SHINE

Special Needs Ministry

Welcome to SHINE Ministry!

SHINE Ministry creates a safe, loving environment where children and youth with special needs can grow in their faith alongside caring volunteer buddies. We provide one-on-one support for children in both Kidstown and Student Ministries at our Lexington campus.

Our Mission

Supporting families by loving and guiding children and youth with special needs, helping them learn and grow in their knowledge of Jesus Christ in a safe, welcoming environment.

How SHINE Works

Every child in SHINE is paired with a dedicated volunteer buddy who provides personalized support during Sunday programming. We believe each child is valuable, worthy, and uniquely created by God.

Who We Serve:

Children ages 3-18 (through high school graduation)
Kidstown participants (younger children)
Student Ministry participants (middle and high school)

Getting Started with SHINE

Connect with Our Director

To begin your SHINE journey, use the contact form below to reach out to our Director of SHINE Ministry. They will provide detailed information about our placement process and guide you through the next steps.

Documentation and First Visit

After you connect with us, the SHINE Director will share the necessary forms to fill out before scheduling your family's first visit. During this initial Sunday visit, the Director will work directly with your child to learn about their unique needs and preferences. At least one parent or guardian will need to stay with the SHINE Director throughout the visit to provide additional support and answer any questions.

Buddy Placement

Following your first visit, we'll assess buddy availability for your child. If we have a buddy ready, we'll connect them as soon as possible so your child can begin regular attendance. If no buddy is currently available, your child will be placed on our waitlist, and we'll contact you when a buddy becomes available.

Children with special needs are a special part of our church family. They SHINE! 

SHINE is a ministry that provides children with disabilities or other needs with a 1:1 buddy. Our mission is to support families by loving and guiding children and youth with disabilities in a safe and appropriate environment to learn and grow in their faith and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Our SHINE Ministry serves children in Kidstown and Student Ministries at the Lexington campus.

What is the process to get a 1:1 buddy?

We know that every child who needs a buddy is valuable, worthy, and uniquely made. Finding the right buddy for every SHINE child takes care and attention to the needs of your child - but also the needs of other children already in the SHINE program, and the volunteers currently on our SHINE team. 

To get started, use the contact form below to let us know you're interested in SHINE. We'll send you a SHINE Family Questionnaire; once it's submitted, we'll review the information and follow up as quickly as possible to learn more about your child’s needs by phone, in person, or through email.

NEXT STEPS, Depending on the level of support required:

  • An invitation for parent participation in SHINE with your child for an ‘observation Sunday’
  • An invitation to worship that is most accessible to you as we work towards a right buddy fit for your child: Sanctuary, courtyard, Family Connect space, or Livestream from home
  • A decision about placement – Kidstown Full Inclusion w/ 1:1, Kidstown partial inclusion w/ 1:1, or full 1:1
  • Volunteer team is updated, search and identify appropriate 1:1 buddy support
  • A start date on Sunday is set to make introductions and assist your child as they get to know their new buddy (length is contingent on comfort level of child, volunteer, and parent)
  • The first Sunday your child attends SHINE with 1:1 support
  • Feedback and follow up

Please allow time for our team to place your child with a buddy, and make yourself available for communication. Your SHINE Director may be working with multiple families at a time, and this process requires the cooperation and assistance of parents! We do our best to provide consistency and stability with volunteer support for your family in the long run.

Frequently Asked Questions

The time varies but the average wait time for a buddy is 2-3 weeks. During this time, we will gather information about your child using a SHINE Family Questionnaire. We may ask you to have a phone call, attend SHINE with your child, or have a meeting or 2 with your child’s buddy on Sunday morning in order to help us get to know and find the best fit for your child.

We try to be as flexible as possible and work hard to accommodate everyone. However, we are a volunteer-driven program that serves over 30 families and 50 volunteers with variable needs. We may not be able to accommodate a request to have a buddy at a specific service.

No. SHINE may not be able to provide support to a child for the following reasons:

  • Child is consistently presenting with behaviors that could compromise safety, including harm to themselves or others
  • Level of support required does not match our volunteer skill set
  • Child is able to be fully included in the regular Kidstown programming

SHINE is a ministry of Kidstown and so SHINE families and kids are invited as equal participants in all the special events that Kidstown offers, this includes but is not limited to: Move Up Sunday, Friday Night FX, Child Dedications, Bible Presentations, and Kids Week. We encourage SHINE families to follow the Kidstown Calendar for a list of special events. While we do not offer 1:1 buddies for these programs, we are committed to accessibility and ask you to contact us for any special assistance needs: SHINE@grace.org

Contact SHINE Ministry

Whether you’re looking for support, have questions, or want to learn more about getting involved, we’d love to connect with you.