go about doing good!” (Acts 10:38).
“Open your mouth for the speechless,
In the cause of all who are appointed to die.
Open your mouth, judge righteously,
And plead the cause of the poor and needy.” Proverbs 31:8-9