Special Feature
In 1991, Briarwood Presbyterian Church began their “Special Ones” ministry; a special education class reaching out to two families. Now called “Special Connections,” this ministry has grown to serve 20 families within the church and over 100 in the Birmingham area. Approximately 80% of participants are on the autism spectrum with the remaining 20% having Down Syndrome, intellectual disabilities, and learning disabilities.
As disabilities gain more awareness and recognition, inclusivity and acceptance of diversity have become more commonly practiced. However, Special Connections not only strives to continue to practice inclusivity but also to implement a Biblical perspective and understanding of disabilities. “We want to meet the needs of the families that have children with special needs and show them Christ’s love,” says Special Connections Director Michael Johnson. Special Connections ministers to those with special needs by sharing the Gospel and guiding them to discover the blessing of their limitations and how they can be used to glorify the Lord. Johnson explains that the ministry provides participants’ families with encouragement and counseling on sup- porting their loved ones in developing a Biblical view of themselves beyond their disabilities. He emphasizes the importance of “person-first language” (e.g., a person with Autism) but says, “The only label we should be using [for everyone] is believer or non-believer.”
The Special Connections ministry will host a 100% free Special Needs Re- source Fair where families can connect with over 63 confirmed agencies to date that provide services to those touched by special needs on August 22, 2024 from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. Over the past few years, Special Connections served 150 family groups in approximately two hours through outreach programs, evan- gelism, and bringing unbelievers to Christ. “We host this fair under the Bibli- cal model of ‘making disciples of all nations,’” says Johnson. Resource guides will be translated into various languages including English, Spanish, Japanese, and Korean. In addition, an ASL interpreter will be on site. Space is limited for in-person attendance, but all the fair resources will be available digitally to registered families. Visit www.briarwood.org/ministries/special-connections to learn more and register.
-Madi Mansour
