Accessibility Becomes Spiritual Lifesaver
Charlie Chivers, an Assemblies of God minister who founded Special Touch Ministry, first realized a need for disability ministries while a student at North Central University in Minneapolis.
During that time, he met a severely disabled and suicidal man. After talking with the man about God, Chivers led him to salvation in Christ. Not only did the man develop a dynamic faith, he also began ministering to others, eventually leading a Sunday School class for disabled individuals.
“Through his influence, I recognized that if there was one like him, there had to be a thousand,” Chivers says.
During the next 14 years as Chivers preached as an evangelist in churches across the country, he was struck by how few disabled people he saw in the churches he visited.
“Here was a neglected mission field that churches weren’t pursuing—probably because they didn’t know how,” Chivers says.
Chivers decided to devote one week each summer to ministering to the disabled. He organized the first Special Touch summer camp in 1982 for disabled children and adults. During the next three summers, attendance doubled annually.
What’s more, several disabled people and their family members committed their lives to Christ, were filled with the Holy Spirit and found places of ministry in the church.
Realizing he had launched a full-time ministry, Chivers gave up his other pursuits to devote his time to working with the disabled.
Today, Special Touch ministers in 13 Assemblies of God districts: Wisconsin/Northern Michigan, Illinois, Southern Missouri, Arizona, Rocky Mountain, Iowa, New York, Kentucky, Appalachian, Arkansas, Minnesota, Oklahoma and Alabama.
In addition to the summer camps, Special Touch has 15 chapters that work year-round to meet the needs of disabled people and their families through monthly meetings and fellowship opportunities as well as tangible assistance.
Through her involvement with Special Touch chapter, Nancy Pavelka was able to get a lift van for transporting her son. This has made it much easier for Michael to attend church serves and Special Touch programs.
“Special Touch has meant so much to us,” says Nancy. People who don’t deal with disabilities on a daily basis don’t know how stressful it is and how many challenges there are for families.”
In addition to helping the disabled, Special Touch offers education to ministers seeking to reach disabled people.
Chivers provides disability consulting for individual churches and has taught workshops and seminars on disability ministry. He advises leaders on everything from building design to including disabled people in church functions.
At least 2,210 congregations have joined an accessibility campaign that the National Organization on Disability in Washington, D.C., launched in 1998.
Participating congregations commit to valuing people with disabilities as individuals, working toward removing barriers, and encouraging all people to practice their faith through worship, service, study and leadership, says Ginny Thornburgh, campaign director.
“The biggest thing is not so much an accessible building, but an accessible attitude,” Chivers says. “Even when our building can accommodate people, congregations need to be accessible in terms of being willing to include people with disabilities.”
Oak Creek (Wis.) Assembly of God Pastor Jerry Brookes says a number of disabled people have committed their lives to Christ in his church since Oak Creek started a Special Touch chapter four years ago. Some have assumed role sin church ministry, including two individuals in wheelchairs who sing in the choir.
“Disabled people are in every community,” Brooks says. “If you will take the first step of reaching out to them, you’ll discover that there are many who will respond to the loves of God.”
–Christina Quick
Reprinted with permission from Pentecostal Evangel.
Picture courtesy of Christina Quick, Today’s Pentecostal Evangel.
