What do we do?
Basically, we have four specific functions.
1) Facilitate the integration of people with disabilities into the body life of the church.
Barriers to meaningful participation in a group can exist in many forms. For a person who uses a wheelchair,
access to fellowship with believers can be limited due to transportation problems, stairs or narrow doorways
and halls. A visually impaired individual might be unable to participate in certain aspects of worship such
as reading the scriptures or reading the words to praise songs and hymns. People with mental retardation or
mental health issues often find difficulty with acceptance in the church community due to awkward social
behaviors or weaker communication skills.
The beauty of the gospel - if we truly understand it - is that each of us faces a complete
barrier to participation in the Kingdom of God due to the profoundly disabled condition of our
hearts. The Good News is that Christ's sacrifice applied to us makes our full participation in
the life of God a reality. We must come with "empty hands" depending on Christ alone to facilitate
that life for us. After the supreme sacrifice of Jesus on our behalf, can we ignore the needs of
those who are merely physically or mentally disabled and seeking to join in the fellowship of the local church?
At RPC, we currently have six children with significant special needs and a number of adults
with disabilities who participate in the body life of the church. For our children, we have a
Sunday School Integration Team that works with the Christian Education Committee. They provide
guidance and practical assistance in including children with special needs into the Sunday School
program. Two of the children each have teams of volunteers that assist them in Children's Worship
or Sunday School. For our adults, we provide the Explorer's Sunday School class. This is a class
specifically designed to meet the Christian education needs of adults with developmental
disabilities. Most of our adults with disabilities have a designated Circle of Friends at church
that is committed to seeing them fully involved in church life. Some of our members still have
significant unmet needs and we are continuing to attempt to address those as well.
2) Educate the congregation on issues of disability in the context of ministry.
Many years ago, the American Red Cross Safety Badge had a motto imprinted across
the top of it. It said: "Knowledge Replaces Fear." The Special Needs Committee
recognizes that most adults struggle with a "fear factor" when first learning to
relate to people with disabilities. At times the fear is based on a stereotype that
must be overcome, or perhaps from the awkward feeling that arrives when we don't know
what to do or we're not sure what to say. Our purpose in educating is to facilitate
meaningful ministry. Ministry happens through relationships and relationships cannot
flourish in an atmosphere of fear. We have used several vehicles over the last few
years to accomplish this objective. We write quarterly articles in the church
newsletter, we have held three Disability Awareness Training Seminars, provided
a Sunday School teacher training session devoted to disability, and had a guest
speaker come to an elementary Sunday School class and teach a hands-on lesson
about a Christian approach to disability. We've also conducted several Sanctity
of Human Life Sunday Services with a disability emphasis, and had a performance
group called "Hands for Christ" come and provide a Christmas program of sign
language and drama performed to music.
3) Guide small groups in providing appropriate support to adults with a disability or families with a disabled family member.
Our church body life is based on a small group model. Because of our size,
members are encouraged to join a small group where significant, committed,
caring relationships can be built. Our goal is to provide information, training
and ideas for small group leaders on how they can best address the disability-related
needs they find in their groups. Some examples of issues that might be addressed could
include the following:
- Is the family receiving adequate respite care?
- Do the medical needs of the individual with special needs pose a financial hardship that the Deacons
could help alleviate?
- Are there transportation issues?
- Are there relational issues?
- Are the needs significant enough to require the establishment of a support group on the
family's behalf?
Working with small groups is still an emerging process for us, and one of our goals for this year is to conduct a training seminar for small group leaders.
** Insert picture of Heisey Small Group (I have to scan this…)
4) Promote outreach to people with disabilities.
At RPC, one of our unique privileges is our "downtown" location.
We have a commitment to being salt and light right in the literal midst of our community.
Our location affords us some tremendous opportunities in disability ministry.
For example:
- Within one-half mile, we have two of Lancaster's
sheltered workshops
for individuals with mental retardation.
- Three blocks away is a Semi-Independent Living
facility owned by Friendship Community: a Christian
service organization for adults with developmental
disabilities. Currently we have several adults
from that home involved in the life of our congregation.
- One block from our doors is a Personal Care
Home that houses about 35 adults, all of whom
have a significant physical or mental disability,
or mental illness. We visit there regularly,
and our WIC and one of our small groups has
ministered there as well. Two residents from
that home attend RPC at this time.
- And, just about 100 yards across the parking
lot is a Special Needs Bingo club meets on Wednesdays
in the train station.
- In addition, we have been working with a local
disability agency to run a pilot community-based
respite care program as a "connectional" ministry
to families who have children with disabilities.
The program has been a great success this year!
Opportunities abound for ministry and outreach!
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