Start of a New Ministry

Our church is starting a new ministry to families with special-needs kids called ACCESS. Yesterday the pastor's wife, a good friend of mine, and her new team of people, met with Bill and I to find out how the church good better serve Caroline and our family when she comes back. I am completely touched that they really care enough to want our input. We have a few other special needs kids in our church in the autistic range who will also be benefiting from this ministry, as well as future families who will bring kids (or adults) with physical or mental handicaps. They expressed that they wanted this to be an outreach not only in our church, but also to the community, and emphasized that they really want each family to decide things like do I want my child in the service with me, or do I need a shadow, or do they need to go to another room with someone to care for them there. I think of my sister with her two special needs sons, one with autism and a host of physical challenges, and the other with aspergers, and how difficult Sunday's are for her, because she really needs another person to help her and her husband is out to see for six months at a time. She could definitely use a shadow in the pews with her. This is the sort of thing our church wants to start up, and it will be an invaluable resource for so many. Thank you!