Special Needs Judi Warner . Pastoral Staff
Many of us have been praying that God would make Calvary Church more merciful and hospitable . Evidence of that is seen each week as people of all abilities are welcomed and included in worship services and special events . The beautiful benefit of inclusion , is life changing for all . Christ ’ s command to us to “ go and make disciples of all nations ,” ( Matthew 28 : 19 ) is a reminder that Jesus ’ call is a call for the body of Christ to seek out all people . Everyone is welcome . Let ’ s continue praying – our pryaers are making a difference .
The following testimony from Calvary staff member Pam Cook , gives you a glimpse into what it ’ s like to parent a child with special needs . We hope that this insight will further your desire to welcome all .
Having a child with special needs in a word is “ isolation .” Imagine no one ever stopping you to tell you how cute your baby was . Imagine your world and the amount of people in it shrinking , and feeling helpless to stop it . People don ’ t know what to say ; it ’ s understandable .
Your friend ’ s children are in activities that your child can never do . There are no sports in your life . Your child may never be invited to a birthday party . Friendship circles get smaller and smaller . The strain on a marriage is huge . The strain on the other siblings is huge . Watching your child be left out of virtually everything is heart-breaking .
This is just a glimpse of one family ’ s experience . Mine .
But , this is what the body of Christ is made for . This is what the church is here for , to do what Jesus did , to embrace and welcome and include these families . My family .
1 Corinthians 12 : 24-25 says , “ But God has put the body together giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it , that there may be no division in the body , but that the members may have equal care for each other . If one member suffers , all suffer together . If one part is honored , all rejoice together .”
My Son Weston is a gentle soul , dearly loved . He is 23 years old and has almost no speech , and cannot bathe , dress or feed himself . We started coming to
Calvary about seven years ago , sitting in the back row and leaving quickly because we knew no one .
A woman invited me to her home , her name was Louise Cerling . She opened her heart and home to my whole family . This was the community I needed to break out of the dark world I was falling into . We needed Christ ’ s people to invite us in sharing life on a meaningful level .
A woman with special needs , Katie Aubert . invited Weston to come to the Go Getter worship service . This group of people also has become a circle of friends , caring for each other .
These small actions changed my family ’ s world .
However , we still see and experience much isolation and feeling of not belonging within the church . Things are still not what they should be . We need to set the example for our children and the next generation of Christ followers .
The first step in welcoming the disabled is not a program , it is the humility of an individual , willing to step out of their comfort zone , believing that God has something wonderful waiting for those who are faithful in feeding His sheep .
I pray that each one of us can take another look at how we as individuals and a community can willingly open our hearts and minds up to something new that the Lord is calling us to do as the body of Christ .
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