Special Needs Ministry is a growing need in our churches.  Joni and Friends shared that one of the largest unreached people groups in the world is the disability community. When we consider the impact of one person in a family being unable to attend church, we often see an entire family become disconnected from the church body. 

Special needs ministries in churches will look different from place to place. Some churches have the capacity for dedicated staff, sensory rooms, and programs to serve children and adults with special needs.  Some churches won’t have the ability to provide that extent of service, but one thing is for certain…all churches can intentionally welcome and embrace people with disabilities into their body. 

We want individuals with disabilities in our community to know that not only are they “allowed” to come to our church, but they are welcome and wanted.  I had a parent of a child with disabilities share with me after watching one of Awe & Wonder’s training videos, 

“I have a little one with Down syndrome/autism and for the past year, we have been church to church only to be told they can’t support her, not even teaching her, just supporting her in a class with other kids in general.  I wish there were more people like you in the church who would just give her a chance but many don’t want to change the routine they are used to and rather just remove her or not include her because they can’t support her.”

Let’s be the hands and feet of Jesus and find ways to welcome and support individuals with disabilities into our churches! Let’s don’t allow this to be the story for families in our community.

One hurdle that you may be facing as you consider how your church can provide a special needs ministry is curriculum and resources to help you and your volunteers share the Gospel and teach the Bible to those with intellectual disabilities. 

Awe & Wonder is committed to providing developmentally appropriate and theologically rich special needs ministry curriculum.  We provide weekly lesson plans and monthly adapted books to help equip you to teach and share the Gospel with learners with disabilities in your church.

If you are looking for how-to resources to help you build a special needs ministry at your church, check out these amazing resources below:

Joni & Friends

Church 4 Every Child 

Key Ministry 

Tim Tebow Foundation

Reference- Joni and Friends Article