Ministering to Children with Emotional and Psychological Needs
We’re glad you have chosen to check out the special needs section of the Pentecostal Family Website. This section of the website was developed by graduate students of the Pentecostal Theological Seminary. The students of this class are working professionals, pastors, mothers, and fathers. Some have special needs children of their own bringing personal experience to the table. All of us have a heart to learn more about special needs and special needs ministry. We trust that you will find this as a valuable resource to help you in your search for knowledge and insight as one who shares in our common concern for those who need special attention.
You have probably noticed that we have four categories in the special needs section of The Pentecostal Family website. If you have done any study of special needs you have also noticed that there is a lot of overlap in these categories. For instance, some people with a physical special need may also have an emotional and/ or psychological special need. We have put together these categories based on common understandings, i.e., the way the average person categorizes special needs. They are divided according to their primary manifestations.
It is important to note that we are talking about people. What affects one part of the body or mind/ emotions can affect the other areas of the body as well. As this is true for an individual, it should also be true for the body of Christ. The hurt and pain one part of the body of Christ experiences should be felt by the entire body. It is only when you get to this point that you will have the burden and compassion to do all you can to minister to those with special needs.
The church has a wonderful opportunity to minister to special needs kids and their families. Some churches do well at this. Some not so much. Unfortunately, many miss this great opportunity to be a blessing to these special families in need and many of these families get burned out trying to be a part and they simply give up finding it easier to just stay home on Sunday mornings. Far too often the church is reactionary when it comes to accommodating special needs kids and families. When you do not have a specific plan in place to minister to these families you end up “shooting from the hip” and missing the mark. This causes burnout and fatigue for the church workers and volunteers and you end up sighing from relief when that special needs family does not show up as if it’s something you do not have to put up with that day. This is quite a shame.
Just like families with special needs family members need to recognize the blessing of their special needs child; churches need to be prepared to do the same. Might I propose that a church that does not have a plan and personnel in place to minister to special needs kids and families is a handicapped church? The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 12:26
“If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.”
We are called to suffer with those who suffer and rejoice with those who rejoice. We tend to find it easier to rejoice with those who rejoice, but God has called us to be more holistic than that in our approach to ministry. For we are all one body in Christ. If one part of the body or family in the body has a special need, then shouldn’t it be our special need? Shouldn’t it be a concern for the entire faith community? It should grieve us that there are families in our communities who have no church fellowship because the church fails to step up to the plate and care enough to study, learn, and take an intentional approach to working to disciple all of God’s children.
In this paragraph is a link to a blog from a woman named Shannon Dingle. Shannon has a Master's of Arts in Education (MAEd) from East Carolina University in Special Education with a specialty in Autism & Learning Disabilities. This blog is titled “My 8 Favorite Bible Verses for Special Needs Ministry (& The One I Usually Don't Use)”. You’ll find some great passages of Scripture here to get your heart in shape for special needs ministry.
One last note: It is important to know this site is not a one-stop-shop for everything you need to know about special needs ministry. We have simply put together some resources to get you in the right direction to help you grow and learn more about special needs and put you in a better position to serve the entire church. May God bless you and you seek to serve in His name.
Here are a few links to some general information about special needs or special needs ministry:
You have probably noticed that we have four categories in the special needs section of The Pentecostal Family website. If you have done any study of special needs you have also noticed that there is a lot of overlap in these categories. For instance, some people with a physical special need may also have an emotional and/ or psychological special need. We have put together these categories based on common understandings, i.e., the way the average person categorizes special needs. They are divided according to their primary manifestations.
It is important to note that we are talking about people. What affects one part of the body or mind/ emotions can affect the other areas of the body as well. As this is true for an individual, it should also be true for the body of Christ. The hurt and pain one part of the body of Christ experiences should be felt by the entire body. It is only when you get to this point that you will have the burden and compassion to do all you can to minister to those with special needs.
The church has a wonderful opportunity to minister to special needs kids and their families. Some churches do well at this. Some not so much. Unfortunately, many miss this great opportunity to be a blessing to these special families in need and many of these families get burned out trying to be a part and they simply give up finding it easier to just stay home on Sunday mornings. Far too often the church is reactionary when it comes to accommodating special needs kids and families. When you do not have a specific plan in place to minister to these families you end up “shooting from the hip” and missing the mark. This causes burnout and fatigue for the church workers and volunteers and you end up sighing from relief when that special needs family does not show up as if it’s something you do not have to put up with that day. This is quite a shame.
Just like families with special needs family members need to recognize the blessing of their special needs child; churches need to be prepared to do the same. Might I propose that a church that does not have a plan and personnel in place to minister to special needs kids and families is a handicapped church? The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 12:26
“If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.”
We are called to suffer with those who suffer and rejoice with those who rejoice. We tend to find it easier to rejoice with those who rejoice, but God has called us to be more holistic than that in our approach to ministry. For we are all one body in Christ. If one part of the body or family in the body has a special need, then shouldn’t it be our special need? Shouldn’t it be a concern for the entire faith community? It should grieve us that there are families in our communities who have no church fellowship because the church fails to step up to the plate and care enough to study, learn, and take an intentional approach to working to disciple all of God’s children.
In this paragraph is a link to a blog from a woman named Shannon Dingle. Shannon has a Master's of Arts in Education (MAEd) from East Carolina University in Special Education with a specialty in Autism & Learning Disabilities. This blog is titled “My 8 Favorite Bible Verses for Special Needs Ministry (& The One I Usually Don't Use)”. You’ll find some great passages of Scripture here to get your heart in shape for special needs ministry.
One last note: It is important to know this site is not a one-stop-shop for everything you need to know about special needs ministry. We have simply put together some resources to get you in the right direction to help you grow and learn more about special needs and put you in a better position to serve the entire church. May God bless you and you seek to serve in His name.
Here are a few links to some general information about special needs or special needs ministry:
- Children's Ministry website article about Special Needs Ministry Start Up
- Starting up special needs ministry in your church article from Brotherhood Mutual Insurance
- How to recognize kids with learning disabilities
- Christian Learning Center Network: Resources for families, schools, and churches
This page was developed by Chris Knipp, Minister of Children at Westmore Church of God Cleveland, Tennessee.