Our Special Needs Ministry
Purpose:
The overall purpose of the Special Needs ministry, BUILDING BRIDGES, is to work with children who have special needs, reflect the glory of God, and carry out our Lord’s command to fulfill the Great Commission of Matthew 28.
The four Gospels clearly record Jesus’ interactions with people that suffered disabilities including leprosy, blindness, mental illness, speech problems, deafness and physical impairments. The Great Commission likewise includes all people, regardless of ability or cognitive deficiencies. It is all-inclusive. Our ministry goal is to work with special needs children in age-appropriate Sunday School classes and to teach them the love of Jesus Christ. We want them to have the opportunity to grow spiritually and know Him as Lord and Savior regardless of their physical or mental limitations.
Overview:
When we become aware of a child in need of this ministry, a Special Needs Team Coordinator works closely with the child’s family to determine the needs of the child and “support level” required, and to develop a plan for ministry to the child on Sunday mornings.
Based on the determined “support level” required for the child, the Special Needs Ministry will provide an aide for each child in the program. The aide will be matched with a child and will regularly work/play/pray alongside that child in the Sunday School Program. They will be given information on the child's specific needs which will help them and the Sunday School teacher adapt the activities appropriately. While our goal is to mainstream each child into a regular Sunday School with peers as close to their age as possible, some children requiring a higher level of support may not be able to function in a structured classroom the entire period. If this is the case, the aide will work one-on-one with the child in a specific room dedicated to the Special Needs Ministry.
Contacts:
Mike Gage
Special Needs Ministry Coordinator
(603) 487-5047
Joel Gibbs
Administrative Pastor
(603) 595-0955