The first of a series of Keys to successful disability inclusion ministry.

The first of a series of Keys to successful disability inclusion ministry. The number one key for disability inclusion ministry success is the relations with the other ministries within the church in which you are operating. Ministries that operate apart from the various ministries of each church they operate in (outside church service hours) have all the challenges of disability ministry without the challenge of operating side by side with multiple ministries in real time on Sunday morning. Inclusion ministry works with all ministries in real time on Sunday morning. We facilitate integrating persons with disabilities with neurotypical peers. This could be done with any age group in any area of ministry. At DLBC we are best known for our work in K – 5 Sunday School. We also operate in children’s church (2nd service), middle school, high school, and adult education. Due to the support we give to persons with disabilities in these ministries, their family members are more free and available to operate in all the other ministries of the church. A number of families would not attend in the first place without this support. Good inclusion ministry is largely invisible to most members of the church. We are a means to an end. Not an end unto itself. When working with other ministries we must keep certain things in mind: 1. Each ministry of the church behaves differently. This largely depends on who operates it, and how it is operated. The Christian ministry model has been contaminated with worldly management models. It is also affected by fear, jealousy, and persons being over their heads. My role as leader means that I serve the volunteers helping each one to be the best they can be. Each person in Two by Two is encouraged to take the lead and help fellow volunteers. We are a group of leaders pulling each other forward and lifting each other up. A weaker model of ministry would be a single leader ordering followers around. It is very limiting and everything depends on the leader. We tend to get better happier volunteers using our leader - member model. A positive Christ centered attitude ensures good relations even among ministries with different levels of effectiveness. 2. A ministry that is in crisis may attempt to use your ministry. They may try to take volunteers from their duties in order to support their own floundering efforts. We don’t act defensively. We are all part of the body. We will act as supportively as possible. Our leader-member model ensures strength. It may take more effort on our part but part of our mission is to be an example of strong humble ministry. 3. A strong ministry may choose to ignore you or shut you out. This may reflect an insecurity or simply short sightedness. Whatever the case once again we approach this with love and humility. We try to communicate or make work around but we remember we are all part of the same body. Of course if ministries can’t find a way to work together, one can always go to the pastors or elders and seek mediation. Keep in mind there needs to be strong leadership in some part of the chain of command or problems will not be resolved. Without strong leadership the church will then have a prolonged state of ministry relation impairment. Remember not to quarrel with persons from other ministries. We are all on the same team. Chances are that person is doing his or her best and needs some sort of intervention. It is best to communicate as openly and lovingly about potential impairments so they can be healed as quickly as possible. That is the number one key to successful disability inclusion ministry. Peace and love, Andrew