A letter from Crystal Tillman

Mountlake Church family,

Church life can look a little different for families caring for those with special needs. Before we met our daughter, we were strangers to the special needs world, so it was easy to miss it. When Bonnie was born, we were ushered into a new reality that we were unprepared for. Some of it has been easy and joyful, and some of it painfully difficult. One thing we have learned is that we all have a place in the Kingdom of God, regardless of neurodivergence or chromosome counts.

We are so excited that our church sees the value in supporting families of children with special needs. As Tucker and I continue to meet parents of children who need some extra help, it’s common to hear of the anxiety involved in going to church. In order for a family like ours to fully attend church, the child has to feel safe and be able to participate. For our family, that means that one of us needs to be with Bonnie at all times. The heart of this special needs ministry is to create an opportunity for a member of the church to partner with a family to be that safe place for their child to go. This means the parents (or single parent) can attend church themselves, it means the child is building their confidence and feels valued, and it means families can belong all the way instead of skirting the sidelines. This gives special needs families a home. Parents of children with special needs are a different kind of tired. The hope is that this ministry will give them an opportunity to receive much needed time and nourishment to continue running with endurance the race God has set before them.

As a mother, I want to express how grateful I am to have the privilege of being Bonnie’s mother. She has challenged me, stretched me, and grown my patience more than I thought possible. When I consider who I would be if I had not been gifted my daughter, I see a person I am grateful not to have become. If you have the ability to give of your time and heart to this ministry, I can almost guarantee you will grow. You will be challenged, but you will also grow in beautiful ways you didn’t anticipate. There is much to be given in a special needs ministry, but also much to receive.

Blessings,

Bonnie's Mom (Crystal)