"The church community should offer the best example of love, acceptance, and a willingness to interact with people who have developmental disabilities."
- Don Anderson

Welcome - Our Mission
To share the word and love of Jesus Christ with people who have developmental disabilities… especially those who remain isolated from the church community.

 

About Our Organization
In 1979, the ministry of Christ For People With Developmental Disabilities began providing spiritual care to hundreds of participants in the greater Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area. Through church fellowship groups, Group Home Bible Study Outreach, and various other Christian services and activities, our participants are finding a place in the Body of Christ.
When we began our ministry, it was estimated that less than 5% of the church congregations in the United States were actively ministering to people with disabilities. (Moody Press 1980)

Rev. Don Anderson
Executive Director
Over the years, some progress has been made nationally, but we are especially blessed by how the Lord is working in our midst, and we want to let people know what a joy it can be to serve the Lord in what has become known as “Special Needs Ministry.”
Ours is a Christ-centered, Bible based ministry. The priorities we’ve identified in serving our participants are evangelism, discipleship, and genuine Christian fellowship. Our activities include praise and worship, Bible lessons, praying together, and fellowship activities that allow us to really get to know our participants.
One of our scripture mottoes is found in 1 Samuel 16:7. It reads, “Man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart.” The people God has called us to serve may seem different on the outside. Their appearance, behavior, or limited interaction skills, may cause us to hesitate in showing our love… But remember what God sees! These people have a spirit within them which longs to know the Lord, and His love. Their need for forgiveness, eternal life, spiritual encouragement, and acceptance into the church community, is no different than yours or mine.
The “answer” to their spiritual needs is also the same as ours. Our desire is to proclaim the good news of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ to all people, regardless of their physical or intellectual abilities. If you would like to learn more, please contact us! 

 

Evangelism

  Romans 10:17 says, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” One of our ministry’s greatest desires is to encourage people with developmental disabilities in their Christian faith. How can they believe, though, if they have not heard the message?
  The gospel message of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ is meant for all people. Jesus commanded us to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations… or “groups” of

people. (Matthew 28:16-20) There are no physical, or intellectual, barriers that can prevent God’s word from accomplishing His purposes in the hearts of those who receive it for what it is! (Isaiah 55:10-11 & 1 Thessalonians 2:13)

As Christians, you and I are called to be ambassadors, bringing the good news to people. We cannot be effective witnesses for Jesus without sharing His word. Some might say that the Bible is too abstract for people with developmental disabilities to understand. Consider, though, the kind of people that responded to the Lord’s word while He was with us… You’ll be reminded that lame people, blind people, deaf people… even dead people, listened and responded to the power of God’s word. Remember, it is our job, as believers, to plant the seed of God’s word, and to water it… but God, who accepts the responsibility of causing the growth. (1 Corinthians 3:7)

Discipleship


There's plenty of room at the cross, no matter what our abilities!

Ephesians 4:12-13 reminds us that part of the purpose for our efforts in ministry, as Christians, is to help equip believers, [saints] and to build up the body of Christ, “… until we all attain to the unity of faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God.” Jesus told Matthew, the tax collector, to “follow,” Him. He calls us to follow as well. We are all in a continuous process of learning what it means, or how best, to follow the Lord as His disciples.
In providing spiritual care to people with developmental disabilities, it is crucial to be an example of those who believe, and to encourage them in expressing their Christian faith. In other words, we need to participate with these friends in praise and worship, prayer, and Bible study, and in exploring the spiritual gifts and talents that God has given to each of us.

- Praise and Worship – Our ministry encourages our disabled participants through both traditional and contemporary Christian music…

- Prayer – Our ministry takes time, on a regular basis, to pray specifically for the needs and concerns of our participants…

- Bible Study – We plant God’s word like a seed, and trust that the Lord will bring forth fruit according to His will… (Isaiah 55:10-11)

- Service – Our participants need not always be on the receiving end of a blessing. They bring gifts and talents to share with the rest of the “body.” We encourage them to use their gifts in service to the Lord…

 

Christian Fellowship

Our ministry’s efforts in evangelism and discipleship help our disabled participants get to know the Lord, and how to better live for Him. Our commitment to genuine Christian fellowship gives us an opportunity to get to know each other. Often, people with developmental disabilities have a very limited circle of friends… but as brothers and sisters in Christ, we can share important relationships with these precious people. We can be part of their lives, sharing their joys and sorrows, and helping to bear their burdens.
In 1 Thessalonians 1:8, the apostle Paul writes, “So being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share not only the gospel of God, but also our own selves, [some versions read our own lives,] because you had become very dear to us.”

 

Ministry Perspectives

-The Lord loves people. It doesn’t matter what their physical or intellectual abilities are. He loves them as they are and sent His Son Jesus to be their Savior. Regardless of a person’s ability, appearance, or behavior, we should seek to allow God’s love to flow through us to that person.

- Churches are doing a better job in our day responding to the spiritual care needs of people with developmental disabilities. This is largely because of the advocacy of family, friends, and people who embrace the vision of special needs ministry. You must help voice the interest and desire of people with developmental disabilities to part of the life and activities of the local church community.

- If a church has a ramp, elevator, and accessible rest rooms, it’s a good beginning for ministering to people with disabilities. The greatest barrier of all, however, can be the attitude of the congregation. The church community should offer the best example of love, acceptance, and a willingness to interact, with people who have developmental disabilities.


At Church, finding a place to park is only the beginning!

- The most common reasons for the hesitance of believers to interact with people who have developmental disabilities are fear and apprehension. People are afraid of saying or doing the wrong thing, so as a defense mechanism, they avoid interaction with people who have disabilities. Finding a way to model positive, effective, interaction with your disabled participants/students goes a long way in helping your church congregation overcome its fear.

- People with disabilities are neither angels nor demons. They will not automatically go to heaven or hell. They are people who need a relationship with Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Who will share the good news of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ with them? We must not let a person’s disability prevent us from honoring our responsibility as ambassadors of Christ.

- Communication can often be a challenge when serving people with developmental disabilities. It’s important to remember that the receptive language skills of a participant/student are often greater than his expressive language skills. In addition, it’s also crucial to consider the word of God as a spiritual seed that is not dependent on the cognitive ability of the student, but on the faithfulness and power of God to bear fruit.

- People with disabilities do not always have to be on the receiving end of blessings. These people have gifts and talents to share with the body of Christ. Part of our role as teachers and pastors is to help equip our disabled participants/students to serve the Lord… That means encouraging them to use their gifts in worship, and in serving others.

- Sharing your life with people who have developmental disabilities can put you in a position to have a tremendous spiritual influence in their lives. It’s possible that you are one of the few people who recognize the spiritual need in their lives. It’s possible that you are the only one sharing the love and word of God with them.