Check out the resources at http://theinclusivechurch.wordpress.com/ and http://www.keyministry.org/. Our church is just putting together a planning team to do research and field testing this year. Everything moves very slowly, but these two resources will be a big help. They can help you, too.

Best wishes and prayers,
Jolene

How are things going a year later? I would love to hear how it’s worked out for y’all

Nikki

Thank you for sharing the link. I’ll be checking it out soon. I may even call Denise to ask her some questions and interview her for Different Dream Parenting. She sounds like a wonderful person.

Jolene

Thank you for being so honest in sharing all the feelings that go into something as important as a special needs ministry. I remember feeling like I was to help start not actually lead Oasis Special Needs Ministry at our home church, Elim Church, in Houston. Like you it was a nudge that was uncomfortable yet impossible to ignore. Thankfully there are a lot of resources and established ministries around my area that were (and still are) of great help to us in our efforts to serve families with people that have special needs. Our biggest local help is JOY Ministry at Graceview Baptist Church out of Tomball, TX. Their Director, Denise Briley, is a wonderful lady that is always ready and willing to help anyone start or enhance their special needs ministry. Their website is http://www.graceview.org/joy_ministry.html Graceview also happens to be the church that hosted the conference my husband and I attended 2 years before the Lord put the call on the heart of Elim Church and my family. Oasis Special Needs Ministry will add your church and this mission field to our prayer list and if there is anything we can do to help plese do not hesitate to ask. I hope this helps.

Sincerely,
Deborah