WELS news

REACHING OUT TO THE HIDDEN COMMUNITY

Sometimes all that it takes to get started on something big is to see a need.

Ask the members at St. Paul, Milwaukee, Wis. For a long time, they didn't know the extent of the hidden community—adults and children with developmental disabilities—right in their backyard.

"There are more than 55 group homes within a 7-mile radius of our church," says Sharyn Buelow, a member at St. Paul.

Now this 100-member congregation is holding Bible classes twice a month for 14 people. Just last year it also started holding a monthly simplified worship service called Worship at the Cross. About 50 people attend each month.

"I can see God's blessing on this congregation," says Keith Amborn, pastor at St. Paul. "Sometimes you're searching for a mission. What's our niche? Here's an example of where we have a need, we're able to meet the need, and, with the Lord's help, it's going to grow."

Buelow and her family were instrumental in helping the congregation see the need. Nineteen years ago, Buelow, who works with the developmentally disabled, became involved with Jesus Cares Ministries (JCM), an outreach ministry of The Lutheran Home Association, Belle Plaine, Minn., that works to share the gospel with people with developmental disabilities. She volunteered at several JCM Bible classes at other churches as well as helped out at special events and at summer camps.

"They're a unique group of individuals to work with. They are so interesting and so fun to be around," she says. "When you hear in Scripture to have faith like a child—they do."