Barnabas Disability Ministry
...Supporting and encouraging children, siblings, families, and individuals challenged by disabilities.
Barnabas Disability Ministry Video
Click below to see an exciting video about the Barnabas Ministry!
Sunday mornings
Our main focus is to provide an appropriate and supportive Christian education setting for children and students with special needs so parents can comfortably attend worship. They can be placed in the regular Grace Church Sunday School with one-to-one help, as needed, or participate in one of three special classrooms that include a higher ratio of teachers and helpers and a reverse mainstream program. Parents, teachers, and helpers all seek together to provide the best experience for the child.
There are four unique features to the Sunday morning part of our ministry:
1) Barnabas Friend Ministry
This ministry helps meet the spiritual needs of children and students with disabilities through the Grace Church Sunday school and Teen Ministries. In these ministries, Barnabas Friends facilitate the inclusion of the child/student with special needs in the regular Grace Church Sunday School. Each one, as needed, is provided a Barnabas Friend who comes alongside the child/student and helps him make friends, participate in the activities, and learn about Jesus.
2) Barnabas Children's Class
The Barnabas Children's class is a special-needs Sunday school class serving children whose needs are not met in the regular Grace Church Sunday school setting. In addition to singing, crafts, and story time, trained Barnabas volunteers adapt Bible lessons and related activities. This is all done in a safe, nurturing atmosphere where each individual is loved and valued as a precious child of God.
3) Barnabas Teen Class
Barnabas Teen class is a unique Sunday school experience for teens with a variety of social and intellectual needs. They enjoy a comfortable setting where they can establish friendships while having fun with games, crafts, music, and other activities centered around God's Word. A small group of teens from the Senior High regularly attend, in a reverse mainstream role, making it especially fun for the kids.
4) Barnabas Adult Class
This class serves adults with intellectual and cognitive disabilities. The participants enjoy friendship and fellowship through singing, Bible teaching, and application from a special education curriculum. They also perform service projects at the church. One Friday evening a month the group meets in the Grace Church Game Room, and often enjoys other social activities together.
Sunday Schedule
Children's Class: 10:30 a.m. in Room M022
Teen Class: 10:30 a.m. in Room M024
Adult Class: 10:30 a.m. in Room M213
Additional Barnabas Activities
Respite By Barnabas
The Grace Church family serves alongside regular Barnabas Volunteers in offering a Friday evening of fun, crafts, movies, and gym time for children with special needs and their siblings so their parents can enjoy an evening out. Make a reservation by contacting Karen Anderson at 612-869-8803 or dkmpls@juno.com.
Barnabas Moms Small Group (Moms of Kids With Special Needs)
September 16 – April 29
Every other Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. • Room M211
Every other Wednesday, 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. • Room M150
Cost: $10
Leaders: Sue Hume and Lanae Doiron
Are you tired of worrying about all the “what-ifs” in your life? Then join us as we explore Calm My Anxious Heart by Linda Dillow. Filled with encouragement and practical help for overcoming anxiety, this book and Bible study will help you
discover what the Bible says about contentment and ways to apply it to your life. Please contact Sue at suekevhume@msn.com or 952-470-6181 to register or for additional information.
Something Special for Dads
By Sue Hume
For the past three years, the Barnabas Disability Ministry has hosted a retreat for moms of kids with special needs. But this year, it's dad's turn for a morning of encouragement and fellowship.
A pancake breakfast will be held on Saturday, April 18, 2009 from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the Divine Grind at Grace Church. All men - dads, grandparents, uncles, and volunteers - who love children with special needs are invited to attend.
Kempton Turner, the Pastor for Young Adult Discipleship at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, is the keynote speaker. Kempton understands the challenges dads face as he is the father of a six-year-old son with Sturge-Weber Syndrome. This condition has caused glaucoma, seizures, and significant developmental delays.
Kempton is devoted to helping parents of children with special needs grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. This knowledge helps them see God as a loving and gracious giver of good gifts, even when those gifts come packaged in a disabled body or mind.
"This will be a great opportunity for dads throughout the metro area to meet others in similar situations," Chuck said. "They'll see they are not alone." In addition, resources on disability and men's issues will be available for purchase.
The event is free of charge, but donations will be accepted for the cost of the breakfast. Seating is limited, so men are encouraged to register early by contacting Chuck Peterson at 952-361-9789 or chuckkarn@infinityathome.net . Registration deadline is April 9, 2009.
Opportunities to Serve in the Barnabas Disability Ministry
(Training is provided in all areas of Barnabas Ministry participation)
† Professional Consultants:
Serve as a resource to the Barnabas Disability Ministry
† Grace Sunday School Helpers:
Serve one-to-one with a child or student in their Grace Church Sunday School classroom on a weekly basis.
† Classroom Volunteer:
Serve in the Children's, Teen or Adult classroom on a weekly basis.
† Student Friend:
Students who would like to participate in our reverse mainstream program attend the Children's Class or Teen Class (regularly or once or twice a month) to be a friend to our students and a help to our volunteers.
† Barnabas Prayer Team:
Join our Barnabas Prayer team receiving monthly prayer concerns from staff and Barnabas families.
† Respite Volunteer
Serve as an individual, couple, or family on a Friday evening for our church and community respite program. Have a fun evening with children with special needs and their siblings so their parents can enjoy an evening out.
Barnabas Newsletters:
January 2009 May 2009 February 2009 June 2009 March 2009 April 2009
How do I get more information?
On Sunday morning, inquire at the Children's Ministry desk near the Welcome Center at Door #4. We will arrange for you to see our program, receive information about our family activities and respites, and help you with other resources.
During the week, please contact Karen Anderson at 612-869-8803 or dkmpls@juno.com.