It is not easy to make it through White Oak Conference Center during the mid-summer week of Joy Retreat without stopping to get a hug. It is not easy to ignore the smiling faces or jubilant handshakes either.
For 27 years the Joy Retreat has been providing a camp and retreat setting for adults with special needs from all across South Carolina. Using the previous year’s Vacation Bible School materials, teachers spend time with small groups, walking them through Bible stories, crafts and songs. The campers also enjoy puppet shows, clowns and a big group celebration. This year’s theme was Rickshaw Rally.
This year more than 300 campers attended the retreat showing the growing ministry opportunities to an often unreached segment of the population.
Von Reynolds, pastor of Seneca Baptist Church, knows fully how much ministries to adults with special needs can mean to a family. His twenty-one year old son Andy has Downs Syndrome.
Seneca Baptist is one of 40 churches in the state with ministries to adults with special needs. Without targeted opportunities for people with handicaps, many families feel they must carry the burden for care throughout the week, especially on Sunday.
“A lot of families don’t go to church because there is nothing available for their special needs children so they stay at home,” said Reynolds.
At Seneca Baptist, ten to twelve adults with special needs attend worship every Sunday and serve in various jobs throughout the church including ushering and assisting with Wednesday night suppers.
Reynolds says that the climate toward people with mental and physical handicaps in Oconee county is changing as more and more adults with special needs are becoming involved in the community. It is a change he sees in the church as well, as evidenced by the number of attendees at Joy Retreat.
“[It is] pure joy. Lots of fun. They are able to have a good time and just relax.”
And for Reynolds the time at Joy Retreat extra sweet as he experiences the camp with his son.
“Andy loves it. They all do. From the time they get back, they call me everyday and want to know when we are going back."
