At Lakewood, special needs children, adults and their families are embraced and cared for through our JOY ministry. JOY stands for: Jesus’ Opportunity for You.
ABOUT
Who We Are
We are the special needs ministry of Lakewood Baptist Church, a ministry to both children and adults. Joy Ministry breaks down barriers for individuals with special needs, allowing them to participate fully in Lakewood activities alongside their peers.
CHILDREN
Children
It is our desire to come alongside individuals and families with special needs so that they are welcomed and included in the services and programs at Lakewood. We will work with each family individually to provide the appropriate level of assistance needed for each child so that they can learn about Jesus in a safe and loving environment. At Lakewood we pair each child with special needs with their own “buddy.” Our buddies are trained to know and meet each child’s needs and to make the classroom accessible for children of all abilities. This ministry allows families to attend adult worship and build community while feeling confident that their child’s needs are being met.
Sundays (9:30 AM, 11:00AM)
Wednesdays (6:00 PM)
ADULTS
Adults
We strive to present a comprehensive message of God’s love through our Bible study groups for adults with Special Needs. We have a five year rotation of Bible study on Sunday mornings.
This study explores Old and New Testament stories to allow our participants to build their knowledge of Bible history and familiarize themselves with the common thread of Jesus through the entire Bible. Our Monday group, Joy Friends Unlocked, and our Wednesday night Bible Study, EPIC 139, both use the current sermon texts and repackage the message to allow the simple truths of scripture to come alive for our adult members. The message is the same, just retold with an emphasis on the heart of the message and simplified to bring clarity and increased understanding for all of our participants. Parents and caregivers are always encouraged to sit in on our lessons and witness first hand the message presentation and truth of the Gospel being presented in class. We desire to be an integral part of the spiritual growth and maturation of our participants, but we are only one facet of their learning journey. A strong family component is vital to the complete understanding of the Word and we want everyone to hear the message.
Sunday Bible Study 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
JOY Friends Unlocked (Monday 11:00-1:00 PM, lunch provided)
JOY Friends Unlocked is a bible study for adults with special needs. It’s an opportunity to meet new friends, learn more about God’s Word and enjoy community.
Wednesday Night Bible Study 6:00-7:30 PM
EVENTS
Respite
Respite (3rd Saturday of the month from 5:00-8:00pm)
Respite is a time for children with special needs and their siblings to enjoy a fun night with volunteers while parents enjoy an evening off.
Kayla's Retreat
Kayla’s Retreat is an overnight camp experience that provides a time of retreat for children with special needs as well as a time of rest and rejuvenation for their parents and/or caregivers. Participants take part in activities such as arts and crafts, Bible study, movie night, canoeing and fishing. At the same time parents and/or caregivers will be enjoying a much needed break with a chance for some time to rest. We repeat this event quarterly.