To all of South Georgia, A few months ago I tried to reach out to my community and ask them to take notice that there is a group of people who, although they live all around us, many times they feel left out and sometimes they feel all alone. I know a lot about this group because I am one of them. You see, we have some limitation in our lives which prevents us from getting out and having a normal life. Now I myself have been very privileged to do many things that people like myself do not get to do, like going to college and being able to live on my own at college. I have also gotten to speak in some churches, singing and preaching the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. What is so special about that you may ask? Well I have cerebral palsy and I am in a wheelchair. August the 27th through the 31TH of 2007 I attended a “Special Touch Get-Away” in Sorrento, Florida for people who have disabilities. I can tell you that this is one event that I am so glad that I attended. I have been a Christian since I was eight years old and I have attended different revivals, camp meetings, and church activities which I enjoyed very much; first, because I am a Christian and second, I am also a minister of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. But it is sad to say that many times, because of my disability, I did not always feel as welcome as I should have. For example, I am a member of the Church Of God in south Georgia and have been since 1990 and each year all of our churches will come together and meet in Tifton Georgia to hold camp meeting. Many times I like to carry items that my 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. At “Special Touch Get-Away” it is different. You are not singled out because of your disability in any way. To be honest with you, it was like there was no disability that stood in my way. Each day started with breakfast. Then we had some type of activity outdoors which was different each day. One day it was a game something like baseball except there was no bat. There was a giant ball that you had to kick and even if you were in a wheelchair you would have someone to help you roll around the bases. At the same time they had something like a water gun so we were wetting each other with water. One morning we went out to a wall which is about 35 feet high and they have people that are trained to help you climb up the wall by pulling you 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 an 35 foot wall another day. Well these are things that people in my situations don’t get to do very often. Then it was time for the morning chapel and there was two services going at the same time, one for those who had mental disabilities and another one for those with physical disabilities. The services were so awesome. Brother Stephen Goundry, which in my opinion is one great speaker, is a missionary in the Assemblies of God. His teaching about the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit was just so great. Then after chapel we went to lunch and then open recreation time when we could do different things around the camp. I myself got to get into the pool a lot because it had ramps so that people in wheelchairs could be role down into the pool. Also for people who are not able to walk and move around, getting into a pool can be a great way for them to exercise and have a good time too. After dinner a young man named Bradley Mattrisch, who has cerebral palsy, held a prayer meeting in which he would do some teaching and we would pray for the nightly service. Brad touched all of our hearts, because of his speech not being clear he would prepare his message on a power point so that people could read what he was saying. Brad is an ordained minister in the Assemblies of God. After Brad spoke we would pray for the service that night. I especially remember the last prayer meeting, as we prayed; I could since the Holy Spirit so strong! As we left for the worship service we were ready to worship the Lord Jesus. Each night one of the things that stands out to me is that people took time to pray for those who have for so many years are looked down upon because of their disabilities. If I tried to write everything that happened 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 was acting like children and that may be true but. Look at it from another point of view. For people like me who have to live in a wheelchair from day to day all of their lives and hear people say things like, “you can’t do that because you are in a wheelchair”, or “we don’t have time”, it seem so good to hear someone say, “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. This ministry does many other things beside just hold camps: • Summer Get-Away 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. Training is provided for all volunteer Summer Get-Away staff. • Local Fellowship Chapters There are chapters all over the USA, although there is not one yet in Georgia. The chapter serves as a support group where people who has disabilities can come together and hear the Word. They have a time for prayer and a time to fellowship with other people who understand how they feel. They also plan different activities for the group. The Chapters also serve as a local office through which any number of program and services can flow. • 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. I want to ask all of the churches in south Georgia to first, reach out your hand to people who has a disability and let them know that you care. Second, we are trying to get this ministry “SPECIAL TOUCH MINISTRIES” going here in Georgia and we need all of the churches that will to speak up and let your voice be heard that we need this ministry here in Georgia. Let me share one last thing with you: • Did you know that there are 58 million people with disabilities in the United States alone? • That the divorce rate for couples with children having disabilities is over 90 percent? • 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 siblings? • That well over 80 percent of people with disabilities do not attend a church and do not know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior? 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 Evangelist Benjamin Baumgardt Founder and President Jesus is the Answer For Mankind Ministries 609 James Stanfield Road Surrency Georgia 31563 Phone 912-367- 3689 visit our websit www.revbenny.com e-mail bennyb777@msn.com