{"id":2552,"date":"2012-03-31T10:46:03","date_gmt":"2012-03-31T14:46:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/simplelife\/?p=2552"},"modified":"2012-03-31T10:46:03","modified_gmt":"2012-03-31T14:46:03","slug":"a-profitable-visit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/simplelife\/2012\/03\/a-profitable-visit.html","title":{"rendered":"A profitable visit"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>I spent the past few days in South Carolina with The Special Gathering program director. \u00a0This is a ministry within the mentally challenged community. \u00a0Our goal is evangelizing and making disciples of people who are intellectually disabled. \u00a0During the week, I shadowed her casually observing the weekday activities of that Special Gathering. \u00a0On Thursday afternoon, we went to a weekly Bible study. \u00a0This study is mainly attended by the Walterboro SpG leadership team.<\/p>\n

I was impressed by several things. \u00a0First, each person is responsible to get to the study. \u00a0There were 13 men and women attending. \u00a0Five of their regular attendees were not present because their staff had taken them on a shopping trip to a larger, neighboring city. \u00a0Transportation is always an issue for people who are mentally challenged be. \u00a0Perhaps, part of the success in their attendance is because they live in a small town. \u00a0However, when week-after-week the leadership team comes, it is an impressive achievement. \u00a0Accessiblity may be the first ingredient in prodding a growth of a ministry.<\/p>\n

Second, the members of the class lead a lot of the discussing. \u00a0Their input was valuable and valued. \u00a0This is important and proved that these men and women are growing in the Lord.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Third, there was\u00a0eager<\/em>\u00a0participation. \u00a0Each person gave valuable input but their enthusiasm was impressive. Spurring people to become a part of the learning may be a true secret to growth in the Lord.<\/p>\n

Fourth, the class lasted for an hour and the members were attentive and responsive all during that time. \u00a0Almost everyone will tell you that a class that lasts this long is not wise within our community. \u00a0However, even after the class was dismissed, the members did not want to leave. \u00a0They lingered to talk and mingle with each other. \u00a0A community of believers has been built. \u00a0No one rushed to leave. \u00a0The program director and the leadership team have worked hard to develop a belonging that is almost tangible among this group of believers.<\/p>\n

Do these techniques sound familiar. \u00a0Perhaps that is because they are. \u00a0While other ministries are looking for new and more exciting ways to draw in people, Ferne Brandt, the Walterboro program director is using tried and proven ways to increase the interest and participation of the Special Gathering leadership team.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I spent the past few days in South Carolina with The Special Gathering program director. \u00a0This is a ministry within the mentally challenged community. \u00a0Our goal is evangelizing and making disciples of people who are intellectually disabled. \u00a0During the week, I shadowed her casually observing the weekday activities of that Special Gathering. \u00a0On Thursday afternoon,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":387,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,5,3,40,10,11,8],"tags":[690,21,688,7,699,715,701,694,709,372,700],"class_list":["post-2552","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-autism-spectrum","category-christianity","category-developmental-disabilities","category-faith","category-inspirational","category-intellectually-disabled","category-mentally-challenged-community","tag-autism-spectrum","tag-christian","tag-christianity","tag-developmental-disabilities-2","tag-faith","tag-hope","tag-inspiration","tag-intellectual-disability","tag-leadership","tag-leadership-team","tag-spirituality"],"yoast_head":"\nA profitable visit - A Simple Life, a Childlike Faith<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/simplelife\/2012\/03\/a-profitable-visit.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"A profitable visit - A Simple Life, a Childlike Faith\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"I spent the past few days in South Carolina with The Special Gathering program director. \u00a0This is a ministry within the mentally challenged community. \u00a0Our goal is evangelizing and making disciples of people who are intellectually disabled. \u00a0During the week, I shadowed her casually observing the weekday activities of that Special Gathering. \u00a0On Thursday afternoon,…\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/simplelife\/2012\/03\/a-profitable-visit.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"A Simple Life, a Childlike Faith\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2012-03-31T14:46:03+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/simplelife\/files\/2012\/03\/SC-special-needs.png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Linda G. Howard\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"A profitable visit - A Simple Life, a Childlike Faith","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/simplelife\/2012\/03\/a-profitable-visit.html","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"A profitable visit - A Simple Life, a Childlike Faith","og_description":"I spent the past few days in South Carolina with The Special Gathering program director. \u00a0This is a ministry within the mentally challenged community. \u00a0Our goal is evangelizing and making disciples of people who are intellectually disabled. \u00a0During the week, I shadowed her casually observing the weekday activities of that Special Gathering. \u00a0On Thursday afternoon,…","og_url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/simplelife\/2012\/03\/a-profitable-visit.html","og_site_name":"A Simple Life, a Childlike Faith","article_published_time":"2012-03-31T14:46:03+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/simplelife\/files\/2012\/03\/SC-special-needs.png"}],"author":"Linda G. 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