But what if our special needs ministry is different from yours?

Whenever I get the opportunity to talk with other church leaders about special needs ministry - as I did several times this weekend at the Connecting Church & Home conference in Louisville, KY - the conversation usually involves lots of questions about what we're doing at Providence. I answer the questions, but I try to do so with this caution:

What we're doing works at Providence. We make choices based on our own church needs, culture, and dynamic. What we do won't be the same as what you do.

I don't know if it's pride or just a love for answers (which is a form of idolatry, if we're really honest with ourselves), but it's hard to send someone away without giving them a plan, especially if they have come to me asking for one: "What do we do?" "How can we start?" "How can we deal with our current circumstances?"

Truth is this: I can't answer those questions. I'll try to offer practical advice by asking questions to learn more about your church, but I can't give you a foolproof answer for what will work at your church.

Most churches start with disability ministry in children's ministry. It's more rare to start with adults - which is what Providence did ten years ago - but that happens too. Many churches provide respite events to give parents the gift of time, and others provide support groups. Some connect with outside organizations to provide family retreats. Some group most kids with special needs into separate classes, while others practice inclusion and still others have a mix. Some churches feel called to reach out to those with more obvious special needs while others are drawn to more hidden ones. 

Here's my point: There is no perfect model. 

Think about the churches you've been a part of, and think about the Bible-preaching churches in your town. They aren't identical. The leaders in two different churches can be faithfully serving and depending on Christ, but the churches may look dissimilar. That's okay. 

Think about Christ. As we read through Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, we see that Jesus doesn't respond the same way in every circumstance. He sees the needs and loves the people, which means he doesn't follow a formula for his behavior.

What if our special needs ministry is different from yours? Great! I would be concerned that you were ignoring the needs and dynamic at your church if you were simply trying to replicate our model at your church.