The Chosen Ministry loves being a part of South Church. Individuals at all levels of function are incorporated into this ministry. They enjoy good Christian fellowship with peers, helpers, and the congregation. They serve the Lord with joy! Some of the class members attend the 9:35AM worship service each Sunday. After the worship service, the 10:45AM Chosen Sunday School class includes praying, singing/praise time, refreshments, a Bible-based lesson, and creative craft projects. Their faith may be simple but it is strong and true. Quarterly parties include Spring and Fall picnics, a Christmas dinner and carol-singing party, and a Valentine pizza party. Sunday School classes meet from September until the end of May.
- Services include:
- Bus transportation to Sunday services and class parties
- Sunday School classes
- Worship service support
- Home visitation during the Summer for class members
- Home visits for potential new class members
- Visiting sick and hospitalized class members
- Consultation with individuals, families, group home staff, guardians and like ministries
Plans for the Chosen Ministry began in the Fall of 1982 with a group of prayer warriors praying for the spiritual needs of five special people. They searched for a barrier-free Christian program that might offer special Sunday services for our friends. Finding none, the Chosen Ministry began in January of 1983 at Trinity United Methodist Church. Since that time, this ministry has grown to serve 40 adults with developmental disabilities, along with a bus ministry for the class.
Eugene was blind but didn’t let that limit his life. Soon he was diagnosed with inoperable cancer. Eugene’s home manager advocated strongly for him to stay in his CMH home with the staff and friends who were like his family. In the 37 years I have worked with people with developmental disabilities, never has a person who needed nursing care and who had a terminal illness been able to stay in their home. Homes were not staffed nor trained for that extra care. Yet, stay at home Eugene did! He chose to participate in every activity for as long as he could walk, then he was taken in a wheel chair to his day program and to the Chosen Class. He helped plan for parties and picnics for his home, he was loved and pampered by the home manager and staff, he had many visits each week from the Chosen Team members. The hospice nurse trained those close to Eugene, and she was impressed with the calmness and care he was given.
The day he passed away, Eugene had some difficulty getting his breath, yet was calm and happy, At his funeral, nothing was really planned, but you could have never planned the stories of Eugene that many people told the crowded chapel in the cemetery. One music teacher told of Eugene singing the Star Spangled Banner on the capital’s steps for a large crowd. One told of his love for others. Another told of his special times out with staff to get ice cream! He loved to sing and remembered the words to many songs and hymns…
AND Eugene loved Jesus.
