Many of our volunteers have a passion to include children and young people who have additional needs. As part of his role, Mark Arnold, Additional Needs Ministry Director, visits churches to offer advice, training and ideas for how to help children, young people and their families feel they belong better in church and have opportunities to respond to the Gospel.
One of our Groups is based at Watnall Road Baptist Church in Hucknall, Nottingham. They asked Mark to come and give them some training. The Lead Minister, Simon, shares how much they benefited from this:
“Mark Arnold came to Watnall Road Baptist Church last year. We found the evening’s training stimulating, challenging and useful. Whilst Mark is an expert about this subject, he has also lived it in his own family and church circumstances.
“After the training we had a greater awareness of the need to change to make our church accessible to all. Our children’s and youth workers are now a lot better equipped to help children and young people with learning difficulties hear the good news about Jesus and feel part of the respective groups they are in.
“As a result of this work several people with learning difficulties have been baptised and come into church membership. However, we realize that this is just a start and look forward to seeing more change in our church and greater impact on people’s lives in the future.”
Simon Robinson
Lead Minister, Watnall Road Baptist Church, Hucknall, Nottingham, (an Urban Saints Energize subscriber)
For more information visit: www.urbansaints.org/additionalneeds
If you’re inspired by Simon, contact Mark Arnold at marnold@urbansaints.org to visit your church or group to suggest ways to improve inclusion
