special needs
The Kirk Community of Friends is the special needs ministry at The Kirk.
We focus on the abilities and God given gifts and talents of our members so they can use them to share Jesus with others in the church, community, and world.
Sunday mornings
Special Buds
Special Buds is a Sunday morning ministry at 9am and 10:30am for children and adults with developmental disabilities. If you have a child or know of an individual who has an developmental disability and may need a buddy to go with them to Sunday school, or may benefit from a class with fewer students and more one-on-one care, Special Buds might be the program for them.
Sunday Nights
Faithful Buds
Faithful Buds is a ministry for adults with developmental disabilities that meets on Sunday nights from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Kirk of the Hills in The Gathering. This program is open to the community. Every Sunday night, Faithful Bud members pray for each other, study the Bible, have a meal together and finish up the evening with a social activity. They host an annual talent show where all the members perform and have a time in the spotlight. Faithful Buds also participate in a variety of mission projects throughout the year and attend different sporting events and activities in the community.
fourth friday night of each month
Friday Night Owls
Friday Night Owls is held on the fourth Friday of each month from 6:00-9:00 p.m. in The Gathering at the Kirk of the Hills campus. Friday Night Owls is open to families that attend either Kirk campus and have a child with a developmental disability. When there are sufficient volunteers, Friday Night Owls is open to the community as well. While parents have a night out, their children enjoy a fun evening of movies, video games, snacks, crafts and other games in a one-on-one environment.
Pathways
Pathways mission is to provide a unique Christian program focusing on students’ emotional, cognitive, physical, social, spiritual, and vocational growth. Pathways meets Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., and offers full-time and part-time options to meet each student’s needs.
Kirk Community of Friends is dedicated to:
Sharing God's love and word with individuals of all ages with developmental disabilities in our church and community
Providing opportunities for Christ-centered friendships to form between our members, volunteers and congregation
Equipping people with disabilities and their families to become full participants and contributors in the body of Christ and their communities
volunteer with us
We guarantee if you volunteer you will have new friends for life!.
Volunteering as little as an 1.5 hours a month can make a huge impact in the lives of our parents and members. Below is a list of current volunteer needs.
Sundays | 11am
Sunday Morning Special Buds
This class is made up of members with developmental disabilities ranging in age from 18 and up. There’s no preparation required to serve these friends.
Most of our members love a friend/volunteer to sit with them and give some special one on one attention while we chit chat, pray, do our Bible story, craft, and have free time together.
Fourth Friday Night of Each Month
Friday Night Owls
While parents have a night off, their kids with a developmental disability and their siblings play games, have crafts, watch movies, and eat snacks. The more volunteers we have the more families we can accommodate. Some of our volunteers bring their older children to help as well.