Leading a Special Needs Ministry

by Amy Fenton Lee

What do you need to lead a special needs ministry?  If you're not asking this question as a church leader, you are already behind. Families in your community are asking this question in every area of life--not just church. We need to meet families, families of every kind, and love them right where they are. 

Leading a Special Needs Ministry  is a practical how-to guide for the family ministry team working to welcome one or 100 children with special needs. Author Amy Fenton Lee offers easily referenced guidance
This comprehensive guidebook is long overdue. Special needs ministry is no longer a niche topic, but at the heart of serving communities well. Join a movement of churches who are seeking to more effectively serve the entire body of Christ.

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

Reviews

[Rachel Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found Leading a Special Needs Ministry by Amy Fenton Lee to be not only practical and informative—but also deeply aligned with the biblical call to love, serve, and include every member of the Body of Christ. One of the most powerful aspects of this book is its biblical alignment with passages like 1 Corinthians 12, where Paul emphasizes that the weaker parts of the body are indispensable. In a society and sometimes even in churches where children and adults with special needs are unintentionally overlooked or underserved, this book gently reminds us that Jesus made space for those others avoided—He healed, touched, and embraced those considered “unclean” or “different.” Amy Fenton Lee invites churches to do the same—not out of obligation, but out of Christlike love.

As someone who has worked closely with individuals with disabilities, both in volunteer settings and in my babysitting and educational experiences, I deeply appreciated how the book integrates clinical understanding with spiritual responsibility. Fenton Lee does not ask readers to be experts; she asks them to be faithful. She equips church leaders to ask good questions, partner with families, and build sustainable, inclusive ministries rooted in dignity and grace. Amy Fenton Lee has written more than a ministry manual—she has cast a vision for what the Church can be when we let love lead. For any ministry leader, college student, or advocate who feels called to support individuals with special needs, this book is an essential resource. It is a reminder that, in God’s kingdom, inclusion is not an afterthought—it is the heartbeat of Christ Himself.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is practical, with helpful resources any church can use today so that all members of the church, regardless of physical or cognitive ability, can grow spiritually in Christ. Many of the strategies will transfer well to any ministry setting, since they focus on how to work together as a team for the good of the body. As a parent of three kids and a teacher of teens, I can attest that this book provides valuable wisdom for shepherding young hearts in the home and school setting as well.

[Kori Barrentine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most helpful books I have read on ministry to children with special needs and their families. One feature that really sets it apart from similar books is the amount of research and the number of personal stories that Lee included in her book. It gives both a breadth and depth to understanding these families, their needs, and how the church can help meet those needs. Highly recommend for those in children's ministry.

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://growupspd.blogspot.com/2018/01...

[Victoria Hoppes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful read for leaders and ministries wishing to serve people with a variety of needs.

[Cheri Roan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fenton has written an exceptional book looking into the situations that anyone who works in a ministry with children with special needs may or may not face. At the beginning is an outstanding section that is especially insightful called “Loving Families”. It seems in many other books on special needs ministry this subject was barely touched on or not at all. But Fenton goes in-depth showing us the right things to say and do to accept and love the family that has a child just diagnosed whether at birth, pre-school or elementary age. From there the author seems to knowingly know what challenges or situations are faced and thou a small book the detail is remarkable and in-depth even covering statistics, terms, training, recruiting, safety, as well as many other subjects. The only negative point seemed to be that the coverage seemed to be more on children with autism which is very helpful but would have like to have seen more on other types of special needs. But overall an excellent handbook that should be in every church library and used as a training tool for special needs ministry.

As exceptional as this book is for ministry it is also very insightful for the parents of children with special needs to answer questions and concerns especially what to look for when placing their child in a church ministry.

So whether you are a parent or in a special needs ministry or looking to start one this book is an absolute must read.