“National Autism Awareness Month” is in April and Lakewood Church, led by Pastor Joel Osteen, plans to cut the ribbon for its newest special needs facility next month in Miami, Fla., one of several U.S. and global locations that will see the expansion of the ministry’s Champions Clubs, a special needs program for children and teens.
The megachurch, which draws 40,000 weekly worshippers to its Houston, Texas arena, developed a ministry in 2008 for families with special needs children who find it challenging to attend church on a regular basis. The Houston location, which consists of an educational room, a physical therapy room and a sensory room, serves more than 300 special needs families every week.
The program also provides spiritual therapy and a full Christian curriculum. The Champions Club was inspired and launched by Pastor Craig Johnson, the Senior Director of Family Ministry at Lakewood Church, who has an autistic son.
“As a parent of a child with autism, I know there are many parents who cannot go to church because it’s too difficult for them. I want parents and children to know they are not forgotten. We strive to meet the needs of all children, especially our wonderful kids who have special needs,” said Pastor Johnson. “This is a place where parents can feel comfortable knowing their kids are safe while they attend services.”
There are more than 30,000 children in the U.S. diagnosed with autism every year, and the development disorder is present in 1 of every 88 births. According to a statement from Lakewood Church, less than 1 percent of churches in the U.S. have programs specifically for special needs children, but the church plans to do its part in impacting what it views as a “major crisis.”
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article courtesy of TheChristianPost.com
Lakewood Church To Launch New Special Needs Club During Autism Awareness Month was originally published on praisecleveland.com
