If you have heard of Joni Eareckson Tada, you know she is a Christian speaker, author, artist and singer. You also know that she has been a quadriplegic since 1967 when, at the age of 17, she had a tragic diving accident. Joni is one of the leading advocates for people with disabilities across the US and across the globe.
Joni and Friends http://www.joniandfriends.org/ Family Retreats minister to families with disabilities by offering a camp experience that the entire family can enjoy. Activities are planned for people with special needs, their siblings and their parents. I recently served as an STM for a week at Spruce Lake in the Poconos. We are called STMs or “Short Term Missionaries” as a reminder that an estimated 90% of families with disabilities do not attend church on a regular basis. Going anywhere often requires much effort and some people are concerned they might not be welcome, the environment might not be safe or they have no spiritual gifts to contribute. Joni and Friends addresses these issues extremely well and has been a great resource for Side by Side -- our special needs ministry -- as we seek to address these same issues in our church.
This year, I was assigned to a 9 year old boy with autism. My role was to accompany him to his various activities and help him get the most from his camp experience while his mom attended camp activities for adults. I can tell you that I slept soundly every night and learned some great new riddles as well.
I’d like to tell you about three people who come to mind from my experience at Joni & Friends.
First is a young man with Cerebral Palsy. He walks with a halting gait and his speech is severely impaired. He communicates with sign language and a hand held electronic device that speaks whatever he types. He loves to sing but you would never recognize the tune or the words. The tune of his heart comes through loud and clear.
The second person who comes to mind is a young woman who recently graduated from college. She uses a power wheelchair but also gets around with the aid of crutches. She is a happy and inspiring young lady.
The thing that impressed me about these young adults is that neither of them were attending Joni and Friends as Campers seeking ministry -- they were Volunteers serving other families. The young lady was an STM to a woman with Down Syndrome and the young man worked on the production team. They didn’t let their disabilities exclude them from serving but they offered their gifts and talents for God’s glory.
The third “person” I thought of is a collective you and me.
Have we created an accepting environment that invites everyone to use and develop their abilities for God’s glory or do we focus on their disabilities and move them to the sidelines?
How many times do we disqualify ourselves from ministry because of our own “disabilities” -- our fears, lack of experience, schedule or personal circumstances? In what ways could we be serving God and His people if we were to trust Him to use and develop the gifts and talents that he has given us?
Think of these two young people from Joni and Friends. Step out of your comfort zone and discover the joy of using your gifts and talents for the glory of the the One who created you
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10
Comments? Thoughts? We’d love to hear from you. Come along side. Side by Side, we’ll grow together.
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