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Supporting families of children with special needs Seminar teaches ADHD management BY ANN MEAD ASH
“The kids loved him,” said Hoover. “He shared very personal songs based on his experiences.” Hoover shared a number of quotes from participants. “I learned about growing closer to God and connecting with the leaders,” said one attendee. Another student said, “I learned that God is there no matter what and can connect people to one another in a short amount of time.” A third said, “I learned that God will be with me no matter how severe the circumstances,” and another noted. “I learned that no matter how far I stray from God, there’s still a place for me in His heart.”
“We want to work ourselves out of business,” said Tara Kelley, director of disability ministry with Handi-Vangelism Ministries International (HVMI). “We want to equip others to be able to do this because we can’t be everywhere.” To that end, HVMI offers a variety of support and training services to churches, educators, and especially families of children and adults with special needs. Once a month, HVMI gives parents of children with special needs an opportunity to spend time in the company of others who understand through the P arents In Progress (PIP) support group, which meets at the HVMI offices at 600 Chestnut St., Ephrata, every second Monday beginning at 7 p.m. PIP is facilitated by HVMI founder Tim Sheetz, and it is open to parents of children of all ages with a range of disabilities. Sheetz has been working with families since 1973, and he is acutely aware of their needs. “As the child grows older, who will take care of the child?” noted Sheetz. “That is a huge (concern).” He added that the group gives parents a safe space to talk. “The parents understand each other, and they can feel free to say what is going on and feel supported,” he said.
See The Factory pg 5
See Handi-Vangelism pg 6
Making meaningful memories hen Elizabeth Hoover, who is a youth center director with The Factory Ministries along with Micah Lehman, talks about taking students who participate in open door nights at the ministry to Camp Orchard Hill, you can hear the excitement in her voice. “It was a really powerful weekend chatting with them … encouraging and praying for them,” said Hoover, who noted the group that visited the camp from March 3 through 5 included 58 students and 12 leaders. “We had quite the crew,” she added.
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According to Hoover, the theme this year was “Through the Fire.” “That (resonated) with a lot of the kids,” reported Hoover, who noted, “We were able to (ask), ‘What are the fires you’re walking through right now? What are the struggles and trials you’re facing?’” Hoover said that theme gave students the opportunity to share trials they are dealing with during small group time, where leaders could assure them that God is by their sides and walking through the fire with them. Camp Orchard Hill, located in Dallas, Pa., offers a Winter Blast Camp each year that provides a variety of activities designed for
teenagers to enjoy. Among these are basketball, volleyball, glow 9 Square in the Air, and challenges such as stacking decks of cards. A highlight of this year’s camp was snow tubing and building snowmen. “There was snow Friday evening,” recalled Hoover. “A lot of our teens would say the tubing and sledding were their favorite activities.” Because students are kept busy with planned activities, the leaders have the opportunity to focus on relationship building. “We have conversations while the camp plans everything, and that’s such a gift to us,” said Hoover. The speaker for the weekend was Josh Ott, and Kevi Morse was the rapper.
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Factory Youth Center attendees who visited Camp Orchard Hill in March took part in winter sports, heard speakers and rappers, and had conversation time with leaders.