Helping Others in Crisis
Did you ever wonder what you could do to help your friend who is in the middle of a crisis? Recently, a couple who have a child with Autism, emotionally shared their horrors with me. Since my experience working with people with Autism is limited, I felt inadequate and wasn’t sure how to respond. Perhaps, you have neighbors or friends with disabilities and don’t know how to reach out to them effectively.
Jesus told a story about a man who was severely beaten by a gang as he traveled from Jerusalem to Jericho. Fortunately, a priest came his way and looked but failed to reach out. Another religious man came along later and decided the cost was too great to truly make a difference in another’s life. These two men were content just to look as this man laid on the verge of death.
A Samaritan came by the man who was attacked, and was moved with compassion. He began doing something by disinfecting and bandaging the victim’s wounds. The Samaritan took him to a hospital and paid his bills. This act of courage saved the man’s life. At Special Touch, we enthusiastically get involved in situations that look hopeless and watch God do amazing things.
My friends told me how, like the Samaritan, some Christian ladies came over to watch their child with Autism, giving them a much needed break. Providing respite care is a wonderful blessing to young parents. In coming over, these ladies also reminded this couple of their value and how much God loves them.
After a recent surgery, while I was still recovering, a group of people came over to do some spring cleaning around my house. They did many things like change storm windows, change light bulbs, fix closet doors, and lay carpet on my ramp. The only problem was that they cleaned all of my sweets! However, they were there helping me in my time of need.
People facing the possibility of spending their lives in a wheelchair, due to an accident, need your help with obstacles such as home improvements. They often can’t go home from the hospital until a ramp is built and they can navigate their house. If a doorway is too narrow for their wheelchair to maneuver, it will need to be widened. Closets and cabinets will likely need to be adjusted. They may now require bars in the bathroom to assist them in using the commode or bathtub. These are a few things you can do as an expression of God’s love.
Like the Good Samaritan, we open the door to the supernatural when we do the natural and God does the super. In connection with your local Special Touch Chapter, look for others .in your neighborhoods that need help from a Good Samaritan like you.
- Bradley A Mattrisch
I recently noticed this same ministry need for our neighbors across the street. They are kind of private. They rarely leave their home unless they are letting their dog out in their yard, going to work, or going on an RV trip. Even then they just open the door and hold the leash inside. The man in this house recently had the lower half of his leg amputated. He uses a walker and/or a wheelchair… despite the fact that he has steps into his front door. As I read yesterday’s blog… I couldn’t help but being moved to ask the men in our church to help this man by building a ramp into his house. Please pray for this ministry opportunity… so that it may come to fruition.
God used this month’s newsletter to touch me in so many areas. I have two grown sons with multiple disabilities. I am a single mom and they are both adopted. They attend Iowa Getaway as guests and I am craft director at Iowa Getaway. Camp is the closest thing on earth to that glorious homecoming awaiting us in heaven…but that is another story. I was so touched by Thomas Carpenter’s article and yours Brad. Over the years my sons and I have faced so many struggles, refusals and shut doors due to their disabilities. It is a constant struggle that we have only survived with God’s help, strength and compassion. Four months ago (after several moves to different agencies) I finally moved my youngest son Dan into a wonderful place for him to live, a home with just one other client and 24/7 staff. We are praising God for that! My older son Doug has been served by an agency for 20 years with the last 10 years in his own supervised apartment. Due to his rather severe cerebral palsy his muscles are tightening and he has many other physical problems developing as he ages. We are currently looking for a care facility for him. His former psychologist (thankfully he has moved from area) recently gave Doug a new label of Borderline Personality Disorder. Due to that label (which none of us agree with) he is being turned down by care facilities. His case manager and I are currently working with his nurse practicitioner who took over the psychologist practice to get that label removed. I am so tired of ‘labels’ and doors being closed because of disabilities. Doug knows God has a plan for his future but being human he is very worried about what lies ahead for him. Please be in prayer that we can get the label removed and can find a place where he can get the physical care he needs. Also your newsletter really renewed my resolve to be looking for new areas where God can use me to minister to disabled. Be in prayer that I will see those areas and be open to God’s leading and His opening doors for me to serve even more.
God bless all of you who serve through Special Touch Ministries. Know that I am in prayer for all areas of the ministries, the staff and the people served through Special Touch. -Kathie Hutcheson
Here I am a single woman in her late 40′s with no living family left. I do not have a home chruch right now. I am messianic.
I was recently scammed by a title loan company and I had to overdraw my bank account to save my car from being sold in auction. Now I dont have rent for the first of the month. I am so scared. There is no agency loaclly in south Florida that can help me, so I have to contact churches to try raising my rent so Im not homeless. All because this company I dealt with was not honest. Its such a shame that so many believers are under attack right now. If anyone knows a faith based organization that can help me, dear GOD please let me know. GOD Bless!
lachaim18181818@yahoo.com