Let the word of
Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom,
singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts
to God. Colossians 3:16
This past Sunday we introduced the desire to start a special needs
ministry here at North Side Baptist Church.
This is a need within our congregation and community that our church
could meet.
About 56.7 million people or roughly 19 percent of the population had a
disability in 2010, according to a broad definition of disability, with more
than half of them reporting the disability was severe, according to a
comprehensive report on this population released by the U.S. Census Bureau.
According to Weatherford Independent School District, approximately
seven hundred (700) students are in need of some type of specialized academic
attention whether it be Content Mastery or Resource. Of those students, three hundred (300) of
them cannot function within a normal classroom environment and are placed in an
alternative classroom such as Life-Skills.
The Parker County Special Needs Co-op who serves five of the smaller
districts, which include, Poolville ISD, Peaster ISD, Brock ISD, Millsap ISD,
and Garner ISD have identified three hundred twenty (320) families who have a
child with special needs of which seventy two (72) of these children cannot
function in a normal classroom setting. That
is a huge potential mission field!
Perhaps
one of the most sobering statistics is that according to the National
Organization on Disability, sixty percent (60%) of families with a disabled family member do
not attend church on a regular basis. This statistic seems to hold
true within the group of parents who bring their disabled child to Northside’s
REVIVE Respite Program (A respite program for parents who have children with
special needs). In an informal survey,
approximately 20 families were asked to respond if they attended church on a
regular basis. The answer was a
resounding no. When asked why, the
response was as equally resounding.
There is no specialized program or programs for their child. Finally the parents were asked if such a
program was provided, would they be most likely to consider attending. The answer across the board was yes.
According
to the Parker County Baptist Association, no church within Parker County has a
viable special needs outreach or plans to institute any type of special needs
ministry. Northside Baptist would be the
first church in Parker County to launch into this untapped mission field.
I look
out in the congregation and in the halls and I see the need but I don’t know
how to meet the need. See, difficult
areas of ministry oftentimes do not receive attention. There are challenges involved in making
efforts to reach children and adults with special needs. But we are ready to meet these challenges
head on. It will take individuals who
are called for this area of ministry and who have a heart for special
needs. It will require love, commitment,
and training.
If you
have a heart for special needs, and you feel called to be a part of this
exciting new program, call the church office at 817-599-8612 and let us
know. God has a spot for you!
Scripture to
Claim:
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:16
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:16
