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Fifty million people in the United States have some type of disability. This makes up 18% of our population. When you include families of these individuals, that number climbs as high as 35% of our population that is somehow effected by special needs. Unfortunately, up to 90% of those families do not have a church home. In Luke 14:13-14a, 23b Jesus instructs us, “But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Make them come in, so that my house will be full.” What better reason could there be but a direct instruction from our Lord and Savior? |
- Provide a positive spiritual environment for all of God's children, regardless of age or abilities, so that we can appreciate and learn from each other.
- Support families with special needs creatively so that they may participate fully in worship services, Christian Education, and other church activities.
- Uphold the values that reflect the love of Christ for all people, and witnesses to His teachings and biblical truths, so that we will all say "God Made Me Special".
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Definition of Special Needs within the church:
We believe that special needs are those needs that hinder a person, child or adult, and their family or caregiver from freely participating in the worship of God, Sunday School, and other activities in the church.
What is provided for those with special needs?
After the family's initial contact with our Angel’s Arms Coordinator, the family will be assigned a family coordinator who will work with them to determine exactly the needs of the individual and the family. The goal of this step is to determine what we as a ministry team can do to help facilitate the family's full participation in the activities of the church. The family will determine the level of involvement most appropriate for them as a whole. The job of the team will then be to serve those needs. This is a family focused and driven program.
There are many forms that the ministry can take. Among other services, individual aides will be available to assist children within our existing programs. A quiet room will also be available for children who need a quieter environment or just need a break from the routine programming. Because the program will be determined by the families and their coordinators, the look of the program will be a free flowing, needs-based one; therefore, making a standard "picture" for each family impossible to determine at this time. |
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Angel's Arms was created for children and students from birth to 12th Grade who have special needs. The purpose of our special needs ministry is to provide a Christ-centered environment where they can receive proper care and learn about God while allowing their parents to attend the worship service. Each child is matched with a well-qualified person who will be with them during the service to care for their individual needs.
For more information, please fill out the form below:
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