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Abstract

All around this world are individuals with special needs who are seeking to find a place where they truly belong: “According to a 2010 U.S. Census study, 56.7 million Americans, or about one in five U.S. residents have a disability” (Lee 40). With such a statistic, an individual with special needs is bound to be found in almost every church across the U.S. In her book Leading a Special Needs Ministry, Amy Fenton Lee states, “Congregations with a regular attendance from eighty to eight thousand are both impacted, as children with neurological and physical disabilities seek inclusion” (36). Many churches realize the presence of those with special needs but place them off to the side, failing to provide an environment where they may thrive: “Children with disabilities too often find that the church doesn’t truly welcome or truly value them. There simply isn’t a place for these children when kids scamper off to Sunday school classes on Sunday morning” (“The Need for Special Needs Ministries”). Without the acceptance and care they need, some families of those with special needs are left with no choice but to stay at home on Sundays. This may seem outrageous to some, but it is many times the sad reality for those with special needs and their families. Many individuals fail to remember that those with special needs are also created in the image of God and deserve to be included in the dynamic of the local church as much as anyone else. Local churches should establish ministries in order to provide children, youth, and adults with special needs the means to receive the gospel, Deacon 2 discipleship, and a sense of community in an environment unique to their situations and behaviors.

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