Home
Autistic Ministry Increases Impact of California Church
REDONDO BEACH, CA (September 9, 2004) - The plight of a southern California
couple has turned into a blessing for many families attending Journey
Covenant Church, a two-year-old church plant that has made strong
efforts to minister to families with autistic children.
For the second year, the church sponsored a Friends of Angels "Escape
From the City" camp in nearby San Juan Capistrano, finding two
volunteers to work with each autistic participant and adding hospitality
and security teams to patrol the grounds. Last summer, the Friends of
Angels camp attracted eight families, said church planting pastor Jim
Stewart. This year's camp roster included 13 autistic families (16
autistic children in all) with a total of 95 in attendance.
There are activities for the siblings and parents of the autistic
children and the setting allows families to relax a bit and enjoy nature
in a safe and affirming environment. Journey Covenant's ministry to
families with autistic children started largely through a relationship
Stewart built with Greg and Gina Hubert, the parents of three autistic
children. The Huberts were interested in being part of the church plant,
but felt their needs would be too great for the young congregation to
handle. Stewart encouraged them to attend Journey Covenant and the
Huberts were warmly welcomed by the congregation.
They eventually started a ministry for children with special needs,
attracting about 10 families to classes, according to a recent news
story in the Daily Breeze newspaper in Torrance. And the church
has embraced autistic children through additional
ministry efforts like the summer camps.
"It really opened my eyes up to the needs of the autistic family," said
Stewart of the first camp last summer. "It's a demand that takes 24/7
vision and the Huberts told me that 80 percent of those families who
have an autistic child get divorced because of the stress. I have four
children of my own, including a 16-year-old and a 14-year-old. They were
buddies for autistic children last year and they learned more than anyone."
The Huberts were blessed by the care of Journey Covenant and they in
turn became a blessing, added Stewart. Jessi and Al Kung were invited to
the church by the Hubert family – they have an autistic child – and they
came to personal relationship in Christ after watching how the church
accepted their son a year ago. The ministry to families of the autistic
seems likely to continue, though the Hubert family recently relocated to
Las Vegas. Stewart reported that his congregation received a $35,000
gift from the Stephan Charitable Trust for Journey's autistic ministry
and other ministry needs.
Journey Covenant Church was planted with the assistance of Rolling Hills
Covenant Church in Rolling Hills Estates. More about the story of the
Hubert family can be found on the Internet by visiting the online
archives for August 8 and 9 front page news articles in the Daily
Breeze newspaper at www.dailybreeze.com.
Copyright © 2008 The Evangelical Covenant Church. |
