On April 6, Slavic Baptist Church of West Sacramento hosted a prayer service for families with children with special needs. Nine pastors from seven different churches (Russian-speaking and one English-Speaking pastor) of our city took part in this service. Three of these pastors have children and relatives with special needs and have experienced all the difficulties that these families with special needs have.
Before the prayer time the list of needs of parents was read. Since these families have many needs, the parents compiled a list of common needs that was read before the time of prayer. The prayer requests of families with children with special needs were shared by even parents from Ukraine who were able to connect with the parents of our city. The pastors entreated God and interceded for every family, for every child and asked God to answer each individual request.
The pastors also shared a word of comfort and encouraged both parents and children. Pastor John who is a frequent guest of this church, and who also has a son with special needs emphasized that children with special needs are not only children of their own parents, but also of the Lord as well. Even if they will never receive healing in this earthly life, they will have an eternity with their Savior Jesus Christ in renewed bodies!
The children with special needs also took part in the program and praised God through poems and singing! When they were involved to the choir stage, they ascended with a great joy. Since most of them do not have the ability to pray, they are being taught to sing through simple gestures, through which they are able to perform familiar songs.
A few of the pastors came for the first time and were amazed that despite all the difficulties and concerns, the children with special needs and their parents have a firm faith, trust in the Lord, worship Him, rejoice, and thank God for everything!
It says in the Gospel of John (13:35) that: “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another”.
Dear brothers and sisters, please lift up the families with special needs in your prayers! This is a way to show our love to these children and their families!
Blessings to you from the Lord!
PCSBA’s Special Needs Children Ministry
Natalya SmolikovaPlease click on the first thumbnail to see pictures of bigger size in slide show format
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