Special needs families comprise the largest unreached people group in the world. The Church can make a dent in those statistics by becoming a place where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ.
Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada, and I’m celebrating World Down Syndrome Day!
Oh, oh, oh, I’ve got so many wonderful stories of friends with Down Syndrome who are having such a great impact on their churches. And today I’m thinking of 23-year-old Joshua who absolutely loves his role there at Pear Orchard Church down in Mississippi. Marie, his mother, is a single mom, and she’s so relieved, so glad, so inspired that her and her son Joshua feel welcomed, and celebrated, and affirmed in their local congregation. But it hasn’t always been that way.
Because there was a time that Pear Orchard Church did not know how to embrace young men like Joshua. People were a little awkward, not knowing what to say or how to respond. Where would Joshua fit? I mean, it wasn’t like he was a little kid; he was in his 20s. Were they equipped to handle his many needs? Whose Sunday school class would welcome him? Well, thankfully, the leadership at Pear Orchard were not about to turn away this single mom and her young man with Down syndrome. In fact, the associate pastor, Carl Kalberkamp, explained how things began to change when his church realized that special needs families like Marie’s comprise the largest unreached people group not only in the United States, but in the world. When Carl and the rest of the leadership team became aware of that, they took action.
And you know what? I am happy to say that they turned to Joni and Friends for guidance and resources. Pastor Carl told us, he said, “Joni and Friends helped all of us to recognize our own brokenness more deeply, and that there is so much commonality between all of us and those with special needs.” Well, God bless Pastor Carl for saying that! And what I really love is that Joshua – this young man with Down syndrome – now serves as an important member of the hospitality team, greeting everyone as they arrive on Sunday mornings. He distributes bulletins, he shakes hands, he gives them a smile. And when Joshua welcomes others with his infectious big grin and ever-bigger heart, everyone in the church is able to view their own brokenness in the same way. And now, Pear Orchard Church has become a congregation where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ.
Okay, so it’s one thing to talk about this exceptional young man and his mother, but you’ve really got to see it for yourself. So, go directly from here to joniradio.org and click on our video about Joshua’s story. Don’t worry – it’s brief, but it is so powerful. And who knows? It might be something to show your church leadership. Also, at joniradio.org today, I’m providing a link to all of our church training resources, the same resources that helped Pear Orchard in their quest to foster a healthy ministry to people with disabilities and their families, ’cause 1 Corinthians 12:22, says that “those who seem to be weaker are indispensable in the body of Christ.” And after you watch that video, you will agree: Joshua and his mother play a key and much-needed role in their church. So, see for yourself at joniradio.org and be inspired to strengthen your church’s outreach to people like Joshua. Together, let’s make a dent in those statistics about special needs families being the least reached people group. Let’s demonstrate the love of Jesus and make the disabled the most reached people group. Find out how to do it at joniradio.org. Again, see Joshua and his mother on a wonderful video at joniradio.org. That’s your good word today from Joni Eareckson Tada sharing hope.
© Joni and Friends