It’s often said Church is a place of solitude, reflection and silence.
But that’s not the case at Joyful Ministries – a monthly church service and social group with activities for people with intellectual disabilities in Hamilton.
Church goers are encouraged to express themselves by singing and being as loud as they please.
Organiser Jeni Hawker says the service is about connecting like-minded people through fun, sensory activities and spirituality.
“It’s a real failure free environment where they can come and go, and they use their own talents and gifts, and they go home with something they’ve created.”
Joyful Ministries has been running for five years with the support of the Hamilton City Baptist Church and volunteers who chip in.
Co organiser Gaylene Pluck says it operates on a small budget and has grown through word of mouth from ten attendees to more than 40.
Between Hawker and Pluck the pair are “quite good at making something out of nothing”.
Source
- nzherald.co.nz
- nzherald.co.nz screenshot
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