As a special-needs mom and a special-needs sister, I’m often asked for tips on how ministry leaders should communicate with special-needs families.
In order to communicate with care and compassion, ministry leaders need to understand the five phases of special-needs parenting. In the video below, I give an over view of the phases, share what families need from their church in each phase, and give communication tips that are effective no matter what phase parents are in.
As pastor and writer Scott Sauls has said, we need to be asking special-needs families, “How can we keep you at our church?” When ministry leaders understand these five phases, they can more effectively keep families like mine connected to their church and to Christ.
Sandra Peoples is a special-needs mom and sibling. She and her family live outside of Houston, TX. Sandra is currently a PhD student at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in family ministry with an emphasis on inclusion for special-needs families. She is the disability ministry consultant for the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention and an adjunct professor for Liberty University, teaching classes in disability ministry. Sandra the author of Unexpected Blessings: The Joys and Possibilities of Life in a Special-Needs Family. You can connect with her at sandrapeoples.com.
