Reaching Those with Needs & Disabilities
Be The Welcome
At Berlin First Baptist Church, we believe every person should know they are welcome. Be the Welcome is our church-wide movement to open our hearts and our doors to individuals with needs and disabilities and their families. Being the welcome means more than simply inviting someone through the door. It means looking for ways to remove barriers, create belonging, build friendships, and make room for every person to participate. It means seeing the person before the disability and recognizing the gifts, relationships, and joy that every individual brings to our church community.
Building the Foundation
Before a church can effectively welcome families with needs and disabilities, it helps to build a strong foundation. This begins with creating an accessible and supportive environment and considering the practical needs families may encounter. A sensory-friendly space can provide a quiet place to regroup when the environment becomes overwhelming. Buddies can provide one-on-one support and friendship, while a trained and committed volunteer team helps create a safe, welcoming experience for everyone. Clear communication, thoughtful safety procedures, and a willingness to learn from families all become part of the foundation. These elements don’t have to happen all at once. The goal is to begin creating the support system that allows families to know, “We are welcome here.”
FFIND - Finding Friends with Needs & Disabilities
FFIND is our outreach ministry that puts this foundation into action. Through FFIND, individuals with disabilities and their families have opportunities to build friendships, grow in faith, serve, celebrate, and connect with our church community. Faithful Friends meets every Thursday evening from 6:00–7:30 PM for individuals with disabilities from 6th grade through adulthood, offering faith-building lessons, food, fun, and fellowship. FFIND also hosts special events throughout the year, including the In-Joy Market, where individuals with needs and disabilities can share their creativity and creations with others. Each of these opportunities is another way we create connection, belonging, and community.
Events & Resources
We believe everyone should have the opportunity to experience the joy of church events, which is why we offer a Sensory-Friendly VBS designed specifically for individuals with needs and disabilities. We also host quarterly birthday parties that provide a safe, supportive, and joyful environment where every guest can be celebrated. We want other churches to be able to create these experiences too, so we have developed practical resource guides for both Disability-Friendly VBS and Quarterly Birthday Parties. These guides include planning tools, volunteer guidance, safety information, sensory considerations, forms, activities, and other resources to help churches take their next step. Our prayer is that these resources will encourage churches everywhere to open their doors wider, build a foundation for belonging, and Be the Welcome.
