Bible school carves out a unique niche
Program welcomes special needs kids and their families
A unique church program for children and young adults with special needs is seeking participants and volunteers for its 22nd summer session.
The Vacation Bible School for Kids with Special Needs at Cross of Hope Lutheran Church and Schools, located near Taylor Ranch and Montaño NW, will feature all the activities one would expect from church camp, including singing, crafts and Bible study. However, volunteers will modify these activities to make it easier and more fun for children with special needs to participate, according to program leaders.
“Most churches don’t have programs like this,” said Elisha Wells, the program’s assistant director. “I think it’s important for families to have a place where they’re not alone, where parents and kids don’t feel like they’re the only ones with special needs.”
This year’s session will run from 9 to 11:30 a.m. July 31 to Aug. 4. Participants can register online on the church’s website, crossofhope.org, or can print out a form and mail it in.
According to program director Patty Westerfield, Cross of Hope’s Vacation Bible School is designed to be very inclusive. It is open to any child who would need more attention than they would receive at a vacation Bible school for children without special needs. It also has a loose age range of children to young adults and is
open to those of all faiths and those who are not religious.
Siblings of children with special needs can participate and parents are also allowed to sit in on sessions if they wish — a comfort to parents who may worry about leaving their child with strangers.
“It’s wonderful to see,” said Wendy Harrison, who has been volunteering with the program for almost 10 years. “The parents are thrilled because the children are valued.”
Westerfield started this program in 1996. Over two decades later, it’s still going strong, attracting families from all over the Albuquerque area.
“I was really sad when the first year was over because I thought I’d never see those kids or families again,” said Westerfield. “But many of them keep coming back year after year.”
As they’ve grown older, many of those participants have transitioned from students to the volunteers who run the program. For example, Wells, who is visually impaired, was 12 years old when she participated in the first Vacation Bible School 21 years ago.
“It’s allowed me to get confidence in myself that I can do something and do it well,” she said of volunteering.
Program leaders are also seeking additional adult and youth volunteers to help run this year’s program, said Westerfield. No previous experience working with children with special needs is required, and individuals with special needs are also welcome to volunteer. There is a training session at the church on July 30 from 1 to 2:30 p.m.