Think back to last Sunday morning, how many mentally retarded, learning disabled, hyperactive, autistic people did you welcome to your church? Could you count them on one hand? At the last monthly home school meeting, was there a sharing time you felt you could honestly share the needs of your child with others, any within the home schooling group that dealt with something other than the "normal child?"

Let’s for a minute look at God’s word, Psalm 139:13-14 describes us as being "fearfully and wonderfully made." What can we learn from Christ’s ministry? Christ’s ministry was to all, including those with disabilities and special needs – the person with leprosy (Matt. 8:1-4) and "the paralytic" (Matt. 9:1,2), (Luke 5:17-26), the cripple (Luke 13:10-13) and the "mute", the blind ( Matt. 9:27-33, John 9:1-16). Jesus provided comfort and showed compassion, performing many healings. Those with illness and disability were drawn to Jesus and sought him out. It is also clear in Scripture that Jesus was drawn to those with disabilities. In John 5:1-17 Jesus went to where he knew "A great number of disabled people used to lie" (v3 NIV).

Christ’s ministry was also to children "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these (Matt. 19:13-15, Luke 18:15-17). Christ’s ministry and ours, as His ambassadors, is to children and therefore children with special needs.

There are many wonderful things taking place within the local Bible teaching Churches, we have Short Missionary trips for the youth, Singing Programs and Dancing Programs that might open the door to the Parent’s of a child to visit and have seeds planted that otherwise might never step into a Church. We have Outreach teams to both those who have visited and those who might live nearby and not have a Church body to fellowship in. We may have a Spanish Church within our own Body, where those near that worship in their first language can now come and be encouraged. All of these are truly a blessing. Where do the handicapped fit in? We have a variety of things that may come to mind, for myself, it goes from one end of the spectrum to the other, from our young handicapped children to our older Seniors who have Dementia or Alzheimers, only do we see those when they come assisted and helped with a spouse or relative.

Even with all of the outreach programs and such, if a family has been hurt emotionally or there are not others to come beside them and encourage and help with these precious children/youth/adults, they may never return to our church and perhaps may even turn from the Lord. Our secular world has more to offer than our Churches do and so the question continues, where does my child, my aunt, my grandfather fit in, not in most the Churches.

As the saying goes, "If you don’t know where you’re going you’ll end up some place else." These words very much apply to Churches. Unless congregations are consciously led in the right direction, they will fall into any one of a number of ruts – and nearly all of these ruts do nothing for inviting the stranger who is developmentally delayed or has a family member with a delay. Therefore, if we wish to have integrated churches, ( Do we want to obey God or not?), it is vitally important to inspire our people to this goal. A highly recommended book, Rick Warren’s "The Purpose Driven Church (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1995). While not focusing on integration per se, Warren shows how the five basic goals of a congregation would naturally include reaching out and integrating special needs people in fulfillment of the Great Commission.

Yes, we will all be uncomfortable for a time, even parents or relatives or husbands/wives of the handicapped whether through birth or disease ( Alzheimers, etc.) may feel uncomfortable around some one other than our own relative because we know them, on the other hand we are just as afraid as this may be a first experience and "What if something doesn’t go right?" "Will we do everything correct, will people still accept us, and make us feel a part of their Church family?" What a place to think of, when both Home schooling groups and Churches, open their doors to all, is that what heaven will be like, it will be okay to bring that family member and have others accept them just as they are, "Made in God’s Image."

We as parents can help our so called "normal children" as they see how we talk about those different than us, how we share, and how we involve them and teach them friendships or compassion and love for those not like us. One of the biggest prejudges that is out in the Church and home schooling circle is against the handicapped, and God has created them in every color and background.

Remember that for some children this may be the first time they have integrated with other children who do not have special needs, and similarly it may be the first time those children who regularly come to your activity may have met a child with a disability or particular condition. It is therefore vital that we make the occasion enjoyable for every child. ( adult, where this applies.)

Unless we make people aware that a Church or home schooling group can cater to all children we will not see children with special needs in the church. Nobody is going to make a journey to a Church if they believe they won’t be able to gain entry whether for physical needs of stairs or bathroom access, comfort even with their behaviors etc. We need to let people know what our facilities offer.

To be very honest, we don’t see all the handicapped youth and adults where we go, there are so very many just in the area of one Church neighborhood, "WOW" imagine touching their lives and perhaps the Lord would allow seeds to touch those of parents who have been hurt emotionally, spiritually.

Once one or two families with children/youth/adults who also have Special needs start attending your church it is likely that other families will join. Having this ministry will not only produce rewards in seeing children/youth/adults with disabilities and other conditions being integrated within the Church community but may also bring an opportunity of presenting the gospel to their family and friends as well as to the children themselves.

We have a tremendous opportunity to reach out to many. Our church and outreaches through our church, OCS should be a reflection of society. Jesus went to where he knew those with disabilities would be. We should do the same.

This article is a start to get each of us to think about this issue and perhaps our own prejudice’s we may have deep down, how do we feel on this issue** Do you know some one with a child that may not attend a church? Some one that may listen to you share how you home school, but due to the fact that their child/youth has a handicap , they doubt and doubt and question should they even think of home schooling? If this has touched any part of you, brought up questions? Perhaps you know of a Church or Home schooling group locally that is attempting this, please give some input. PASS IT ALONG, may the Lord allow us to truly open our hearts to each family just as God created them.

Any input would truly be appreciated , to this person trying to get by just like you, although questioning as WE DO have those who are handicapped, please feel free to e-mail charlie.carol@verizon.net

May God bless you and those your lives touch, and may we all have more compassion to those that are different from each of us. Carol Wyble

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