1. When God Speaks We Listen Special Needs Ministry
Grace Place Church

2. Habakkuk 2:2 Write the revelation down on tablets
and have a herald run with it. It speaks
of the end. And though it may tarry do
not stop. For surely it will come to pass.

3. SPM Strategic Outline What is God’s heart towards Special Needs?
What ministry are we really in?
How is the ministry today? (As Is)
Vision (Where we are going)
Mission (Why)
Core Values (Character)
Assumptions
Objectives (Clarify Specific)
Strengthens (Leverage)
Weaknesses (Correct)
Opportunities (Evaluate)
Threats (Protect)
Critical Success Factors (Top 5)
Strategies (How To)
Action Plans (Who What When)
Measurements( Metrics)
Financials ($$$)

4. If wishes were horses beggars would ride..
Plan your work and work your plan.

5. Special Needs Ministry Planning Team
Joe and Margaret Ryan
TJ Anderson
Brian and Diana Tillman
Joan Handley

6. The best laid plans…

7. What is God’s heart towards Special Needs?
Throughout scripture God demonstrates compassion and unconditional love. He has a heart for the needy and it is clearly a priority. Out of all the miracles Christ did during His 3 year ministry, 2/3 were for those with special needs.

8. What Are Special Needs? Disabilities Include but not limited to:
Any Age
Disabilities Include but not limited to:
Physical
Developmental
Mental
Autistic
Seizures
Cerebral Palsy

9. What Ministry Are We In?
Minister to the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of individuals with special needs and their families including siblings and extended family members
Support local churches with their special needs ministry
Come along side our local community to assist and minister to our special needs neighbors

10. Stay on course?

11. My heroes have always been cowboys

12. Ministry As Is In-take forms 25 volunteers Respite care once a month
Special needs classroom
Lay leadership in place
Staff position
VBS
Under Children's Ministry
Limited awareness of Special Needs

13. Vision
Grace Place has a church wide culture where individuals with disabilities are treated as just another member of our church. Special Needs members are exercising their individual gifts and serving the body of Christ and our greater community.

14. Mission
To minister to those with special needs and their families leading them to a deeper relationship with Christ while helping them discover their spiritual gifts.

15. Objectives – Families
Provide opportunities for spiritual growth through accessibility to church activities, programs, etc. while meeting physical and emotional needs

16. Objectives- Individuals
Member of the body
Spiritual
Learning/growth
Meet specific needs of special
needs individuals within our
church
Accepted
Loved
Accessibility
Contributing member
Discover spiritual gifting;
Fulfilling their purpose

17. Assumptions People care Pastor Clay supports special needs ministry
God is leading and guiding
There are special needs population
There are people that want to help but don’t know how
Resources people, facilities and financial
Volunteer need training
Special needs individuals part of leadership
People will come to know Christ
Growth
Successful
Challenges
Need prayer team
Christ centered ministry
Become independent ministry within church
Other ministries will cooperate

18. Strengths Holy Spirit Individuals Parents Volunteers Pastor Rick
Facility
Experienced mentors
Finances
Momentum
Educated people
Prayer support
Willingness
Networks

19. Weaknesses
Communication to parents, staff, volunteers, individuals, community-at-large
Facilities: access, clean safety, bathroom
Process: Intake forms, flow etc.
Spiritual: prayer, discipleship
Recruiting, training and retaining volunteers
Integrated into all ministries

20. Objectives – Grace Place Church
Create prayer team
Come under covering of full-time pastor
Be a financial contributor rather than a ministry expense to Lifebridge

21. Opportunities Partner with JAF Partner with school district
New facility
Partner with local churches
Financial resources
Other agencies

22. THREATS Government Ignorance Liability Satan
Losing the fact that this is God’s ministry

23. Critical Factors God’s blessing Prayer support group Education
Leadership support
Devoted volunteers
Structured flexibility
Human & financial resources
Biblically grounded

24. 2007 Goals Present Special Needs Ministry Plan
Special Needs Awareness Weekend
Funfest special needs emphasis
Expand ministry to at least 5 new families
First family to JAF family retreat
Increase training for volunteers
Broaden ministry beyond children's ministry
Community out reach to churches and government agencies
New location input
Pot luck dinners

25. Strategy
Meet specific needs of special needs individuals within our church
AS-IS
Children under 13/no plan for adults
Access
Room
SHOULD-BE
Plan for every individual
Facilities: access, clean, safe, sp. needs room, playground, transportation, medical
Discipleship
Find their place to serve
Acceptance/support
Variety of activities
Advocate

26. Action Plan Individuals

27. God spoke did we hear him? What are we going to do about it?
Special Needs Ministry
Lifebridge Church

28. Presentation Outline Open with LA Olympic Story Habakkuk 2:2
Luke 14 a table for all
Background met with lay leaders, parents, volunteers
Worked a proven process to discover God’s will and direction for the ministr
Show plan

29. At the Seattle Special Olympics, nine contestants, all physically or mentally disabled, assembled at the starting line for the 100-yard dash. At the gun, they all started out, not exactly in a dash, but with relish to run the race to the finish and win.
All, that is, except one little boy who stumbled on the asphalt, tumbled over a couple of times, and began to cry. The other eight heard the boy cry.
They slowed down and looked back. Then they all turned around and went back......every one of them. One girl with Down's Syndrome bent down and kissed him and said, "This will make it better." Then all nine linked arms and walked together to the finish line. Everyone in the stadium stood, and the cheering went on for several minutes. People who were there are still telling the story.

30. If this story were entirely true; what a perfect picture it would be of how the church should act.
The facts are that only two of the other nine racers stopped to help the fallen one.
I am sure we like to think that we would be one of those who stopped and helped.
What are we really doing with those who are falling around us everyday?
Are we as the body of Christ going to stop and help those who have fallen?
And if not us who will?

31. Objectives-Community
Local; State; National; International
Awareness/acceptance; Practical support; Partnership with other groups – public
schools special Education and involvement, other churches; publicity; funding;
donations and resources; missions; parks; government; advocacy groups

32. Families
Assess where the families are spiritually at potluck
Evaluate survey
Take appropriate action.
Communicate with pastoral care
Everyone in the family has the opportunity to participate.