By Sharon Mager

COLUMBIA, Md. — Each Monday, school buses filled with excited young people arrive at two Mid-Maryland Baptist churches — Bethany Church, Ellicott City, and Bethany Church, Columbia. Youth and young adults affected by varying levels of disability have huge smiles on their faces as they’re warmly greeted by church leaders and volunteers who direct them to their projects for the day. Both churches offer work for the students as a way of loving and serving individuals with disabilities and as an outreach to their communities and schools.

“Students always tell me this is their favorite place to work. Event teachers say this is their favorite place too,” says Sherrie McKay, who leads music and arts ministries at Bethany Church Elicit City and also oversees the school partnership

McKay’s daughter, Jess, had the idea for the partnership. Working as a para-educator with students with disabilities in Howard County Schools and having firsthand knowledge about the work/life skills program in the community, she began thinking about Bethany, Ellicott City.

“Jess said, ‘Mom! We should have them come to our church!’’ Sherrie said. It was a lightbulb moment. Leaders thought, why not? It’s a community outreach.

“We set it up, and it has been really great!” Sherrie said. They started with one student who came on Wednesdays and he would wash windows and help prepare for evening music classes, unpacking instruments and setting out materials under a teacher’s supervision.

The program expanded, and more students participated. “Some come on Mondays, and another group on Wednesdays. They have helped us in many ways—picking up sticks and bagging them, sharpening pencils, and washing windows. They also helped get our holiday Walk of Wonder ready and decorated Christmas trees.”

The program has opened doors. “A few families have come to some events,” said Sherrie.“It’s such an easy way to connect with the community. The school system needs places to bring these kids to develop work skills, and it’s a blessing for us.”

The school is extremely appreciative, said Sherrie, and has even asked for the church to send projects such as shredding paper, folding, stuffing, and similar work for students not ready for work on-site.

“We’re not sharing the gospel, but we’re making the church more part of the community, and that will lead to other things. Any way we can be part of the community is always a win,” Sherrie emphasized.

BCM/D Disability Missionary Katie Matthews also serves as the “Bethany Blessings” director (disability ministry) at Bethany Church, Columbia, where her husband, CJ Matthews, pastors. She welcomes the bus that arrives at her church each Monday afternoon with smiles and sometimes high fives. The young people are visibly happy to be at the church. Some rush into the building excited and exuberant. Others are more reserved.

Katie said, “I love Mondays because the students that come love Mondays. I get to chat with them and the teachers.” It makes her happy to know the kids are truly happy while working on the projects, she said. Also, the teachers told Katie that Bethany is their favorite place to bring students.

Each student has his or her favorite activity. “One student loves to clean our windows while another one waters the plants. BCM/D Prayer Ministry Coordinator/Facilities Manager Adron Dozat sometimes provides mail for the students to prepare and send out. The students enjoy putting the stamps and address labels on the envelopes. When appropriate, Katie will give them stickers.

“These students come to practice work six skills and gain experience working outside of the classroom setting, but I hope they leave with more than job site training. I hope they leave knowing that they are special, that God loves them, and that they are welcome at our church any day, not just Mondays.”

 

Feature Photo: Katie Matthews (right) helps a student add goodies to bags for the church’s annual Easter egg hunt. (Photo by Sharon Mager)

“