Children are no different than adults in that they want meaningful relationships with others.
As Sunday school teachers, we know how much Jesus loves the children in our classrooms and how much He wants to have a relationship with them.
What we often do not think about is that Jesus also wants to have a relationship with children who have various disabilities.
However, inviting children with disabilities into our Sunday school classrooms can often feel overwhelming and too much to ask of our teachers.
When I was teaching children with moderate to severe autism, I was always on the lookout for children in our Sunday school classes who might have had some sort of disability.
Although having a child with a disability in the classroom may seem daunting, most of these children can learn about God while at the same time helping their typically developing peers learn how to show empathy and love to someone who may look or act differently.
One of my favorite Bible verses is John 9:2-4 when the disciples asked Jesus, “Why was this man born blind? Was it because of his sins or his parents’ sins? “Jesus replied, “This happened so that the power of God could be seen in him.”
God loves these children, and we need to love them too.
So, now what do we do? How do we help children with disabilities flourish in our Sunday school classrooms?
Let’s begin with the first element of a transformational children’s ministry.
The first element is relationship. In a relationship with their leaders, children experience for themselves the amazing love of Christ.
They also learn from their leaders’ example what it looks like to live with Jesus as the Lord of every aspect of life. The Holy Spirit works through these honest, caring relationships that ministry workers develop with the children to bring life change and genuine transformation.
As a teacher, you want your students to feel welcomed and wanted. However, when you have children with disabilities in your class, you may feel out of your element and not know where to start!
Let’s begin by looking at Paul’s definition of love—found in 1 Corinthians 13.
We can take each of the love qualities and apply them to special needs ministry.
Paul's Definition of Love (1 Corinthians 13)
Love is patient – Love does not get angry or upset when a child with a disability has a meltdown in your classroom. Love chooses to forgive without being judgmental.
Love is kind – Love chooses to act in ways that clearly show care and concern for the children with disabilities.
Love is not proud – Christ like love is not arrogant or puffed up. It is always eager to learn and it therefore models for children with disabilities that we can always learn something new.
Love does not dishonor others – We teach by example that we love the way Jesus loves when we are concerned about other children – especially children with disabilities.
Love is not easily angered – Do not lose your temper if a child with a disability has a meltdown, treats another child poorly or even hits another child. Calmly try to explain to the child that that is not how we treat our friends.
It keeps no record of wrongs – Start each lesson with a clean slate. You will know that the slate isn’t clean if you think, Oh, no! Johnny is here today.” Know that children can change—and that is one of God’s specialties.
Always perseveres – We never give up on a child with a disability. We commit ourselves to the children with disabilities. We want them to know that God loves them and that nothing is impossible for Him.
Love never fails – When we commit ourselves to love with Jesus’ kind of love, children with disabilities can see that we are Christ-followers who love them with the love of Christ.
Closing Thoughts
This kind of love is a beautiful place to start building a relational environment with children with disabilities.
As we express the love of Christ in this way, those children will experience the love of Christ and a sense of belonging that we all crave.
This week when you are ministering to a child with a disability, remember it all begins with a relational approach.