Spiritual Gifts

Special Gathering

Capturing the Holy Moments

Several weeks ago after Special Gathering at First Church, my husband and I had lunch with several friends. There were four semi-adult children at the gathering. Two of them are mentally challenged. One of the young men, Manley, had attended Camp Agape and part of our purpose was to return some clothing items that had not made it into Manley's suitcase.

Manley was excited and inappropriate during much of the meal. At 16, his mental age is somewhere between six and eight years old. However, he is definitely becoming a man. One of the twenty-something young women having lunch with us had caught his eye. It was pretty obvious that he was determined to impress her. And that he did. By the end of the lunch, she was exhausted fending off his inappropriate antics. Of course, we are talking about six year old overtures but they still left her fatigued yet, impressively, not annoyed.

Manley's mom understood the dynamics. She was embarrassed by all of Manley's behavior. Her meal was peppered with words of advice and caution for her infatuated teenager, "Sit still." "Don't talk so loudly." "Don't be silly." "Eat your food."

The other parent also has a daughter who is developmentally delayed. Though her daughter is in her early thirties, a recent stroke has left the daughter a different person than who she was. Often, this new daughter can be inappropriate and disturbing in social situations.

After lunch, my husband and I made our way to our car. The two mothers and their children held back, lingering in the restaurant gift shop. I had to return to the restaurant to get something I'd left. I found the two mothers involved in a most tender moment. Their children were examining the gift shop goodies but the two women were talking. Manley's mother had turned away from her son because she was openly weeping. The other mother tenderly touched her forearm. "You're a good mother and you're doing a great job," she overheard her saying. Tears of understanding and empathy gently cascaded down the cheeks of the comforting mother.

My mind was immediately drawn to the words of Isaiah, "Comfort, ye my people..." As the area director of The Special Gathering of Indian River, which is a ministry within the mentally challenged community, there are limitations in what I can do. And I know it. But this mom, a Special Gathering volunteer, had no limitations. She was gently applying salve on a wound that seemed too large and too infected to ever heal.

The weeping mother is a medical doctor and the comforting mom is a widowed lady who works as a cook. But their socio-economic differences were erased. One hurting mother was ministering God's love to another hurting mother. Observing their pain, I understood why Moses took his shoes off in the presence of the burning bush. I quickly turned and left. Such holy moments are too precious to interrupt, even to share.

At Special Gathering our mission is evangelism and discipleship. While we have chapel services each week, most of the effective ministry takes place at bowling, at a lunch and even in a gift shop. I'm so happy that God won't limit himself to the boundaries created by the walls of a church building but he is determined to burst loose into burning bushes in the middle of the desert. His Shekinah glory shines best in front of the souvenir T-shirts in a restaurant gift shop.

Linda G. Howard, Pastor, Area Director
The Special Gathering of Indian River
P. O. Box 6002
Vero Beach, FL 32961

lhoward@specialgatherings.com

Blog site: http://specialgathering.wordpress.com

Web site: www.specialgatherings.com

 

Vist the new Special Gathering Website/Blog for great articles and insight into the Ministry

Special Gathering of Indian River Melbourne & Vero Beach, Florida

A ministry dedicated to sharing the good news within the mentally challenged community in South Brevard & Indian River Counties.

Buses carrying people who are mentally challenged pull up to the church building. Other members are unloaded from cars and vans; then they head for the double doors that lead to the fellowship hall where Bible study classes will be held.

Each Sunday morning First United Methodist Church of Melbourne, Florida, hosts a unique congregation of worshipers called The Special Gathering. Sponsored by more than 30 churches in South Brevard and Indian River Counties from various denominations, The Special Gathering has seen significant growth this past year. The size has increased but, more important, they have grown in spiritual maturity.

The deacons, elected from the membership, pray for their peers. The choir helps to lead praise and worship. The ushers welcome visitors. They collect, count, and verify the offering. In addition, Joey maneuvers Chrissy's wheel chair into the elevator to the chapel room where their corporate worship is held. Jimmy helps positions Beth's walker and Margaret holds Ben's chocolate cookies snack. They are the church serving and preferring each other.

Special Gathering of South Brevard meets each Sunday morning at 10 am at 110 E New Haven Avenue. Call (321) 773-2691

Special Gathering of Vero Beach meets Saturday at 3:30 p.m. in Vero at 11105 58th Avenue (First Church of God) at the Southeast entrance. Call (561) 770-1011

 

For information, write area director, Linda Howard, Special Gathering, P. O. Box 6002, Vero Beach, FL 32961.
Or contact lhoward@specialgatherings.com.

Visit these sites for more info as well:
http://specialgathering.wordpress.com/
http://www.nbbd.com/npr/specialgathering/
http://www.nbbd.com/npr/specialgathering/sbrevard.html