Missing Persons: Ministry with Persons Who Have Special Needs

Janet McCreadie is Editor of the Pelham Herald.

People with disabilities are often seen in the community but rarely in
churches. According to Ohsberg, many find churches difficult to get into
and services difficult to participate in.

In Missing Persons, he offers some sound reasons why churches miss
these people and makes suggestions about how to rectify the situation.
He stresses the benefits of including those with disabilities into
congregations, such as enhancing the worship and learning of everyone.
These individuals will gain from their participation in church, he says,
and they also have much to offer.

His six basic points can help include these “missing persons.”
These points range from concentrating on the person rather than the
disability to providing acceptance and security. All are Christian
traits that should be commonplace in churches; there is nothing magical
about the solutions. A disabled person is still a real individual.