Special Needs kids and the gospel?

Recently saw the Facebook post from a young adult that had a brother with down syndrome.  She posted some pictures that are really accentuating the value of her brother on his 18th birthday and how that even with down syndrome he was valued, valuable and could make a difference in this world.   http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150341805178388.343953.511403387&type=3


It made me start thinking about our children's ministry and an interaction with one of our families who has a child with special needs. Their family engages them in every activity the family does, yesterday we were bowling with them at a birthday party. It grieved me, because I realized we don't engage their son as deeply with the gospel each week he is at church. We just focus on keeping him safe.


Do you have a special needs ministry at your church. What does that mean for you? Does it mean that you provide a safe place for special needs kids to be so that the rest of the family can be engaged in ministry? Or is your special needs ministry one that engages children with special needs with the Gospel and allows them to understand that  God made them,  God loves them and that Jesus wants to be their friend forever?


Here's my challenge this week: Take a look at your ministry and see how you can be more effective in kids with special needs with the gospel.