Is providing a disability ministry in your congregation worth the effort? Hopefully from the last post, you have a better understanding of why it is important for the person with a disability. While the person may be able to participate in existing activities with the right accommodations and modifications, that is not the case for everyone. Some needs are too unique and great for typical programs we may have. Beyond the individual with a disability…

The second reason why the church needs to be involved in a disability ministry is to minister to the family.

We want to make connections and friendships with the families of these children; families who need to know Jesus.

Because of this ministry, we have had families attend our worship services and other church events who are not Christians and have not felt welcome in other places. Without exception, every family has been impacted positively and they leave with a wonderful impression our church family.

Most parents who have a child with a disability invest their entire lives into loving and protecting their child. While every parent does the same throughout their children’s years living in their home, there will come a time when that child becomes an independent adult. Parenting will change once the child grows up and moves away. Such may not true for these parents. They may be fully responsible for providing everything for their child throughout their entire life. The burden and responsibility of caregiving may consume them. It may rob them of taking care of their own physical, social, and spiritual needs. They may face:

• Countless hospital stays, surgeries, and therapy appointments
• Loss of an income when one parent must become a full-time care-giver
• Insurance companies who don’t want to pay for a necessary piece of medical equipment or medication
• Learning how to do medical procedures for their child (catheters, feeding tubes, colostomy care, etc.) in order for them to survive
• Not being able to take their child in public places because of significant behavioral issues
• Spending countless dollars to pay for equipment or therapies in hope of helping their child
• Never having opportunity to go out alone with their spouse or spend individual time with other children

During my teaching years, I knew of parents who travelled to foreign countries and paid tens of thousands of dollars for their child to receive treatments not permitted in the United States. I knew parents who gave up impressive and lucrative careers to become full time caregivers. There were parents who formerly lived an affluent life style, only to be excluded from those social circles when their child was born with a significant disability. The weight and stress of living with a chronically ill child broke marriages apart. These parents go through challenges that most of us will never know.

Even more importantly than the challenges faced by families in this life are the concerns about the life to come. Most of our “Forever His” children and adults will not reach a cognitive age past 7 or 8 years old. Their souls are pure and will have an eternity with God. They truly are, “Forever His.”  But consider this…in heaven these children, who now have bodies that are broken and imperfect, will be made whole and new (Philippians 3:21).

Think of the tragedy for those parents who have loved and sacrificed so much for their child, who have fought for them, and who have longed for their healing. What if they miss seeing their child’s healing, hearing them speak for the first time, watching them run down the streets of gold, gaining perfect minds and bodies in Heaven. What if they miss it because they weren’t Christians and hadn’t obeyed the Lord? What a heartbreaking thought! While these children are “Forever His”, their parents and family members are not, and so, part of this ministry is to do our best to reach these families with the gospel.

Has your congregation ever had an opportunity to bring dozens of non-members into your building? An event where they met and connected with loving, excited, and joyful Christians who would love their precious children in ways that they have never experienced before? That is what we experience through “Forever His” camps The reaction and appreciation of the parents is incredible!

Here are a few comments from parents of our “Forever His” campers:

N’s Mom –

“Wow!! What a wonderful and blessed day N and our family experienced at His Forever Camp recently!! Thank you to all the totally amazing volunteers for setting aside time to include others who are typically forgotten, not so much on purpose, just because some of their needs look very different than those many are comfortable with. From the bottom of my heart I thank you all and pray you are rewarded for eternity for taking care of the least of these and making each one feel important for the day at camp!”

R’s Mom –

“I just wanted to say thank you for an amazing time for all the kiddos today! R. obviously can’t tell me how it went, but all the hard work and attention to detail was definitely apparent! From the parent breakfast to the sweet take home gifts! I hope you continue to do things like this in the future and would love to be involved again!”

C’s Mom –

“Most families do not understand what a huge deal this is! There are hundreds of camps/activities for typical kids but very little in the special needs community. A place where your child is welcome and safe with such kind and compassionate people is hard to find. As you can see from these photos (Facebook), C. had a blast! I would be happy to pay for a camp like this, but it’s free! I know it takes a lot of work and planning, but what an amazing church family! A huge “thank you” to all the volunteers at Karns church of Christ! I am grateful for all of you!”

E’s Mom –

“What a wonderful gift you gave to our family with “Forever His” Day Camp.  Words cannot express our thanks for thinking of our child and wanting to develop a place where she can go and be loved and spend a day with her peers. We are so grateful to all the many people who took time out of their lives to serve God in this way. What a blessing it brought to our family!”

C’s Mom-

Sometimes, I long for a break. At the same time, letting go of control and trusting someone else with your loved one can be difficult. My family had such an opportunity when the Karns Church of Christ hosted a parents’ night out. I was a little nervous to take her and leave her with mostly strangers. That night, we walked in the door, and they immediately welcomed my daughter by name! My husband and I went to dinner and had about four hours to spend all by ourselves. It was heavenly! When we arrived back at the church building, C. was playing cornhole and surrounded by at least five people attending to her needs. She was having a blast! It was refreshing to see and feel the love for my child. Churches are where you find the heart of Christ. The heart of Christ is where you find unconditional love for all people. Thank you to Karns church of Christ. Your “Forever His” program is awesome and awe-inspiring. These people were serious about their love for others–all others. It showed. It was beautiful. It was a blessing!”

Through this ministry, Christians are showing the love of Christ in a very genuine and personal way to the families who bring their children. It is through those connections and friendships where seeds are planted and watered in lives. By ministering to these children and families, Jesus is seen working in and through us as we strive to be His hands and feet on this earth.