http://mintools.com/blog/special-needs-ministry.htm equipping believers for ministry Sun, 20 May 2012 19:26:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 http://mintools.com/blog/special-needs-ministry.htm/comment-page-1#comment-1739 MinTools Mon, 01 Nov 2010 18:59:53 +0000 http://mintools.com/blog/?p=1352#comment-1739 Thank you so much, Joyce, for sharing from your personal experience both as a teacher and as a parent. Let me just add a big AMEN to what you have written. Your emphasis on making disciples reminds me of a gentleman I know who has special needs. Almost every time he meets someone new, he says "I know Jesus. Do you know Him too?" --- I'm both blessed and convicted! Thank you so much, Joyce, for sharing from your personal experience both as a teacher and as a parent. Let me just add a big AMEN to what you have written. Your emphasis on making disciples reminds me of a gentleman I know who has special needs. Almost every time he meets someone new, he says “I know Jesus. Do you know Him too?” — I’m both blessed and convicted!

]]> http://mintools.com/blog/special-needs-ministry.htm/comment-page-1#comment-1738 Joyce Mon, 01 Nov 2010 18:41:08 +0000 http://mintools.com/blog/?p=1352#comment-1738 Good article. I currently teach adults with special needs at my church in Tomball, Texas. I average about 40 to 50 people each Sunday, which also includes staff members/caregivers. I try to tailor the curriculum for the needs of the class, but they range from low functioning to those with high functioning. The thing I have found works best is to let Jesus teach the class, whether you are using Lifeway curriculum or something you wrote yourself. If you start teaching the love of Jesus and what it means to follow Jesus, the class will respond. they all want to hear about love. The Holy Spirit has shown me through four years of teaching that I must teach these adults, just like I would any adult, they do not like to be treated like children. In regular classes we are taught to be disciples and take the gospel to the world and that is what the JOY Disciples are doing in Tomball. I challenge them to take the story to others; to let their friends and family know. Yes they have special needs, but my 26 year old son is as close to the Holy Spirit as I am, they just have a different relationship. Good article. I currently teach adults with special needs at my church in Tomball, Texas. I average about 40 to 50 people each Sunday, which also includes staff members/caregivers. I try to tailor the curriculum for the needs of the class, but they range from low functioning to those with high functioning. The thing I have found works best is to let Jesus teach the class, whether you are using Lifeway curriculum or something you wrote yourself. If you start teaching the love of Jesus and what it means to follow Jesus, the class will respond. they all want to hear about love. The Holy Spirit has shown me through four years of teaching that I must teach these adults, just like I would any adult, they do not like to be treated like children. In regular classes we are taught to be disciples and take the gospel to the world and that is what the JOY Disciples are doing in Tomball. I challenge them to take the story to others; to let their friends and family know. Yes they have special needs, but my 26 year old son is as close to the Holy Spirit as I am, they just have a different relationship.

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