When I talk to churches (and pastors) about a special needs program, I am immediately bombarded by reasons (excuses) why a special needs outreach can not be done “at this time”. I’ve heard, “We don’t have the room.” “We don’t have the volunteer base.” We don’t have the money.” ” “I’ll have to take it through the appropriate committees.”  “If God wants us to have such a program then it’ll just happen.” Or, (and I love this one) If it is meant to happen then God will send us someone to guide us through it.” Well, What do they think that I’m trying to do?

The reason that I am calling all of these reasons excuses is because of one common fault that they all have. Certainly you will need room, a volunteer base, and some money. But I’m sorry it will not just happen and God is sending someone to help them get through it. However, all these reasons (excuses) have left God completely out of the equation. They are looking at the proposition from the perspective of what they or their church can do in the real world. They are not even considering what God can do in the supernatural realm.

It is true that without realization, spiritual maturity, education, training and support that a task undertaken is ill fated. However, when you bring God into the mix along with these things then there are facets that are to be revealed.

It is in this day and time of economic hardship that church leadership is looking at the dollar and how it can be stretched until George Washington gasps for air. However, I do not believe that God is confined by any economic or financial difficulty. It matters not if a church has thirty in regualr attendance or thirty thousand. God will provide something out of nothing. How do I know this? I’ve seen it happen.

My first special needs outreach program started with four children, a kitchen table and chairs, and printed material from the state church organization that was absolutely worthless. Oh yeah, we were meeting in the church’s kitchen. Within thirty days we had twenty eight children, the largest room in the building outside of the sanctuary and furniture. We had computers, software, baby beds, craft materials, books, tv, video tapes (pre-DVD era), books, and audio tapes (pre-CD era as well). We started with nothing, mixed in a generous amount of faith and prayer and hey we had a genuine outreach ministry going before we knew what was happening.

Church Leadership and Pastors act as though I’m asking them to gather funds to pay for an extended missionary stay in Africa to build a church, hospital and school while I”m there. That is not the case but I will talk about that a little more later on. All I am proposing is to provide a safe and nurturing place for special needs individuals so that PARENTS and SIBLINGS can come to church and WORSHIP like everyone else does.

If only it were that simple to get people to understand.

Speaking of churches, schools, and hospitals in Africa, or India, or Southeast Asia I will offer these comments. If every “Christian” just in the United States would tithe according to God’s Word there would be no need for Government to get involved in healthcare. There would be no need for Social Security. There would be no homeless, sick, hungry, or uneducated ANYWHERE! PERIOD! Don’t believe me? I challenge you to gather stats and sit down to do some simple math.

It really is that simple.

God Bless,

Lonnie

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