Special Needs Ministry

I just returned from an evening spent with the mentally disabled. Grace Community Church has a ministry solely devoted to this group of people, primarily composed of those with Downs' Syndrome, autism, and cerebral palsy. The Tuesday night ministry is called Grace Club and welcomes on average 100 people each week in addition to the caregivers who bring them. They gather first in the gym for a time of exercise and games. As I walked in to the gym I was immediately and warmly greeted by a young man who could not speak, but in no way did that stop him from being the most outgoing of the group. The evening continued and so did the greetings. Hugs and handshakes. Questions about whether or not I was a police officer. If you ever feel lonely, go to this group and you will feel like a celebrity.

From the gym, they move into a large basement classroom for a time of worship and short teaching time. Plastic chairs facing the front screen with song lyrics projected by a (old fashioned) magnifying projector. The group enthusiastically engaged in the singing, often with free style hand motions and seemingly genuine praise to God, our Creator. It brought me great joy to see many of this group praising God to the capacity He has given them. Some of them in this life seem to be completely locked within themselves unable to communicate. It made me wonder at God's ways. Not in a million years would I think to design someone who is fully grown yet mentally still a child. Yet God is still sovereignly their Creator and receives their praise. He knows every detail of their lives and reigns supreme over it. It leads me to think of the Apostle Paul's response to beholding the ways of God that transcend human wisdom:

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor? Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
Romans 11:33-36