“Few things feel as threatening to a mother as does something that jeopardizes others' love for and acceptance of her child.” — Amy Fenton Lee Copy Share Image
“A church's efforts to start one aspect of the special needs ministry should be applauded.” — Amy Fenton Lee Copy Share Image
“By its very nature, special needs accommodation is more individualized than the typical children's ministry.” — Amy Fenton Lee Copy Share Image
“When a child's needs fail to be met, undesirable behaviors may surface.” — Amy Fenton Lee Copy Share Image
“By simplifying the goals for the child's church experience, the child is more likely to thrive in church,” — Amy Fenton Lee Copy Share Image
“As a church, we need to be very careful about developing and expressing opinions on these topics.” — Amy Fenton Lee Copy Share Image
“We as the church do not want to lag behind society today, in terms of welcoming people of different cultures, races, and… — Amy Fenton Lee Copy Share Image
“When parents don't empower a children's ministry team with information to successfully care for their child, everyone loses.” — Amy Fenton Lee Copy Share Image
“The churches with the strongest special needs ministries seem to know the secret: a ministry leader who values their relationship with their… — Amy Fenton Lee Copy Share Image
“The best way to connect with such a family is to recognize what's unique about their life story. Your support is felt… — Amy Fenton Lee Copy Share Image
“It is important that the church think outside the box, actively pursuing a relationship with the family, just as Jesus Christ pursues… — Amy Fenton Lee Copy Share Image
“Good people disagree on how a church should run virtually every ministry inside a church, and this is especially true for special… — Amy Fenton Lee Copy Share Image
“Everyone wins when the "burden" mind-set is abandoned and where the special needs ministry sees itself as a blessing to those who… — Amy Fenton Lee Copy Share Image
“Justified and unjustified articles written about how one or many churches fail the individual or the family with special needs can create… — Amy Fenton Lee Copy Share Image
“The educational and therapeutic settings are all about achievement. But that isn't what a relationship with Jesus Christ is about. He loves… — Amy Fenton Lee Copy Share Image
“Please keep in mind that there is no "once-size-fits-all" prescription for conveying support to every family walking through a special needs diagnosis.” — Amy Fenton Lee Copy Share Image
“We help all children learn healthy ways of relating when we create environments that reflect real life. In contrast, we re doing… — Amy Fenton Lee Copy Share Image
“As church leaders, our opinions on these topics aren't necessary to effectively love and support families who have children with disabilities. Encourage… — Amy Fenton Lee Copy Share Image
“Different people do different things. And no one-way of plugging in or serving in the church is more beneficial or valuable than… — Amy Fenton Lee Copy Share Image
“While full inclusion inside our churches is ideal, that goal is secondary to making the gospel fully accessible. When considering the proper… — Amy Fenton Lee Copy Share Image
“In fact, God may be working in and through their circumstances, and we can't know completely how God is working through any… — Amy Fenton Lee Copy Share Image
“Showing participants in a positive light may be the first time some parents have had their child celebrated at all, let alone… — Amy Fenton Lee Copy Share Image
“While grief is a natural part of any special needs parent's journey, it may be processed somewhat differently for the family affected… — Amy Fenton Lee Copy Share Image
“A Jesus-focused ministry gives greater weight to connection over correction, recognizing that change and spiritual growth occur in the context of meaningful… — Amy Fenton Lee Copy Share Image
“Parents feel a greater connection to their faith community when they observe visible ways the church makes accommodations for their child. Anticipating… — Amy Fenton Lee Copy Share Image
“While misperceptions and fears rooted in pride are not the responsibility of the person making an online comment or writing a public… — Amy Fenton Lee Copy Share Image
“In churches that care about special needs inclusion I have found that the single biggest determinant for a child's success is the… — Amy Fenton Lee Copy Share Image
“Even if the family is wrestling through theological issues related to their child's diagnosis, it is less important that the church leader… — Amy Fenton Lee Copy Share Image
“When parents observe a church culture of acceptance, they are more likely to disclose their child's diagnosis.” — Amy Fenton Lee Copy Share Image
“When you nurture and prioritize relationship for the volunteers, the volunteers become the ministry's greatest recruiting tools, because they tell others.” — Amy Fenton Lee Copy Share Image
“Remember that mourning is both biblical and healing. Doing anything that might repress a person's need to grieve is both uncaring and… — Amy Fenton Lee Copy Share Image
“Keep in mind that the current generation of young parents desires and authentic, "we-are-in-this-with-you," type of relationship. Receiving interest from a perceived… — Amy Fenton Lee Copy Share Image
“As a result, the success of the ministry volunteers is often every bit as important as the success of the participating kids.… — Amy Fenton Lee Copy Share Image
“Keep in mind that it is not the responsibility of a church leader to make all the people happy all the time.… — Amy Fenton Lee Copy Share Image
“By and large, the special needs ministry leader is a translator of sorts, responsible for understanding and bridging the gap between two… — Amy Fenton Lee Copy Share Image
“As ministry leaders and volunteers, it's our job to care mostly about a family's connection inside our church, and ultimately with Jesus… — Amy Fenton Lee Copy Share Image
“To avoid misunderstandings, let's talk about how we determine the goals of ministry. We'll start at the most important place - making… — Amy Fenton Lee Copy Share Image
“When a diagnosis is still fresh, do not pressure parents to focus on the positive about the situation. Doing so suggests that… — Amy Fenton Lee Copy Share Image
“Accessibility means more than adding a ramp between the sidewalk and the front door of a building. It includes the ease in… — Amy Fenton Lee Copy Share Image
“In my view, the ultimate goal for a special needs ministry is to being families into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.… — Amy Fenton Lee Copy Share Image
“Different people do different things. And no one-way of plugging in or serving in the church is more beneficial or valuable than the other.… — Amy Fenton Lee Copy Share
“Even if the family is wrestling through theological issues related to their child's diagnosis, it is less important that the church leader be prepared… — Amy Fenton Lee Copy Share
“Everyone wins when the "burden" mind-set is abandoned and where the special needs ministry sees itself as a blessing to those who choose to… — Amy Fenton Lee Copy Share
“Accessibility means more than adding a ramp between the sidewalk and the front door of a building. It includes the ease in which a… — Amy Fenton Lee Copy Share
“We as the church do not want to lag behind society today, in terms of welcoming people of different cultures, races, and abilities.” — Amy Fenton Lee Copy Share
“Keep in mind that the current generation of young parents desires and authentic, "we-are-in-this-with-you," type of relationship. Receiving interest from a perceived peer is… — Amy Fenton Lee Copy Share
“No one has ever seen the wind. We've only experienced the effects and the results of the wind. And none of us have ever… — Amy Fenton Lee Copy Share
“On their own, the leader of a church's special needs ministry can't meet every need of every volunteer or participating family. But that leader… — Amy Fenton Lee Copy Share
“As a result, the success of the ministry volunteers is often every bit as important as the success of the participating kids. And the… — Amy Fenton Lee Copy Share
“By simplifying the goals for the child's church experience, the child is more likely to thrive in church,” — Amy Fenton Lee Copy Share
“When parents don't empower a children's ministry team with information to successfully care for their child, everyone loses.” — Amy Fenton Lee Copy Share
“As church leaders, our opinions on these topics aren't necessary to effectively love and support families who have children with disabilities. Encourage ministry team… — Amy Fenton Lee Copy Share
“In many cases, special needs ministry is a "business-to-business" ministry. The ministry exists to support other ministries and to help them successfully include the… — Amy Fenton Lee Copy Share
“The best way to connect with such a family is to recognize what's unique about their life story. Your support is felt when they… — Amy Fenton Lee Copy Share
“Parents feel a greater connection to their faith community when they observe visible ways the church makes accommodations for their child. Anticipating the individual… — Amy Fenton Lee Copy Share
