This letter was writen some time ago and with the help of the Lord doors are being open now in the state of Georgia but we still desire you to read this and pray for us.

Please read the following letter as I plan to share my heart about one of the most important ministries that the Lord has established. The Ministry is called “Special Touch”. You may be too busy or have enough already on your plate but please take time to at least read and even pray for our ministry. It is one of the most forgotten about and even neglected group in Christian ministry. Yet it is the most rewarding, transforming, and in Christ’s heart. He often approached the disabled which were even forgotten in the early church. Please take time to read the following:

Bible study

In Special Touch we hear great Bible teaching during which we see the love of the Lord extending to many very special people. It is special people at these studies who, because of their disabilities, don’t ever get a chance to get to know Jesus. Now I know that for those of us that have friends and family members we do our best to portray Jesus to them in the best way that we know.

Since I have been involved in this ministry I myself have had my eyes opened in ways that I can’t begin to describe. I see and hear about people who come into these camps who do not know Jesus because no one has ever took the time to talk to them on their level of understanding and explain to them the simple way to Christ. Many times when we see a person with a mental or physical handicap we automatically assume that there is no way for them to understand salvation. But they can, I have seen them as they worship the Lord with tears flowing down their faces as the Holy Spirit would move so great. Some of these precious people never have a chance to experience the Lord in this way until they attend one of these camps. It is an extremely life changing experience for them. One night this past camp while the alter call was going on I was so overwhelmed with the Holy Spirit that I could not hold back the tears.

Begin a Chapter

My desire is to begin a chapter here in Georgia where we can meet once a month and begin to reach out to people right here in our own state. Now the place for our meetings has not been determined yet. In the chapter there will be a time of fellowship, worship, Bible teaching, and prayer. Rev. Larry and Carolyn Campbell who are full time missionaries for “Special Touch” also want to see this happen in Georgia . Now I know that some of you live outside of Georgia and to you I only ask for your prayers. I will also be a resource to you if you have a desire to start a chapter where you are located. But for the ones here in Georgia I ask for you to help pray about the leading and direction that God would have us to do. Now we will need some people to help us get this ministry going and I would like you to email me and let me know how you feel about beginning a chapter here in Georgia . In the next section it is my hopes to help one see through the eyes and challenges of a disabled person.

Situation

Many disabled people live at home and are not able to get out resulting from some form of disability. Many of them feel isolated from society and are alone. You may ask how I know about these people. I have cerebral palsy myself and have been in a wheelchair all of my life. But in my case I am very happy because Jesus Christ lives in me which takes care of the loneliness. Furthermore, I am blessed by God with a great family. Now you may think that most people in my situation automatically will live for the Lord Jesus Christ and I wish that were true, but it is not.

You see, many disabled have some limitations which prevent them from getting out and having a normal life. This be my situation, but I have been very privilege to do many things that people like myself do not get to do. One of these privileged things has been living on my own while attending college. I have even gotten to speak, sing and preach in some churches sharing the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. What is so special is that my cerebral palsy would limit me from these activities but as in Phil 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me”. This does not mean that I do not have struggles which is why “Special Touch” is so important to me.

I have found many struggles in getting the word out about our ministry. Many times I like to carry items that our ministry has put out only to find that many people will walk on by me as if I am not even there. I believe that Christian people mean well but they really don’t know what to say to someone who has a disability. If you are still interested, at this point I will start with an observation then explain the ministry structure.

What Special Touch does

At a Special Touch get-away it is different from other ministries. A person is not singled out because of their disability. I fact it felt as though I had no disability to stand in my way. Each day started with breakfast then, then afterwards would lead to a different outdoor activity. One day, it was a game something like baseball but with no bat. We used a giant ball that you had to kick. Even if one was in a wheelchair they could have someone to help roll them around the bases. The activity that had the greatest impact on me personally was one morning we went out to a wall which is about 35 feet high. Trained people would climb up to the top of the wall and begin pulling me up with ropes. Now you may ask why would it be so important for someone like myself to be able to play like a child one day and then be challenge to climb a 35 foot wall another day? Well these are things that people in my situations don’t get to do very often.

After the experience on the wall, what about the spiritual? One event that stands out in my mind the most would be on a Wednesday night. I remember the minister’s message was about going to “the river”. It was the response to the message at the alter call that said that the Lord views the disabled as special to Him. People begin to say things like ”I want to be saved”. I have never seen such a response in all my life. There were no words to describe what I saw but I will say it was amazing. We are talking about people with mental disabilities that may or may not understand some things. Yet God is even now opening the eyes of their heart and they are coming to Christ asking Him to be their Lord and Savior. Wow what a move of God we had that night.

If I tried to write everything that happen at this camp it would take me a long time. I wish that each church could catch the vision of this ministry. Some of the things that we did, some people would look at it and say we were acting like children and that may be true but. Another viewpoint comes from a setting of people like me who have to live in a wheelchair all of their lives, while people say things like “you can’t do that because you are in a wheelchair” or “we don’t have time”. It is refreshing to hear in Special Touch ministries things like “Yes you can do this”. But most of all it was so wonderful to have someone to care enough to share the good news of the Lord Jesus Christ with us.

Special Touch Programs

Summer Get-Aways

A Christian vacation/retreat experience for those with physical and/or mental disabilities and their families. The Summer Get Away program features separate recreation and chapel services that are functionally appropriate for people with physical disabilities and for people with mental disabilities.

Local fellowship Chapters

They hold chapters all over the USA . Right now, there is none in Georgia , The chapter serves as a support group where people who have disabilities can come together and hear the word.

Retreats and Special Events

Throughout the year these events provide spiritual inspiration, fellowship, and entertainment.

Awareness and Training Seminars

Designed specifically for Churches and Organizations that have a disability ministry interest.

Resources and Consulting

A service designed to assist churches and Pastors in disability issues.

STARS (Special Touch Associated Residential Services)

Provides residential care and Day-hab services, nurturing godly values.

My Plea to the churches

I want to ask all of the churches, especially in South Georgia , to first reach out your hand to people who have a disability and let them know that you care. Second, we are trying to get this ministry “SPECIAL TOUCH MINISTRIES” going in Georgia and we need all of the churches that will speak up and let your voice be heard. We need this ministry in Georgia . Let me share one last thing with you

Statistics for the Disabled

Did you know that there are 58 million people with disabilities in the United States alone and that the divorce rate for couples with children having disabilities is over 90 percent and that siblings of a person with disabilities are 4 times more likely to be maladjusted when they grow up than their peers who have typical sibling. Well over 80 percent of people with disabilities do not attend a church and do not know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and something needs to be done.

NOW TELL ME HOW IMPORTAINT IS THIS TO THE LORD! If it’s important to Him it should be important to His Church

Let me know what you think.

Contact me:

Rev. Benjamin Baumgardt

Special Touch Ministries

Because there are no disable souls

I remember this one lady who came name Shawn, Shawn is in a wheelchair and has a mental disability but has a heart of gold. On Wednesday morning Shawn begin to ask questions like, “Dose God really love me?” “Dose he care about me?” So some of the staff took Shawn a side that evening and explain to her that God dose love and cares for her. That night in the evening service Shawn gave her heart to the Lord and latter that week she was baptized. There is so many stories likes this that happens  in this ministry. Many people who has some sort of disability come to Jesus Christ all because someone show them the Love of Jesus. Will you be that  someone?