First Baptist Church of Brandon Welcomes Special-Needs Children

You want to attend your church service. But you have a special-needs child and can't find a babysitter. You could bring your child to the church Sunday school, but you're afraid your child might be disruptive or have no interest in learning. So you end up staying home, quietly reflecting on the Scriptures by yourself.

Now special-needs parents don't have to choose between church and their child.

The First Baptist Church of Brandon, located at 216 N. Parsons Ave., Brandon, offers Special Ministries (in E building) that provide a special-needs Sunday school class for disabled children.

"This is not a baby-sitting service," said Brenda Watkins of Brandon, who oversees the Special Ministries' adult classes. "This is a place where intellectually disabled adults and children of any age group can attend worship service together and learn about the Bible and God. The classes are fun, stimulating and offer a hands-on learning environment for students where they will not only be happy but will retain their focus on the lessons."

Watkins' mentally challenged daughter, Kimberly, volunteers there as well.

Peter and Brenda Watkins are also founders of New Horizons Group Homes for mentally disabled adults.

The Special Ministries program was originally created more than 30 years ago. Recently, Tina Spruill of Brandon has spearheaded the program. Spruill's son, Andrew, is autistic. She said she became involved in the Special Ministries because she felt Andrew's former Sunday school wasn't a good fit for him.

"He was in a great environment, but it didn't work for his needs," Spruill said.

So she spoke to the Rev. Tommy Green at First Baptist and asked if she could start the class.

Since Sept. 5, 10 to 12 volunteers, including Spruill and her husband, Robert, provide classes to anyone with an intellectual disability. The program runs from 10:30-11:30 a.m. each Sunday.

First, there's a Bible story. Spruill shares two stories each month, allocating two-week slots for one story. This way the pace isn't too fast and the students have an easier time remembering the materials, she said. They review both stories on a fifth Sunday class.

The program includes interactive games. The students regularly play "Bursting to Tell about Jesus," in which a volunteer blows bubbles while the students pop them and enthusiastically shout that they love Jesus. In the "Jesus Loves You" game, everyone freezes until someone whispers that Jesus loves them. The "Parachute and Ball" game encourages everyone to sing Bible songs while using a colorful parachute to bounce a beach ball.

The students role-play Bible stories as well.

"We have the freedom to go any direction, such as sitting down, coloring pictures about God. It's the kids who lead the class. We listen to what they want to do," Spruill said.

The program attracts parents from throughout the area seeking a Sunday school class for their special-needs children.

"We've come here for the past few months. It's a good program," said Kelli Dixon of Lithia, whose daughter, Rebecca Balderston, is in the class. Dixon said it allows them to attend the worship service knowing their daughter is benefiting from a class as well.

For more information about the Special Ministries, contact the church office at 813-689-1204 or call Tina Spruill directly at 813-447-7772. Her e-mail is rspruill@tampabay.rr.com.