Church starts special needs class

By Melissa Maynarich, NEWS 9

At one metro church, parents of special needs kids now have a place to take their children every week.

Members at St. Luke's United Methodist Church, 222 NW 15, recently started a new Sunday school class designed especially for kids who are developmentally delayed.

Deborah Decker's two autistic sons, Matthew and Nathan attend the new class.

"When we first started coming to church there was nothing for my kids," Decker said. "They didn't fit into the other classes that were there. They were doing activities that my kids couldn't participate in."

Children with any developmental delay are welcome to the class. During Sunday school the kids are allowed to play. The special needs teacher approaches each child individually to work with them.

"You don't know the feeling when they come up and give you a hug or they finally do a task that you've been working on for months," Teacher Lisa Van Gorder said. "It really feels good to have them complete something."

St. Luke's also is beginning another care program next month. Parents will be able to drop off their special needs kids and siblings at church and have an afternoon to themselves.

For more information on St. Luke's programs call (405) 232-1371