Whether your disability came on suddenly, as with an accident, crept up slowly with the ravages of a progressive disease, or was just the normal but unkind stages of age, the transition from being a giver of ministry to a recipient of the ministries of others is a difficult bridge to cross.

My own thorn in the flesh has been the progressive type. About ten years ago, I started to develop joint pain - first in my knees, then my fingers, and then my shoulders. Doctors dismissed my pain as repetitive strain injuries and sent me to physiotherapists. Over the next few years I experienced a frustrating cascade of chronic pain: physiotherapy for my knees made my feet hurt, switching to doing chair aerobics to save my feet and knees made my shoulders hurt. Surgery to repair cartilage damage to my left knee resulted in a virtual shutdown of almost all of my abilities. I had to walk with a cane, but that was hard on my right hand and shoulder. I was working as a school librarian but I could no longer hold a book or turn the pages, and I definitely could not put a book back on a shelf. I realized at the age of 35 that I could no longer work.

Making the transition from being a healthy, physically fit adult who was able and willing to serve wherever I noticed a need to being a mom who couldn’t use a knife and fork to cut my own food, never mind cooking and cleaning for my family, has been not only a battle against the physical disabilities, but also a crisis of identity. Who am I if not a teacher, a librarian, a mom who can take care of her own children? Who am I in Christ if I can’t work in the church library, give rides to elderly people, or serve in the nursery? Depression set in as I began to think of myself as just a burden on my family and friends.

I recall a conversation with my pastor about accepting help from others in the church. He reminded me of how good it felt for me to help others, and informed me that I was withholding this blessing from others whenever I turned down their offers to help me. That got me thinking in a new direction. I apologized to a friend in our small group who had offered to organize meals for my family. I had told her at the time that I was looking for permanent solutions for my problems, and that I would feel guilty about other women making a commitment to make meals for my family on a regular basis. She confessed that she had felt offended when I turned down her offer. I had hired a cleaning lady who charged more per hour than my husband was earning because I would feel guilty having women from the church having to make a commitment to come over and clean my house on a regular basis. The only thing I didn’t feel guilty about was nagging my husband about spending more time at home and helping me. This situation could have had disastrous consequences if God had not given my husband the grace to change jobs and spend more time at home.

I remember the joy I felt when I was able to climb three flights of stairs at school when a friend who had just had hip replacement surgery needed help to deliver a term paper to a professor. I humbly remembered that I had promised myself that I would never complain about all those stairs any more because I was capable of climbing them without pain. I recall befriending an elderly woman from church by giving her rides to church. She couldn’t seem to thank me enough for this favor, but I didn’t feel at all burdened - her house was right on my way.

I would love to tell you that I have successfully made this transition and am now able to accept help gracefully from others when offered, and even that I have stopped feeling guilty whenever I have to ask for help. I wish I could tell you that it doesn’t bother me any more at family gatherings to sit in the living room with the men while the other women work in the kitchen. And it would be incredible if I could tell you that I have mastered the art of spiritual warfare - truly believing that prayer is the most important work of the Christian, and not the last resort or just the only thing that a Christian with a disability is capable of while the other Christians are off doing ministry.

I would also love to tell you that I will write again once I have completely accepted the fact that I have Parkinson’s disease and am perfectly content with staying home and writing little stories, but you know that that letter would have to be emailed from Heaven - and by that time I will have a strong and healthy new body anyway.

If you would like to read more of my little stories, please visit me at www.triond.com/users/Karen+Gross. I would love to receive your comments as well.

God bless you - now don’t forget that no matter how dysfunctional your body, you can still pray, and that is the most eternally significant ministry of all!

Karen Gross

Greetings from the Chivers’ Family!

Fall has certainly changed our household.  No more High School, both Stephany and Cassie are now in College, at North Central University in Minneapolis.  They share a room together (along with 2 other girls) on the 4th floor of Miller Hall.  It’s looks just like it did when we attended - even the Otis elevator is the same.  They are both very happy with life and college and that brings us joy, even though they aren’t here with us.  We do get to see them quite often.

Carley is the princess of the house now and although more of our schedule revolves around her, she would rather have the “sissies’ to share it with.  5th grade is a challenge all on it’s own and attending a Waupaca school by herself isn’t very appealing, right now.  We have enrolled her in fall volleyball to help fill some of that void and possibly prepare her for a sport next year in Middle School.

We (Charlie and Debbie) are doing well, all things told.  Life as a missionary is always a “Disney World Ride”.  I do have to say we are feeling at peace with the ministry and the direction God is leading even though the finances are very challenging.  It sure gives God a chance to show us HIS miracle working hand.  He makes sure we have what we Need.  Please pray with us about the ministry finances.  I would love to have this year paid in full before starting 2009.  Our Leadership Team is praying that too.

As Charlie led us in our weekly, Wednesday morning, Bible study yesterday, he shared the promise that the Lord had laid on his heart for us.

Zechariah 8 (NIV)

9 This is what the LORD Almighty says: “You who now hear these words spoken by the prophets who were there when the foundation was laid for the house of the LORD Almighty, let your hands be strong so that the temple may be built. 10 Before that time there were no wages for man or beast. No one could go about his business safely because of his enemy, for I had turned every man against his neighbor. 11 But now I will not deal with the remnant of this people as I did in the past,” declares the LORD Almighty.

12 “The seed will grow well, the vine will yield its fruit, the ground will produce its crops, and the heavens will drop their dew. I will give all these things as an inheritance to the remnant of this people. 13 As you have been an object of cursing among the nations, O Judah and Israel, so will I save you, and you will be a blessing. Do not be afraid, but let your hands be strong.”

I ask for you to be a part of this blessing.

Yours; Serving Him,

Deb Chivers

We, Larry and Carolyn Campbell, are A/G US Missionaries to people with disabilities and continue to travel as Representatives of Special Touch Ministry, Inc.  Recently we moved to Waupaca, WI and travel on weekends to churches in seven states raising awareness of the need for ministry to people with disabilities.   We are preparing to finish editing our one year of Christian Education curriculum for people with mental disabilities.  We are also working on finishing our Training Manual entitled, “Compel Them To Come In”. We are enjoying the opportunity right now of being close to the Ministry Office and working together with the Leadership Team.

Our three children are all living in Minnesota.  Lori and Sam Anderson are directing a new Teen Challenge center in Brainerd, MN.   Curtis and Alyssa Campbell and our two grandsons, A.B   and Jonas, live in Mankato, MN.  Curtis is a woodworking designer and leads worship at their church.  Alyssa is an architect with a local firm.  Our youngest son, Marcus, is a first year student at North Central University majoring in Sound and Recording technology.

Carolyn and I are praising God for the continuing miracles in our lives.  During March and April of 08, Carolyn laid on her death bed for over four weeks.  God chose to raise her up and heal her.   Within five weeks of her release from the hospital we were traveling doing  missions services and Special Touch Summer Get Aways where we spoke  every morning and in one Get Away, every evening also.  God has been faithful.  We have fresh anointing and power and renewed vision for what God has called us to do.

With His help and continuing miracles, we will be able to raise up a: Disability Ministry Training Center to train people how to minister effectively to those who live with disabilities.  We carry a vision to raise up a Charter School for children with disabilities and also to begin a Master’s Commission that will include teens with disabilities to be able to receive training in discipleship.

We are Missionaries to people with disabilities and their families, National Representatives. and part of the Leadership Team for Special Touch Ministry. We also are also the Florida Special Touch Summer Get Away coordinators. We live in Palm Bay, Florida and are presently in the itineration process, trying to obtain monthly support for our personal and professional needs so we can stay effective servants of the Lord to people with disabilities and their families.

As part of the Special Touch Ministry vision, we will be responsible for the division called Family Support Ministries which will have four departments in it:

1. Individual and Family Service (an effective communication tool to all participants in the ministry)

2. Counseling (professional Christian counseling) Some areas of need for ministry for both individuals and family members will be found in: Anxiety, Depression, Substance Abuse, Marriage Counseling, Bereavement, Faith, Physical and Emotional Abuse, Suicide Potentials, Sibling Issues, and other related issues.

3. Advocacy (For issues found in: Social Security, Early Intervention Programs, Special Education Plans, Adult Day Training Programs, Special Work Programs)

4. Chaplaincy (Not designed to take the place of pastor and a caring church, but, for when there is no pastor and no caring church involved in the lives of those with disabilities and their families, the Special Touch Chaplaincy can be that arm to care for those who are not being held with compassionate hands. Also the Chaplain would be responsible for opening Special Touch Family Care Groups (for caregivers and siblings).

Since becoming involved with Special Touch we have had opportunity to speak in literally hundreds of churches sharing the need to reach out to people disabilities and their families with compassion and the gospel of the Lord. Presently we are working toward opening more ministry in Florida and new ministry in Georgia and the New England States..

Rev. Joe and Ann Trementozzi

As a National Representative and Executive Assistant to the Director of Special Touch Ministry, my jobs and responsibilities are very interesting and filled with variety. These duties are, like many, split into seasons. Some of which overlap while others remain unique to a specific time of year.  However, at this point the majority of my work centers on or around travel. Whether that be making arrangements for speaking engagements to cast vision and raise our budget and then fulfilling those established plans or preparing Tech Support for each of our Summer Get Aways. Needless to say, we spend a great deal of time on the road, as a family,  whenever possible. These travels have taken us to AZ, CA, CO, FL, IA, IL, KY, LA, MN, OH, VA, WV, and WI.

The remainder of my time here in the Ministry Office revolves around completing responsibilities given to me by our director, Charlie Chivers. While those assignments vary greatly, the most involved area is organizing and coordinating the Tech Support Teams, equipment and supplies, and vehicles used to directly to facilitate our Summer Get Away program. Time and Space do not permit me to go into details regarding all the responsibilities related to Tech Support. They are many!!

Angie, Caleb, Zach, and I would appreciate your prayers in the following areas:

1. Help us as a family continue to grow closer to God as we grow closer to each other.

2. We would find favor in churches and secure services as we continue to raise our budget.

3. Financial support for us and this ministry would increase.

4. God would bring more people to come alongside us and fill needed positions on our Tech Support Teams.

5. The Tech Support tools would be used to support and facilitate other programs in Special Touch.

Zealously His Servants,

Carl, Angie, Caleb and Zach Hespe