A "Total Church" Ministry
 Most ministry "programs" within the typical church are conceived of, planned, and implemented by an interested and motivated group of people and aimed at serving or addressing a specific group or need. Special needs ministry is similar to these other ministry models in some ways, but if it is to reach its God-intended potential, it must be drastically different. For example, everyone in church knows that it must have a vibrant youth ministry for many reasons: most of us have children; we all were "youth" once and know how important it was to us; in general, it's just something we do as "the church". Every person in the church is not directly involved at any given time, but everyone is aware of it and generally supports it. A smaller, focused group of people within the church is involved in implementing the youth program and its focus is the youth.
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Now, consider, P.U.R.E. ministry as another paradigm entirely, i.e. we must change the way we typically think of, respond to and interact with, and otherwise view this ministry. Though many churches claim to have "special needs" or "disability" ministries, most have a one hour special needs Sunday school class with very few members and staffed by a few brave souls, while most of the church does not even know that such a ministry even exists in their midst. Zachariah's Way offers for your consideration a completely different way of approaching and actually "living" P.U.R.E. ministry.
We believe that for any church to have a truly meaningful ministry to P.U.R.E. people and their families, it must learn to look at this ministry as something much more than what is typically offered. If your church body is going to truly include the P.U.R.E. family, the ministry must be a "total church ministry". By "total church" we mean the entire body (i.e. ministry staff, church leaders, and people of all ages) is supportive and involved in ministering to these special people.
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 First, the ministerial staff (from senior pastor on down) must understand that ministry to special needs families should be a top priority of any church that is attempting to genuinely fulfill and live according to Christ's teachings. Jesus spent the majority of his time on this earth ministering to the needs of the lame, blind, and infirmed – why should His church today be different? Jesus saw their needs and met them. Further, these families have needs that we as the Body of Christ are uniquely qualified and empowered to meet – we have the love, compassion, and understanding of Jesus to share with these wonderful people. We can come along side, become their friends, and truly help them as they live their daily lives. However, none of these things can be accomplished in a local body of believers if the shepherd(s) of the flock does not understand, actively support, and believe in this concept of disability ministry. The ministerial staff must first believe in the ministry as vital to the life of the church and then convince and encourage the sheep that this ministry is essential to the very life of the Body.
Secondly, church leaders must also buy into the concept of “total church” special needs ministry. It is the leaders, at the urging and encouragement of the ministerial staff, who will actually organize the church body for action. The leaders must implement the various ways the church will respond to the call and lead the people, as the church actively ministers to people in situations of which we so often completly unaware.
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Finally, though every single person in the church may not be actually directly involved, every person must have the "right" attitude. When the call is given for people to become involved in P.U.R.E. ministry in a church, it is typical that many people will answer with the reservation, "I don't think this is my gift, but I'll try". It is also typical that most of these people will experience blessing they could not have conceived when they began. Virtually no one ever gets involved in P.U.R.E. ministry and then abandons it because they are uncomfortable or don't sense belonging. Rather, they begin to see life differently, appreciate simple things much more, and receive far more than they give. Again, everyone does not get involved, but everyone must change his or her preconceived notions of what "church" is or should be. Contrary to what many think, "church" is not necessarily a people, homogeneous in its age, social status, intellect, or physical appearance, strengths, or weaknesses. In fact, "church" as defined by Jesus himself is very inclusive - it must be "loose" enough to let anyone in, and "tight" enough not to let anyone slip away. The "church" is not to relax its doctrine in any way, but must not overtly or subconsciously require people to meet its "standards" of behavior, dress, or whatever, before they are welcomed into its fellowship - it must remember that it is Jesus, and Jesus alone, that changes hearts. More pointedly, most P.U.R.E. people cannot ever meet these superficial standards because of the way that God made them and it is supremely important that they always feel welcomed and a part of the Body. For example, if a church member thinks there is something "wrong" with an 18-year-old P.U.R.E. person with Down Syndrome being a greeter or usher or if they have problems with making allowances in worship to include P.U.R.E. people, there is a serious heart attitude problem which must be addressed.
In Mathew 22:35-40, Jesus was asked by a lawyer what is the "great commandment of the law" or rather, in today's vernacular, "what is the most important thing?". His response is revealing.
Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Jesus response is simple: love me first and most with everything you are; love others as you love yourself. In other words, Jesus tells us that all the law can be crystallized down to simply loving God supremely and others as ourselves. Jesus said relationships, with Him and with people, are what we as Christians are to be primarily concerned. Further, it should be noted that Jesus commands us to love all of our "neighbors" - everyone, not just people who look, talk, dress, and respond as we do. According to the Word of God, an authentic body of believers will ultimately be concerned with fulfilling this commandment as Jesus instructed and will be a church based on relationships.
We believe that for a church to be a sweet savor to Jesus Christ, it is imperative that it reaches out in new and meaningful ways to P.U.R.E. families. The caring church must think of special needs people not only for one hour on Sunday morning, but must commit to think of P.U.R.E. people and their families each and every time the church doors are open for anything or whenever or wherever the church body is worshipping, ministering, fellowshipping, or serving. "What needs to be done - what can I do - to allow them to be with us as we ...?" must be the question we who care must constantly ask and affirmatively answer. When we do, we will experience "total church" ministry.
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