Growing up I wanted to be a teacher. In fact, I wanted it so much that my older sister and I asked for an overhead projector for Christmas. I “played” with that every single day. (And by “played” I essentially just redid all my homework for my younger sister to see.) A few years after that I thought I would follow my dad’s career choice and become an ER doctor, but unlike him I wanted to specialize in pediatric emergency medicine. As I started high school people would ask where I wanted to go to college? And, if I wanted to go to the Bible college my older sister was going to go to. I had decided at this point being an ER doctor of any sort wouldn’t lend itself to having a family someday, so I was back to being a teacher. I was, in fact, very adamant that I would not be going to a Bible College. I was planning to teach in a public school and would proclaim that I was “NOT going into ministry.”
I went to Indiana Wesleyan University and declared my major as Elementary Education with a minor in Special Education. My years of practicing on my overhead were a close reality. That first semester I sat in the required special education course for all education students. I can remember one day when our professor showed a video of what life was like for a family who had a daughter with down syndrome. I can remember sitting there crying silent tears. Not because I was so moved by the documentary, but because I felt God tugging on my heart and reminding me of my “why.” That week I changed my major and declared a Special Education major Kindergarten through sixth grade only!
My “why” is my younger sister, Kelsey. Kelsey was born with out any indication of a disability. At a few months old my mom noticed changes in her behavior, affect and eating. After tests and hospitalizations, they diagnosed her with infantile spasms. Those spasms caused her to have brain damage and she was given a diagnosis of epilepsy as well as other intellectual and physical disabilities. Oh, and a life expectancy of 5 years. This past February she celebrated her 37th birthday! God has had other plans for her life. That plan may have included her impact on my life.
Remember the girl who said she would never go into ministry? Well, here I am today after 14+ years on staff at Grace serving as the director and now the Associate Pastor of our Disability Ministry. I didn’t choose ministry, but God did. All the years spent pushing my sister in her wheelchair at church so my parents could be involved in ministry are not wasted on me. God used my sister to lead me to where I am today. In high school I had to write a short essay on the most impactful person in my life. Guess who I chose? My sister, Kelsey. I don’t remember exactly what it said, but I remember I started out with, “The most impactful person in my life has never spoken a word to me.” That is still true. I wouldn’t be where I am or who I am today without my sister Kesley. She has never spoken a single word to me, or told me what to do, but because of her I am exactly where God wants me to be.
I wasn’t the one who started our LIFT ministry, but I have had the privilege of leading it for these years. Our ministry exists to fulfill its name…to Loving Individuals and Families Together. We want every person who is impacted by a disability, the individual themselves, parents, siblings, family members, caregivers, etc. to feel supported, cared for and loved. We continue to look for ways to not only serve those impacted by disabilities but for them to also serve us. My family wouldn’t be who we are today without my sister Kelsey. We are better, closer, and stronger because she is in our lives. And the same goes for our CHURCH FAMILY. We are better, closer, and stronger because those with disabilities are among us. The impact that has been made on my life from my sister and her disability can also be made on each of us. For we are one body with many parts and each of those parts is necessary to do the work of the Lord.
I think disability ministry often scares people away because they don’t know how to work with someone who has a disability. I like to tell people that if they are kind or like to spend time with people they can serve in LIFT. All ministry is hard, but this ministry is no different. Those that we serve want someone to accept them, notice them and invest in them. Any extra trainings can be taught by my team and me. We want people that are willing to love others. I can also honestly tell you that the impact that will be made on your life from serving in our ministry will change your life like my sister changed mine.