AGAPE MISSION

It seems at this point in my life, public speaking is unavoidable ;P  Despite acting like a childish whiner a couple days before each speaking event, God manages to leave me awe-struck every time... only God could make me cool as a cucumber and confident to speak His truth.  So here is the latest Agape Special Needs Ministry presentation for those who missed. (edited, again, by Laura, my incredibly talented wordsmith ...who still loves me even after last minute pleas for help... Sweet Frog helps ;) )

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE! SO HERE I AM AGAIN, FRONT AND

CENTER. I WAS HOPING AFTER THE FIRST PRESENTATION IN FEBRUARY THAT I'D BE GOOD WITH PUBLIC SPEAKING... BUT NOPE, IT'S STILL NOT MY THING. ISN'T IT MIND-BLOWING THOUGH HOW GOD REPLACES FEAR WITH AN UNCONTAINABLE PASSION IF WE JUST CHOOSE TO STEP OUT OF OUR COMFORT ZONE?!?

I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BACKGROUND ABOUT THE AGAPE

SPECIAL NEEDS MINISTRY TODAY. FIRST LET'S DISCUSS AGAPE AND WHY WE CHOSE THAT NAME? A PASSAGE FROM THE HAGERSTOWN AREA PREGNANCY CENTER'S VOLUNTEER HANDBOOK PERFECTLY SUMMARIZES THE AGAPE LOVE MENTIONED IN 1COR. 13. IT SAYS, LOVE BEARS ALL THINGS, IT NEVER GIVES UP ON ANY INDIVIDUAL, BECAUSE LOVE CONFIDENTLY BELIEVES IN THE ALL-SUFFICIENT GRACE OF GOD THAT REGARDLESS OF THE DILEMMA OR SIN, GOD IS GREATER. AS LOVE TRUSTS IN GOD'S ABILITY TO CHANGE A LIFE, THIS GIVES HOPE DESPITE THE PERSON OR SITUATION, BECAUSE LOVE BELIEVES IN GOD, LOVE HAS HOPE, AND BECAUSE LOVE HAS HOPE, LOVE CAN ENDURE ALL THINGS, AND WHEN LOVE ENDURES, LOVE NEVER FAILS, THIS KIND OF LOVE IS UNCONDITIONAL! WITH THAT IN MIND, I WANT TO SHARE SOME DISTURBING INFORMATION TAKEN FROM AN ARTICLE ABOUT CHURCHES, “ONE ESTIMATE STATES THAT 90% OF FAMILIES AFFECTED BY DISABILITY DON'T ATTEND CHURCH. LESS THAN 5% FEEL COMFORTABLE AT CHURCH. BUT WHAT'S EVEN MORE TROUBLING IS THAT 90% OF CHURCHES SEE NO NEED FOR SPECIAL NEEDS MINISTRY. CONGREGATIONS FIND IT INCONVENIENT TO REEVALUATE AND ADJUST THEIR PRACTICES TO ACCOMMODATE FAMILIES... BUT WHAT WE DON'T REALIZE IS THAT THEIR ABSENCE FROM OUR CONGREGATIONS, WEAKENS THE BODY OF CHRIST. WITHOUT ALL INDIVIDUALS, A LOCAL BODY FUNCTIONS WITH SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCIES BECAUSE GOD MAKES NO MISTAKES. HE HAS LOVING PURPOSES FOR EVERY LIFE, AND EACH HUMAN BEING IS PERFECTLY CREATED, UNIQUE IN GIFTS AND TALENTS, AND RESPONSIVE TO ACTS OF LOVE. THERE ARE NO DISABLED SOULS.” (In Touch Publication)

LET'S FACE IT, PRACTICING AGAPE LOVE CAN BE INCONVENIENT.

GETTING INVOLVED IN PEOPLE'S LIVES IS MESSY. IT MESSES UP OUR CALENDARS, OUR INBOXES, OUR HOMES. BUT I CAN PERSONALLY

ATTEST, ALONG WITH MANY OF YOU... MESS IS THE CATALYST FOR

GROWTH AND CHARACTER BUILDING IN OUR OWN LIVES. I'VE LEARNED THAT PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS ARE NOT PLACED HERE TO FIT INTO OUR BOX, THEY ARE HERE TO HELP US REALIZE, THERE IS NO BOX. THE GOSPEL IS NOT SIN MANAGEMENT OR BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT, IT IS NOT PASSING DOWN INHERITED FAITH AND MAN-MADE RULES. IT IS FOLLOWING CHRIST'S EXAMPLE BY BECOMING HIS HANDS AND FEET, SUPPORTING THE HURTING, AND HELPING INDIVIDUALS DISCOVER THEIR OWN FAITH.

CONCERNING OUR FUTURE AS AN AGAPE CHURCH, I WANT TO OFFER

AN HONEST SUGGESTION... IT'S NOT AN ACCUSATION, BUT A PREVENTIVE STATEMENT. IN THIS CHURCH AND IN THIS MINISTRY FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND THEIR FAMILIES, THERE IS NO ROOM FOR CRITICISM, PARENTING TIPS, OR NEGATIVE COMMENTS ABOUT BEHAVIOR OR APPEARANCE. IT WILL TURN THESE FAMILIES AWAY WHO ARE ALREADY STIGMATIZED AND RELUCTANT TO TRY NEW SITUATIONS BECAUSE OF ALREADY BEING JUDGED SO MUCH. 

LET'S ALL REMEMBER TO EXERCISE THE GOLDEN RULE AND RECOGNIZE THAT WORDS OVER TIME CAN INFLUENCE THE DIRECTION OF SOMEONE'S LIFE, EITHER BY BUILDING UP OR TEARING DOWN. WITHIN THE FAMILY OF CHRIST, WE NEED TO REALIZE OUR INDIVIDUAL ACTIONS CAN IMPACT THE ENTIRE BODY AND GOD'S NAME. LET'S CHOOSE TO LIFT EACH OTHER UP AND SUPPORT WITH LOVE.  

(many points in this presentation came from different speakers at the Orange Conference  & The Inclusive Church)

Check out my beautiful friend Kris' mission to support an amazing overseas ministry called Boanerges Deaf Initiative(BDI) in Uganda.  www.ironclads.wix.com/signsofhopeuganda 

You can see Kris in all her loveliness with the adorable kids of BDI in this video: