“Positioning Your Special Needs Ministry to Reach Your Community” Notes

These are my  notes from the “Positioning Your Special Needs Ministry to Reach Your Community” Breakout session at the Orange Conference 2020. Jess Berryhill led this breakout.

Prioritize your community makes a difference. Connect with them.

As you start, identify what could be the wins and worst case scenarios for your community as you begin.

Who are you listening to in your community?

Do you know what you are offering as a Church? Do you know what families need in your community. Start listening to your community.

Process what you heard and unite what your Church can do with what your community needs.

Making new friends is a great benefit to listening to people in the community. You are not longer doing things for the community but with the community.

Which parents can you equip to become advocates in the community for your ministry?

• They can be a great resource and asset
• Find out what skills and passions they have to help.
• Create a culture of celebration and highlight what the students are doing on social media and in other areas.

How can your team show up both expectedly and unexpectedly to make a difference in the special needs community.

• Show up and serve at an event not yours…but that is something that is happening in the community.
• Send lunch to the special education teachers or a person who is doing something great in the special needs community. Surprise them.

When you reach out into the community, people who don’t go to your Church will financially support what you are doing. Plus, there are grants out there as well.

Jesus sets the example. Over and over, Jesus modeled a love and compassion to all communities.

What stands out to you from this session about how you can position your special needs ministry to reach your community? Share below or on social media using #ymsidekick and #OC20 when you share.

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