When someone asks you to come up with a "Vision Statement" it can often be overwhelming. Yesterday I was talking with my boss and he suggested I come up with something. The first thing I did was google "Vision Statement" because google has all the answers, right? Little did I know I wouldn't find a lot of help. Basically all of the websites simply said that you need to state the goal of your organization in a few words and then your responsibility would be to strive to reach that goal...that's a vision. Wow, so simple yet so very complicated.
I struggled over what our goal is in the SN Ministry here at SCC. The vision of SCC is to "encourage all people to pursue a lifelong, joyous relationship with Jesus Christ". I think that perfectly sums up what we're trying to do in the SN Ministry but it doesn't quite touch how you do that with children and adults with disabilities. So I kept thinking. The whole time I was pondering, the Lord kept bringing up some additional words my boss told me. He said that the vision should be something that I find myself saying over and over. It should be that one phrase that people hear me say so much, it sticks with them. It all clicked...I have it! I've been saying our vision all along, I just haven't ever called it a Vision Statement. It's something that I find myself telling everyone who works in the SN Ministry, everyone who asks about the SN Ministry, and everyone who has kids involved in the SN Ministry. The SN Ministry at SCC exists so that everyone, regardless of ability or disability, will hear that God loves them and they are created perfectly in the image of Christ. It's that simple.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
It Starts with One
The title of this blog came from the saying that I find myself quoting the most to people who ask how to start a Special Needs Ministry. It is simple...it starts with one. Is there a child in your church who doesn't fit into the typical mold? Is it hard for him to sit through a 10 minute lesson? Does he tend to have trouble interacting with others? Is it worse? Will he even enter the church when it is filled with people? Does he immediately get overstimulated with the fluorescent lights and loud music? Or do you have a child who has a PEG and shouldn't eat anything by mouth? If you have answered yes to any of these questions, you are ready to have a Special Needs Ministry. Am I saying that you need to go directly to your Senior Pastor, demand to be put on staff, and ask for a budget of $10,000 per year? Absolutely not but you do need to start looking at ways you can adjust what is already being done in order to accommodate the child who made you answer yes to any of the questions above. Are you able to be your first Special Needs Volunteer or do you know of someone who is? If so, you're on your way. Here are a few things to get you started:
1. Talk with the child's parents in a relaxed environment about their child. Find out what things trigger behaviors, what are his physical/social/spiritual needs, what do they do at home or at school to help ease these needs/triggers.
2. Talk with the staff in the areas to be addressed. Find out what level they'd like to be involved. Inform them of the problem and work with them to find a solution.
3. Make a plan with the parents, the special needs volunteer, and the teachers involved. Are you going to be able to integrate them in the typical program or are you going to have to adjust the programming in the back of the room for this specific child?
4. Try your plan but be FLEXIBLE to make changes as needed. Your goal is to make this child and his family feel comfortable in church...not to be right.
If you're able to take this child and his family from being outside observers to being inside participants, you've started a Special Needs Ministry. Remember is starts with one.
1. Talk with the child's parents in a relaxed environment about their child. Find out what things trigger behaviors, what are his physical/social/spiritual needs, what do they do at home or at school to help ease these needs/triggers.
2. Talk with the staff in the areas to be addressed. Find out what level they'd like to be involved. Inform them of the problem and work with them to find a solution.
3. Make a plan with the parents, the special needs volunteer, and the teachers involved. Are you going to be able to integrate them in the typical program or are you going to have to adjust the programming in the back of the room for this specific child?
4. Try your plan but be FLEXIBLE to make changes as needed. Your goal is to make this child and his family feel comfortable in church...not to be right.
If you're able to take this child and his family from being outside observers to being inside participants, you've started a Special Needs Ministry. Remember is starts with one.
Welcome
This is my first go at keeping up with a blog for ministry purposes. I am the Special Needs Coordinator at Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, TX. I get a lot of questions from people all over the country about the ministry at our church and what others need to do to have something similar. I'm hoping that this blog can help. I'm just going to keep my ideas flowing and let you in on what is working and what is not working. If you have any specific questions that you'd like me to address, please let me know. Special Needs Ministry is my passion and it is my desire to share that passion with others.
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