In So Many Words

Hopefully you caught yesterday’s post with Part I of my interview with Amy Fenton Lee of The Inclusive Church Blog. If not, I would encourage you to bookmark it for later (they don’t have to be read in order).

My first three questions dealt with the definition of inclusion within special needs ministry as well as some ideas of how it would apply in different situations and how typical families can reach out to families with special needs children. While time and space here allow for some very general answers, I found Amy’s responses to be extremely thought-provoking, and you can also find lots of nuts and bolts information on her site.

My last two questions involve one that is very practical and one that touches on something that comes up far too often for families in this situation – not feeling included at all.

What are some of your favorite resources for training and educating people who want to become directly involved in this area?

I started The Inclusive Church Blog largely because of churches’ great need for resources. There are some ministries and organizations that do a good job at creating basic awareness and education on why special needs accommodation is important. But I am not aware of many books or websites providing the nuts and bolt type “how-to’s”. The Inclusive Church Blog starts on the premise that a church has awareness for and recognizes the need for special needs inclusion. The reader (who usually represents that church as either paid staff or a volunteer) comes to the site not so much for inspiration but to find ideas and best practices.

Before this endeavor, I was a certified public accountant with a Big 4 firm and then worked as a regional sales rep for a national manufacturer. Because of my background I approach the blog as a way to help a church develop and execute a business plan. In addition, my father is the senior pastor of a large southern church and has authored a book on the subject of church administration. As a result, I understand the culture and commerce of church world. I do hear and recognize the concerns of many who serve on a church staff and this is why I weave in the issues of liability and risk management to a number of blog posts.

Part of the goal of the blog is to make readers aware of conferences they can attend and other resources where they find help. There are several blog posts already up and in the works that spotlight training opportunities and products that can help churches. I do speak at a handful of children’s ministry conferences teaching seminars such as “Teaching Tools & Behavior Management Strategies for Successful Inclusion”; “Supporting the Family through the Diagnosis”, and “Getting Started & Building the Team: Best Practices”.

As for other Resources I like:

• Joni & Friends provides a number of in-print resources and training opportunities for individuals and churches interested in this topic.
• Friendship Ministries provides curriculum and in-print resources to help ministries working with individuals with special needs. While most of the material is not developed for small children, much of it can be used for older children. This organization is well respected and their products are used by a number of seasoned special needs ministries inside of many denominations.
• Local special education teachers and pediatric therapists are often the very best people to help a church start and maintain a special needs ministry. Every church doing special needs ministry (that I am aware of) has someone they call on for advisement from the fields of special education or pediatric therapy.

Finally, what would you say to a family who feels they are not welcomed or included at their church, despite their best efforts to communicate with the leadership about their situation and needs?

Grieve the disappointment, pack up your bags and try again! I have personally walked through the devastation of a situation where a children’s ministry program was not as it ought to be. While not special needs related, I have learned from my own experience that there are times we are called to move out of a certain church and ask God to guide us to the right fellowship of believers.

Through such a transition, a family can offer a surrendered heart, asking God to work in their lives even in the midst of the deep personal hurt. Praying for guidance to find the best church for the family’s spiritual nourishment and service is so important. I would also caution and advise a family to view leaving a congregation as a last resort. Recognize that God does often grow people AND churches in pain. So it may take a relational bump or bruise (and time!) to help a church move into special needs accommodation.

In the meantime, don’t give up on the corporate church! I am encouraged every day to learn of more communities of believers “called” to start special needs ministries. Keep trying…and keep in mind that the church who “failed” two years ago may now have new leadership, new volunteers AND a new calling to include children with special needs.

Thank you, Amy, for your generosity and openness in sharing your personal story as well as what you have learned in your work with special needs ministry! I am so thankful for you and the other organizations who are giving so much of themselves to minister to children and families who are dealing with special needs.

Again, please feel free to post any comments or questions for Amy or myself below. You can also visit Amy and learn more about special needs ministry at The Inclusive Church Blog.

Related Posts:

• The Inclusive Church: An Interview with Amy Fenton Lee (Part I)
• Sunday Best & Some Thoughts on Inclusion
• Autism Resources: Special Needs Ministry