We believe that people with disabilities are in indispensable part of the body of Christ.
Our Mission: To minister in word and deed to children and adults with developmental disabilities and the families that love them.
This comes from Christ’s example, who ministered powerfully in word and deed to the people he came to redeem. Tim Keller says, “Word and deed are equally necessary, mutually interdependent and inseparable ministries, each carried out with the single purpose of the spread of the kingdom of God.” (Ministries of Mercy, P&R Publishing) Our goals reflect both word and deed ministries. Our focus is not only on the person with the disability, but on their family as we realize that the entire family and often extended family is impacted by a family member who has a disability. We believe this ministry of word and deed is done best through forming relationships between the local church family and families impacted by disability.
Invite
“Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city and bring in the poor and crippled and blind a lame…..Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in that my house may be filled.”
Luke 14:21, 23
We believe that Christ invites everyone to be part of his church and tells us to go out and bring in the marginalized in our society. Many people call this the Great Commission for Disability Ministry. Generally speaking, people with disabilities don’t often just walk into the church, so we look for creative ways to come in contact with people with disabilities. Historically, .College Church’s part in this “mandate” has been to focus on reaching out to people with developmental disabilities and their families However, as God brings people with different disabilities into out church family, our focus may grow and expand.
Include
“The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you’ nor again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you. On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable.’
I Corinthians 12:21-22
After we invite people, we desire to include them in our church body. We desire to include STARS families into many different church programs, not just our STARS programs, so that they can hear the word in worship service, attend adult communities and Bible studies and develop relationships with people besides STARS parents. By doing this, not only do the STARS and their families benefit, but the College Church family benefits as well. As Jim Pierson of CCFH states, “The answer to full inclusion is for each church member to make a person with a disability a part of his life.” (No Disabled Souls, page 89) Inclusion also means having STARS and their families use their spiritual gifts to serve the church. We also believe in having STARS become church members as they profess faith in Christ.
Interests
“Let each of you look not only to your own interests but also to the interests of others.”
Phil. 2:4
“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2
As we come to know the STARS and their families, we get to know their joys and sorrows, their burdens and concerns. By responding to those concerns, we open the door for further gospel ministry. We care for the financial, physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of families. Our programs flow out of the needs of our STARS and their families, so that their joys are our joys and their sorrows, our sorrows. As we meet these needs, we look for ways to be intentional about sharing the gospel and providing encouragement that comes from appropriately applying the Word.
Instruct
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you.
Matthew 28:19-20
Christ has commanded us to go and make disciples of all nations and that includes the disability community. We believe our STARS are worthy to be taught and desire to teach our STARS everything that Christ has commanded and will rely on the Holy Spirit to help them understand. Our part is to make the message accessible to the STARS and teach it in ways in which they can understand. However, instruction goes both ways. Those without disabilities need to understand the biblical theology of disability and we strive to educate our congregation as well. This education takes many forms like Disability Ministry Sunday, Bible studies and our STARS Christmas program. However, the best education often takes place when people in our congregation form relationships with the STARS and their families.
Intercede
I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.
I Timothy 2:1
In prayer we express our utter dependence upon God for all of life. We desire to be a ministry that is marked by our prayers for one another and with one another. We recognize that through prayer and the ministry of the Word, God calls a people to himself.
Interpersonal
All this was from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation……
2 Corinthians 5:18
The ultimate goal of our ministry is to lead our STARS and their families to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ through faith alone, so that they are reconciled to Him and we are reconciled to one another. Then there will no longer be division in our congregation between people with disabilities and those without. We will be one body and have equal concern for one another.