Confession

It has been a long time since I have officially done a blog post, and I have a reason. Like most individuals either dealing with a disability or helping someone with a disability, I am in a serious battle with discouragement. Yes, it is a sin, and I have confessed it to God, many times, but now it is important to confess it to those who read my blog. I have spent a great deal of time striving to find my place in the work of encouraging churches to establish special needs ministries. I am also battling to get appropriate medical care for my own disability while trying to find employment that supports my family and is respectful of my limitations. I am grateful for the prayers of my wife, my children, family, and friends; however, there are so many times when I feel so alone. I can confess that it is easy to give up, but if God gives you something to do then that option seems to always ring hollow. The best example from God’s Word is from the life of Elijah.


Elijah is easily considered one of the most dynamic prophets of the Bible. The miracles that happened during his ministry ring out even to this modern day as an inspiration of faith. 1 Kings 19 begins with a glorious victory over the false god Baal, but it also shows that discouragement can ring a victory hollow in the ears of the victor. Elijah went from warrior to worrier shortly after hearing that his nemesis planned to “make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow." Elijah quickly succumbed to the greatest tactic of the enemy which is to hit you at the top of your game when you are weakest from the fight. This is where I can see my fall too. For all the research, planning, and living for the dream, I fought without calling up back up. I battled solo, and any good soldier would tell you that that is no way to win the war. A victory may come, but chances are you are too depleted to reach success again. Elijah collapsed twice and required supernatural assistance before he ultimately came to the point of meeting God. It takes time to rebound, but the result should always lead to a point of meeting God.

At Elijah’s meeting, it is funny that All-Knowing God asks him, “What are you doing here?” I just love God’s rhetorical questions because they hit exactly where the problem is located. God wanted to see if He and Elijah were on the same page. Elijah gave his perspective that in all the work that he was called to do that no one listened and most important to him…he was the only one left. The same Elijah that was pleading for death was really running to God for his life! Many would label this as the “oh, woe is me” syndrome, but realistically Elijah was engaged in the believer’s first line of self defense when under spiritual attack which is to run to God. This is not unlike Peter when he was sinking into the waters of the Sea of Galilee. Both men had a breach in their faith to which the only good response is to seek out God. The great news is He is there all the time.

However, God may require some additional measures to help get everything into perspective. God wanted Elijah to meet Him again, but you could say that this test of spiritual sensitivity would confuse many today. It was not through miraculous winds, earthquake, or fire, but by the lightest whisper that God made His presence known. Elijah’s familiarity with the astounding works of God was now faced with the humbling fact that God can even talk to us in the most intimate way. The God who created the vast world that we know is powerful enough to whisper. For ones who feel lonely that is a really big deal!

The Bible does not go into specifics about what was whispered. Really, I would rather think that that was something personal between God and Elijah. However, the whisper was confirmation that God was with Elijah and that He had some work for him to do. The summary of that work was mainly showing Elijah that God was preparing people to defeat Jezebel and her cronies and that Elijah was heard and not alone in the covenant relationship with God. Elijah went on to do God’s work. The funniest thing was that God answered Elijah’s request for death with a resounding “NO” as He carried him off to His eternal presence. To anyone who reads this, it is proof that God will honor your prayers to Him but will only accomplish His work in your life.

So, you may ask, where am I? I will be honest and say that I am in the cave. I really desire to draw close to God, but I am still seeking that intimate whisper. I am active even as I seek God’s direction, but how my future looks is really stuck in the wisdom of God. At least I have cried out for His help, and I know He heard me. If you are reading this and are questioning whether to seek out to God or end it all, please choose God. All He will really do at first is bring you back into an understanding relationship with Him. After that He will bless you with the rest of the specifics. The cave is not half bad but not very comfortable to rest in either. He will very likely not blow the roof off, shake the foundation, or light up the night sky, but He is big enough to whisper in your ear. Pray that He will make you and me sensitive enough to listen.

What a teenager with autism can teach us

While on facebook, I was fortunate to have someone post an amazing video about a young teenage girl with autism who was counted out by others only to have a miraculous opportunity to open the door into her world. As one who ministers to individuals with disabilities, it is easy to listen to what the experts have to say and leave it at that. This should not be the case concerning ministry when the true authority in the whole situation is none other than our Creator -- God. He has a plan for their lives just as He has a plan for our lives, and sometimes we just sit back, listen to worldy wisdom, and miss out on what could potentially be an amazing blessing in our lives. Please take the time to watch this video. Then ask yourself, "What am I doing in my ministry or work that opens a door for God to do His work in this individual's life and maybe opens that opportunity for them to break free and be ministered to as God has enabled them?"

Most Churches Not Prepared to Minister to Special Needs Children

This article was written in 2004, but sadly churches have not changed much since this article was written. http://www.abpnews.com/content/view/2306/945/ It is my desire to work towards changing this. No family should not feel welcome at church because they have a child with special needs. This is why 90% of families of children with special needs are not involved in church. We need to create ministries within our churches so that these families can be at church every time the doors are open.

What does the Great Commission look like to the work of Special Needs Ministry?

The Great Commission – Matthew 28:18-20 [ESV]

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
When we think of special needs ministry, it is usually a room or two at the end of a hallway where all the children – young and old – gather to have a Bible story and some special time away from their over burdened mom and dad. This is common and sometimes necessary, but is this all there is to special needs ministry or does the Great Commission give us reason to think about how we perform this valuable ministry?
Let us start with our view of individuals with special needs. There are millions of individuals diagnosed with one or more disabilities that range from physical, mental, or emotional, and each of them God has blessed with the opportunity to have the Gospel shared to them so that they can respond as they are able. Just because a disability may hinder their ability to fully understand and/or respond does not justify reluctance or a lackadaisical attitude from the one who should be ministering. Never forget that the same Jesus who received “all authority in heaven and earth,” is the same person who rebuked His disciples for refusing to let the children come to Him. Also, keep in mind that Jesus was very much involved in creation, and He is NOT surprised or set off by an individual with disabilities. On the contrary Paul writes, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9) If our Lord finds that a great field of ministry comes from dependence on Him, then individuals with special needs are ample teachers. Since our God was very much involved in creating them, it is very important that we take the time to faithfully consider our ministry to them.
The next part of the Great Commission is an emphatic command to go, but how can that happen when we place the children in special rooms? The rooms are necessary, but that is not where the ministry should end. Within the sphere of a child with special need’s life there are so many others who could use the Gospel of Jesus Christ. How do we reach into this child’s sphere and minister? The level of a child’s disability greatly impacts the amount of care necessary to meet their needs. Many parents will give up jobs to care of their children or if the need is very great they will take extra jobs to get needed assistance. Did you know that the parent of an autistic child will spend approximately $30,000 a year on the care of their child (Autism Today http://www.autismtoday.com/articles/Special_Needs_Trusts_Estate_Planning.htm)? Finances, lack of individual and couple time, and other burdens leave parents stretched, and they may turn from church to have personal time on a day they would have off from work. It is unfortunate that these parents would consider somewhere other than the church to find rest and renewal after bearing the burden of intense child care and provision. These children have more than just their parents to help care for them within their circle of influence. Who is reaching out to the teachers, day care workers, therapists, and even grandparents who share a part of their lives to improve these children? Jesus is not telling the parents and caregivers to go to church, but He is certainly telling the church to go to them!
When it comes to the next part concerning discipleship, baptism, and teaching, that is a function that is very broad and would carry this blog on into infinity. I want to make it simple for now by saying that Jesus has commanded to do all these things to which children with special needs should never be excluded. Only our heavenly Father knows the capacity of understanding these individuals possess and when it comes to judgment the only concern I need to have is whether or not I have carried out His command. I will use other blog posts to provide my two cents on ways to effectively disciple and teach children with special needs. For now all you need to concern yourself with is how you are doing these things with these special individuals.
I want to finish this blog by giving you some comforting words – Jesus will be with you always even when you may have a hectic day with a child who forgot to take his meds for ADHD. Our God is fully aware of these children with special needs, and He has workers ready to minister to them and their families. These workers may feel alone sometimes in the two rooms down the hall, but rest assure that our Lord is there also. Our Lord has a desire to seek and to save those who are lost and because someone has a developmental disability doesn’t mean that they are excluded. These individuals and their circle of influence is in a great need for the Gospel. Did you know that according to national studies, more than 80% of people with disabilities don’t attend church (National Organization on Disability)? What about their family and caregivers who very much care for their well-being? Jesus, a very well-known minister to the sick, has included those with special needs into the mission stance of the Great Commission. I’m ready to go out from the two rooms at the end of the hall.  How about you?