Fearfully, Wonderfully...

How Do Those With Special Needs Serve in Your Church? (Part 2)

2008-06-24T20:31:00.007-05:00

Several months ago, I asked the question, "How Do Those With Special Needs Serve in Your Church?" and I went on to describe how Kathy, a blind woman in our church, had stepped forward to tell Bible stories to our children during VBS week.

Well, it didn't stop there. My husband has begun selecting hymn stories for our worship service and giving them to her so she can listen to them on her page reader and memorize the content. Then, about once a month or so, someone brings a microphone to her during the worship service, and she introduces the song and tells the story behind its writing. It is so neat to hear these stories, and even "neat-er" that it's enabling someone whom others might overlook to be an important part of our family.

This year during Bible school, our Kathy really blossomed and helped us in so many ways. She signed up to be a helper in what turned out to be our largest children's class. She labeled the pictures in Braille so she'd know which one to hold up when; and again, she memorized the stories to tell to the class.

In addition, during breaks, she listened for when people were walking by or sounded busy and asked if there was anything she could do to help. "I'm just sitting still when my hands could be busy," she'd say. That offer was a lifesaver for me one particular morning when I had 100 pieces of paper to wad up and I'd forgotten to prepare that part of my lesson ahead of time.

She and her sister also did a lot of the "grunt work" for the decorating committee, and I'm sure if she never has to wad up another piece of newspaper to stuff into a fake boulder, she'll be thrilled.

There were a few humorous moments, though. Several times she'd admonish some of the children to "stop running, you'll get hurt!" as they clamored by. I'm glad she cared, except that many times, the children weren't running. It just had sounded like they were.

I just would smile to myself. I didn't have the heart to tell her.

How To Join The Christian Autism Blogroll...

2007-11-10T01:52:00.000-06:00

I didn't see anything like this out in the blogging world, so I thought I'd start one to help us find and support one another...

If you'd like to join the blogroll, leave a comment on this post (for your privacy, it won't be published). Be sure to include:

the name of your blog
the url (web address) of your blog
your e-mail address so we can send you the blogroll code

If you already have lots of stuff on your blog, flooble has a collapsible menu generator:

http://www.flooble.com/scripts/expand.php?op=get

Joni and Friends on DirectTV Channel

2007-10-06T17:47:00.000-05:00

From Christian Newswire --

Joni Eareckson Tada will be hosting a weekly show on the NRB network beginning 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Friday October 19, 2007. The goal of the weekly broadcast is equipping churches to evangelize and disciple people affected by disabilities. NRB is a progressive Christian broadcasting network available to all DirectTV subscribers on channel 378.

I still remember going to the theater as a child to see her movie, and being so amazed back then at how she could paint. Any time she is on television or on the radio, I stop and tune in. I wish I could watch this one, because I'm sure it will be excellent.

From the Joni and Friends website:
"This weekly series will highlight some of the toughest questions about the goodness of God in a world shattered by pain and suffering. The Joni and Friends TV program is a half hour of soul stirring stories and positive truths from the heart of God's Word."

How Do Those With Special Needs Serve in Your Church?

2007-09-20T19:24:00.000-05:00

We often talk about serving others, and that is wonderful. But have we ever thought of serving others by helping them to serve others?

Case in point: We have a lady in our church who is blind. As we were recruiting teachers for VBS last spring, she really wanted to get involved somehow and help. So we discussed it a bit, and found out that she's very good at memorizing and is a gifted storyteller.

We typed out the Bible stories for her so that she could use her "reader" to listen to them. Yes, it took a bit more effort than originally planned, but it was well worth it. Then, we invited her to be a special guest in a different class each day. I cannot tell you how excited she was to be able to get involved. This fall, we're going to have her try it again by being the guest storyteller in each of our children's Sunday school classes.

The Bible reminds us that it is more blessed to give than to receive. Many times, someone with special needs may be on the receiving end. How wonderful it is when they can experience the joy of giving instead.

So what about you? How do those with special needs serve in your church?

Open Your Mouth...

2007-08-29T00:48:00.000-05:00

"Open your mouth for the mute, For the rights of all the unfortunate. Open your mouth, judge righteously, And defend the rights of the afflicted and needy."
Proverbs 31:8-9 (NASB95)

Our intention for this blog is to be inspirational, to equip and encourage others to minister and serve the disabled in new ways. However, there comes a time when something so hideous comes to light, that it would be a sin to NOT speak up. Such is the case of a young man named Ruben Navarro, who was murdered at the hands of doctors wanting to harvest his organs. It may be wrong to say, "murdered", because although one doctor may receive up to 8 years in prison, no one was actually charged with murder. However, you can read the account of his death and decide for yourself:

Diagnosis: Murder, by Cilla Sluga

As I read Ruben's story, I was just horrified at what was done to him. This wasn't a death camp in Nazi Germany where this happened; it was 18 months ago at a hospital in California. As I put myself in the place of Ruben's mother, Rosa, imagining that this would have happened to one of my precious children, the emotion just became too much to bear.

Like many others, I am also grieved that those who were disturbed by what was happening in the room did nothing to intervene. It is probable that all they needed to do was walk outside the operating room and tell someone. God forbid there be a next time, but if there is and no one is willing to put their job on the line to save a life, call 9-1-1 and ask for the police!

Back to the church... I believe it is of utmost importance that the church shine a light on this and come to the defense of those who are unable to defend themselves or who have been denied justice. As Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” We cannot be silent about this.

God takes His stand in His own congregation; He judges in the midst of the rulers. How long will you judge unjustly And show partiality to the wicked? Selah. Vindicate the weak and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and destitute. Rescue the weak and needy; Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked. Psalm 82:1-4 (NASB95)

Please Note: I never want to be guilty of falsely accusing someone, and I have endeavored to choose my words carefully and only comment on things that have been verified by eyewitnesses. I will be watching this case closely and will also continue to make sure I have said nothing in error. The doctor who gave the orders will be arraigned on Sept. 12, 2007.

I checked the facts presented through the links cited by the author and through an independent web search of related news stories. I was also able to find a transcript from the Nancy Grace show verifying the betadine allegation, as that account does not appear in the lawsuit posted on the internet nor in any of the interviews I have seen.

For Parents - What To Expect Emotionally --

2007-08-10T00:47:00.000-05:00

We were recently asked by another mom what we went through and how we coped when we first learned our child was "special needs." Here's a copy of my reply:

I think you should expect to go through cycles emotionally when you find out your child has a disability. You probably will go through the grief process (denial, anger, sadness, acceptance...) more than once as you have new realizations of what your little one may struggle with.

There are days when I'm on top of the world, thinking about what a blessing from God our child is; and there are times when I am down in the dumps, crying over his struggles. Somewhere along the way, I've come to realize that life on this earth isn't all joy or all sorrow -- it's a mixture of both; and that analogy holds for parenting a special needs child as well.

Sometimes, it is a whirlwind. I especially found that true when we first got the diagnosis and were making decisions. I experienced that a second time when we were getting our son set up with the school. I found that I had to know what the education laws were, I had to know what the best way to educate my son was, and then I had to educate others.

For me, the uncertainty is always the hardest to deal with. When I know what the reality is going to be, I can better adjust to it. But when there are so many if's and maybe's out there, it's a lot tougher.

Here are two verses that have helped me tremendously in finding spiritual focus and direction:

2 Cor. 1:4 -- talks about how we can comfort others with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. I can't tell you how many people God has put in our paths because of our son's disability -- some we have ministered to and some have ministered to us. To some believers, God has used us to inspire them; and to some, He has shone the light of the gospel.

John 9:3 -- is another verse I hold onto, knowing that God has a special plan to be glorified in my child. The man was born blind so that the works of God -- the power of God -- could be revealed and displayed in him.