Fifteen years ago while living in Michigan and attending a fairly large church I was asked to join in a prayer for ministers and teachers to start and oversee a class for children with special needs. During this prayer I heard these words “This is my heart” These words were not audible but they were loud enough that they could have been! I was not sure what they meant until my forty five minute drive home. During this time the Lord began to speak to my heart and said, “I want you to teach the class” my first response was “Not me Lord, find someone who is trained!” As I continued my drive home the Lord continued to speak to my heart, it wasn’t long that I said the same words Jesus uttered in the garden, “Not my will, but your will be done.” I kid you not, the moment I said these words I was filled with joy and inspiration for the class. When I arrived home I immediately told my husband what had happened and went right up to our home office computer and wrote the pastor. That evening I received an ecstatic response encouraging me to run with the vision! Later the pastor informed me that the reason they did not have a ministry for the children with special needs in their church was because there was no-one with a vision to run the ministry.
Not long after I attended a couple of Lutheran Churches in the area that provided special needs classes. I also read articles and books to educate myself about how to teach and minister to the children. Weeks later we started the very first class with three children. Within a few months and after word got out our class more than doubled!
In 2003 the Lord led us to Florida to start the first church in the history of Ponce Inlet: Ponce Church. Throughout the years we have had a few families with children of special needs. More recently through Surfers for Autism we have had the opportunity to attend these events to help and meet the families which has rekindled our vision in reaching these families with the Love of God by providing a class for their children.
Years ago I had a vision to host a spaghetti luncheon for the families and in October 2012 we as a church hosted our first annual Spaghetti Luncheon for Families with Autism with groups such as Autism Society of Greater Orlando (ASGO) and Monster Marchers (Stomping Out Autism). The families loved it! We served gluten free pasta and had gifts donated for our free raffle for the families and the kids loved coming up to get their surprises! We are currently planning to have a booth at the “Walk Now for Autism Speaks” event. There we will give out small toys to the children and provide a fun coloring activity. We will also pass out Ponce Church calendar magnets for the families!
I would encourage churches everywhere to realize there is a community of families that do not have a home church. In fact, I have read that nearly 95% of families that have children with special needs do not have a church that provides a ministry for them. As leaders and ministers of God we need to make it a priority and broaden our vision in reaching all families! If a church does not have someone that has a vision for these children and their families then as a pastor I encourage you and your church to pray and ask God to send His people that have a heart and vision for these families and incorporate a ministry to meet their spiritual needs.
Jesus said in Luke 14:21-23 to go into your community and invite everyone, including people with special needs “…that my house will be full!”
