Leading a group of adults with additional needs - 5 tips

 

For Christians with additional needs who want to learn and grow in their faith, targeted support is often necessary. But leading such a group doesn’t have to be daunting, writes Jo Acharya

 
 

 
Every Monday evening, I join a small group of Christians with additional needs to worship, pray and study the Bible. The group is called ID (referencing our identity in Christ) and launched in 2018 with a core team of leaders and a vision to serve those who need more time to learn. ID is run by Crawley Community Church, but we welcome members from other churches too.
 
Our sessions follow a simple pattern. We sing a few worship songs, with shakers and ribbons to wave. Then, after a break for tea and biscuits, we move on to either a Bible lesson or time of prayer.
 
For a teaching session, I’ll have prepared an easy read Bible study on a printed worksheet with pictures and symbols. I talk through the lesson in simple language, including questions to check understanding and invite discussion. Sometimes we’ll add a related game or sensory activity to support different ways of learning.
 
Prayer sessions are led by my fellow leaders, Clare Eeles and Clare Biggs. We get creative here too, for example passing round balls that say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ and inviting short prayers in those categories, or using playdough to make visual representations of our prayers. We often include a few minutes of quiet reflection with candles and soft music.
 

Five tips for getting started

 
For Christians with additional needs who want to learn and grow in their faith, targeted support is often necessary. This is a challenge for many churches, especially where there’s no one with relevant experience to take the lead. Setting up a group like ID, for example, might feel like a daunting prospect - but it really doesn’t have to be. Here are five tips for getting started.
 

1 Begin with relationship
 
Get to know the people you want to support on a personal level. Find out what support they’d like, and what helps them learn and participate. Then begin to build your provision around their wants and needs. Don’t feel you have to do everything at once. Start with the basics; the rest will come naturally as you gain experience and get more comfortable.
 

2 Get the practicalities right
 
Think carefully about timings and venue, making sure they’re accessible to your members, and talk to your church’s safeguarding team about how to run your group in a safe way. It helps to have a team of leaders sharing the work and supporting each other. Consider undertaking some training too – we worked through the Enabling Church Course by Churches for All, and Count Everyone In offers online workshops.
 

3 Benefit from others’ expertise
 
Many people in additional needs ministry share their resources for others to use. My Bible study worksheets are free to download from my website, valleyofsprings.com, and I also have two easy read books available. I highly recommend joining the Additional Needs Alliance Facebook group, where you can find abundant advice and resources from other ministry leaders, families and disabled people themselves.
 

4 Provide different ways to learn
 
Where there’s a mix of abilities, it’s important to offer different ways to take part. Think about how to engage the senses and encourage interaction, and aim to include something each person can enjoy. Try simple things like offering colouring sheets, watching a video, incorporating responses into a Bible story or bringing things for people to touch, taste or smell. You don’t have to come up with something new every time – in ID we find that familiar activities help our members relax and engage more freely. You’ll soon learn what works in your setting.
 

5 Equip and empower
 
Identify people’s gifts and give them opportunities to contribute in meaningful ways. Aim to empower each person to give as well as receive, and to be fully part of the wider church community. In ID we’ve invited others from the church to visit and share with us, as well as supporting our members to join the welcome team and take part in services.
 

For more ideas and advice, visit valleyofsprings.com/livingwellwithgod to download my free group leader’s guide.


 

'Each week we see the Body of Christ vibrantly in action' 

When I asked my fellow leaders their thoughts for this article, Clare Biggs gave this advice: 'Be yourself, and be ready to learn and be encouraged yourself too.'

Clare Eeles added, 'It’s wonderful watching the group walk together. Serving is light, and we get so much love and support from the group.'
 
It’s true that being part of ID has been a huge blessing to all of us. Each week we see the Body of Christ vibrantly in action as our members engage confidently with their faith and use their God-given gifts. They pray passionately for people suffering around the world and for each other; they ask great questions and share what’s happening in their lives. When one member was unable to join us for a session, he told us he had his own prayer and worship time instead, complete with a cup of tea, just like at ID.
 
If you’re beginning your own journey in this ministry, I wish you well and pray it will be as rewarding for you and your community as it has been for us.
 

Image | Small Giant | Unsplash

 

Jo Acharya worked with people with learning disabilities for 18 years and is now a writer. Her easy read books Living Well With God and The Big Story of the Bible are available from Amazon worldwide as well as her own website.

Follow Jo on social media @valleyofsprings.

 
 

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