Disability Ministry
“At South Cities, we believe all human beings are made in God's image and worthy of dignity, care, and respect. We live in a world that often disregards those with disabilities. Yet, the word of God tells us that all people—including those with disability—were knit together in their mother's womb, fearfully and wonderfully made. We celebrate and honor our Creator by celebrating and honoring all those made by him in his image. You are very welcome here.”
—Pastor Dave Zuleger
South Cities Disability Ministry exists to glorify God recognizing that all people are made in his image. We do this by helping people throughout their present suffering all the way to glory. Many people assume that suffering is an abnormal part of life and should be avoided. In truth it’s a sad, but normal reality of a broken world. As believers, we can face the existence of disability with the sure hope of the gospel. Our sins are forgiven now and someday everything will be made right with the consummation of all brokenness. It is our prayer that the disability ministry will showcase this hope and glorify God in the process.
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The church is meant to be a beautiful display of unity amidst diversity. We’re a diverse community in our appearance and abilities, and are unified in our brokenness, our salvation by God’s free grace and the knowledge that He gives each person gifts for building up the body. The reality of disability is simply one more way unity and diversity are on display.
It is our joy to welcome those with disabilities into the fellowship of our church family and all its discipleship opportunities. If you have disabilities or know someone who does, we want you to come. We want to meet you. We want to integrate people with disabilities in the life and work of the church while cultivating Christ-like relationships of love. This means finding ways for people with disabilities to serve and love others while we serve and love them. We are interdependent upon God and one another. People with disabilities have much to contribute to the body of Christ and when they are not present, the body is lacking. We will seek to encourage and equip one another to respond to Christ’s call on our lives. Together we are one body, growing in faith and making disciples of Jesus.
South Cities Church is equipped for individuals with a variety of disabilities. Entrances to the church and restrooms are wheelchair accessible. The family restroom is equipped with a special needs changing station.
Participate
Visitation
Adults with disabilities are encouraged through Christ-centered, long-term, genuine friendships built over time. Members can request to have volunteers visit their home.
Sunday School
Children and adults with disabilities who need help to stay focused and engaged during class can request to have a “friend” accompany them. Staff will help determine the best placement and any support needed.
Welcome Team
People with disabilities are encouraged to serve as door greeters once per month.
Serve
There are a variety of ways to serve individuals with disabilities. All volunteers must complete the application process including a background check and interview with staff. No previous experience is required only a willing heart to learn and a desire to serve people with disabilities. Ongoing training and support is provided.
Visitation
Get to know and love people with disabilities by visiting and encouraging them with prayer and scripture in their home.
Sunday School
Volunteers (age 12+) needed to be a “friend” for a child who needs individual support and attention during Sunday school at 9am. Some responsibilities include staying with the child, helping them participate in the lesson and with their group.
Joni and Friends Family Retreat
Volunteers (age 18+) are needed to serve as a friend to a child or adult with a disability. As a friend you will join the participant you are paired with for all meals, programming, and free time activities. Prior experience is not required to serve. Volunteers must be committed Christians with a desire to serve families living with disability. Training and ongoing support will be provided.
CONTACT
Email disability@southcities.church to learn more, register, or serve.
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Make eye contact with the person who is disabled, speak directly to them and say, "Good morning. I’m so glad you are here."
Speak in normal tones at a normal speeds unless they need something different.
Ask yes or no questions until you understand how they’re able to answer.
Wait for the answer—be patient.
Ask them to repeat if you don’t understand.
Ask the caregiver, “What is the best way to communicate?”
Ask, "What do I need to know about you to most fully welcome you into our community?"
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All human beings are made in God’s image, deserving life and dignity. All human beings, no matter how broken or disabled by the fall, are genetically unique human beings deserving life and dignity.
The fall affects every part of creation. Sometimes disabling conditions can be traced from fallen sinful acts; but more often disabilities are simply a result of the residual effects of the fall itself, evidence of the brokenness of creation.
All people are “disabled” by the fall, some more visibly than others. Every human being bears affects from the fall. The most easily visible are physical disabilities. But all people bear marks of the fall whether physical, psychological, mental, or certainly spiritual.
God, in his sovereignty, does not make mistakes. God does not make excuses for conditions we call disabilities; in fact, he takes credit for them.
Sometimes God intends disabilities as a means to display his glory. Sometimes God has displayed his works through healing; other times he allows his power and glory to reside in and be displayed through the weakness of people.
People with disabilities remind us that suffering teaches us more than comfort or pleasure ever can. We can be led to believe that all of life turns on avoiding pain. But Scripture and experience show us that profound maturity in faith comes most often through the fires of suffering.
God often moves through weakness and suffering, not in spite of it. When we live and move in our strength we quickly begin to trust ourselves and not God. But when we find ourselves broken we find that God shows up in unexpected ways.
God’s desire is that his banquet table be filled with “the poor and crippled and blind and lame” (Luke 24). Our culture magnifies the beautiful and the powerful. God uses marginalized people as his messengers and ambassadors. God surprises us with his mission.
People with disabilities need the gospel. People with disabilities don’t need pity, they need community. They don’t need people to simply be nice; they need people who will tell them the truth about a hope for eternal life found in Christ alone.
Disabilities make us long more deeply for redemption, body and soul, in heaven. Brokenness can serve as a whisper reminding us that while life is good, the promise of heaven is unimaginably better.
By Michael S. Beates, Copyright © 9/7/2019. Used by permission of Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.org