Starting a special needs ministry at your church

Thinking about starting a special needs ministry at your church?

Awesome!

Seriously, that’s awesome! And SO NEEDED.

A lot of times, families with kids with special needs do not attend church because it’s just too hard, or they end up watching their children in a room on their own, or they worry about disrupting the service.

As a parent to children with special needs, I’ve experienced and worried about all these things.

Our church (www.churchinroscoevillage.org) is kicking off an inclusive children’s ministry in the fall called The King’s Table (from Luke 14:15-24, and 2 Samuel 9).

We’ve assembled a ministry team, are training volunteers, selecting curriculum, teaching buddies for kids with special needs, praying, gathering resources, and renovating our rooms to accommodate (God willing) any child God brings through our doors.

Here’s our new logo for our children’s ministry at church:

It’s a big undertaking and we are a small church.

But we believe God has called us to this ministry, and we know there is a need.

If you are in the Chicago area and would like to help with our ministry, check us out! Also, if you are a family affected by special needs and currently don’t attend church or need a little extra help, consider us on Sundays, 11am, 3425 N. Damen Avenue (www.churchinroscoevillage.org), and on Thursdays, 5-8pm for respite.

More details to come, but the kick-off is SEPTEMBER 9TH!!

Here are a few resources we are using to start a special needs ministry at our church

Joni and Friends

The Inclusive Church Blog

Key MInistry

The Works of God Displayed

Surviving to Thriving, Amy Fenton Lee’s teacher training DVD through Orange

Tell me, what do you want to know about starting a special needs ministry at your church?

And have you like the Evangelical Free Church’s Special Needs Ministry page on Facebook? Great resource as well.

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7 comments found

katiewetherbee says:

August 27, 2012 at 4:21 pm

So excited for your church and community!! Keep us posted~

1. Gillian Marchenko says:
  
  August 30, 2012 at 12:07 am
  
  Will do! We are working away over here :).
  
Alicia Llanas says:

August 29, 2012 at 3:08 pm

so great Gillian ! looking forward to learn more.

1. Gillian Marchenko says:
  
  August 30, 2012 at 12:09 am
  
  Thanks Alicia! Can’t wait to share as we go!!
  
Pingback: Setting a fly free, a special needs mom attempts to let herself off the hook in her struggles with parenting | Gillian Marchenko
Wani says:

July 28, 2014 at 7:07 pm

I’ve spent the last few years sitting in the church foyer with my two special needs kiddos during worship service. Occasionally I have someone offer to sit with them but I am now starting to see others who would benefit from a special needs ministry besides my own family. I hope to get things jump started soon. Thanks for sharing!

Hannah says:

September 14, 2015 at 2:24 am

I am just beginning a structured special needs ministry at my church. I have been working with a few children with autism for about a year now but there has been no real structure to the ministry. A big problem I am finding is recruiting people to help with these children and hopefully more in the community. Do you have any suggestions for volunteer recruiting?