Bringing Excitement to the Special Needs Support Community

BACC E-Ministries

“As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’ ‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned,’ said Jesus, ‘but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.’”

John 9:1-2

Exceptional Children’s Ministry (E-Ministry) is a family of programs practicing inclusion for typical and special needs children, serving our community. A recent survey with in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, found that more than one-fifth of U.S. households with children have at least one child with special needs. In order to serve these households, we have developed our E-Ministries.

E-Ministries include sports programs and Spiritual Resource Ministry (SRM). SRM is a class specifically designed to provide an opportunity for both parent and their child with special needs to attend Church Services. E-Ministry sports programs include E-Soccer, E-Karate, E-Hoops and E-Fitness. These sports programs are unique in that they enable both typical children and those with special needs to participate along side each other and have fun while developing both their athletic and social skills.

Soccer Exhibiting the Benefits of Inclusion

In April 2000, Russ Ewell brought a few friends together on a Saturday morning — A handful of soccer enthusiasts and a few kids, some with special needs, and some typical. The purpose was to get some exercise, build friendships for his boys, and have a good time. From this humble beginning at Bowditch Middle School playfields in Foster City, California, E-Soccer was born.

What they didn’t realize then was that the friendships between the kids that began that Saturday morning of April 2000 would span over a decade and have far-reaching impact. Typical kids and kids with special needs were learning soccer alongside one another and helping each other grow in multiple ways. Inclusion was happening in its most organic, natural form.

Beyond the athletic skills developed during e-soccer, special qualities of character, leadership, empathy, sacrifice, and service, just to name a few, were being formed and nurtured in these young boys and girls. The benefits of inclusion were already being made apparent. Moreover, the parents of both typical and special needs children were bonding in ways that would knit them and their kids together. E-Soccer would benefit entire families and everyone involved over the coming decade, including its coaches. In addition, it would spread overseas and become the model for E-Karate, E-Hoops and E-Fitness.

The Magic for the Child with Special Needs: Jessica’s Story

Eleven years ago, Jessica was diagnosed with autism. Doctors told her parents that she would be incapable of making friends and doing typical tasks such as riding the bus or driving a car. Her parents felt hopeless and weren’t sure what to do. After a failed attempt to incorporate their daughter into a special day class in a public school, a relative recommended that they apply to the Hope Technology School, a benevolent program supported by the Bay Area Christian Church. Six months later they were invited to attend E-Soccer. Eventually they came to church and were delighted to find the Spiritual Resource Ministry. The friendships Jessica built with typically developing and other special needs peers in the inclusive environment of the E-Ministry programs fostered an incredible sense of confidence in Jessica and helped her develop socially as well as athletically.

Eleven years now into a journey that began with the devastating diagnosis, this fourteen-year-old girl has had autism removed as a diagnosis. She is getting A’s in her first year of high school and has become an E-Soccer coach herself. And in January of this year she made the decision to become a Christian.

The Magic for the Typical Child

Jessica’s story and the benefits to her development are not unique to the special needs kids involved in our E-Ministry programs. Typical kids also benefit greatly in the following ways:

Inclusion & friendship. The benefits of inclusion are innumerable; watching a child with special needs engage and have fun with a typical child is something that does not happen often.
Leadership/Mentorship. Learning to be a part of a team, and lead drills, exercises and the like offer children the opportunity to grow in areas that will help later in life.
Character development. Empathy, caring, serving and sacrifice are all traits that are taught in our programs.
Athletic development & fitness. Every child can benefit from the physical fitness aspect of our e-Sports and e-Fitness programs.

This Is What Family’s All About: The Myers Family

In 2003 Doug and Lynn Myers along with their two boys Daniel and David (then, 11 and 12) decided to enroll together as a family in Taekwondo classes. After hearing about the Redwood City E-Karate program similar to the E-Soccer program the Myers launched San Jose E-Taekwondo with a handful of typical and special needs children.

Over the ensuing years, coaching and serving at San Jose E-Taekwondo the Myers, built tight family relationships, helped Lynn cope with her chronic illness and provided joy helping kids advance in their physical and social skills. Serving in E-Taekwondo was also instrumental in helping their sons Daniel and David have hearts to serve God and become Christians.

Now David and Daniel attend San Jose State University. They still make time every Saturday morning to carry on what’s become a cherished family tradition – serving as coaches at San Jose E-Taekwondo. The program is now serving over 30 families every season.

Our E-Ministry stories reflect the common desire amongst our members to make God attractive to our community. Whether or not your child has special needs, it’s worth exploring the benefit our programs can bring to you and your family. Check out the resources below to get involved today.