Creating Space for Every Child in Your Church. In this powerful episode, host Bart Blair, Director of Church Revitalization for Assist Church Expansion, sits down with seasoned occupational therapist Amanda Perches to unpack practical and affordable ways every church—no matter the size—can become a welcoming space for children with special needs and their families.

Are you a church leader, pastor, or ministry volunteer hoping your congregation can better serve families affected by autism, ADHD, sensory processing differences, or other neurodiversities? Are you searching for real, tried-and-true methods to establish special needs ministry, start a sensory room, and foster a culture of inclusion in your faith community? This is the episode for you!

Key Topics Covered:
- How Amanda’s 25+ years as an occupational therapist shaped her perspective on church ministry for families with special needs.
- Powerful statistics about the prevalence of special needs in communities—and the essential role churches can fill (did you know that as many as 1 in 5 families have a child with special needs?).
- Why small churches are naturally suited for effective special needs outreach—sometimes even better than large churches!
- Busting the myth that creating “special needs spaces” or “sensory rooms” is expensive, complicated, or requires huge renovations.
- Step-by-step guidance on **how to set up a special needs-friendly environment** for neurodiverse children, including practical lighting, seating, sound, and visual strategies.
- The most important “non-negotiables” for a basic sensory room every church can afford to implement.
- The critical importance of including parents, siblings, and teenage volunteers in church special needs ministry.
- Serving not just the child, but the whole family: why support and community for parents and siblings changes everything.
- How to communicate your new special needs ministry to the public with authenticity while avoiding common missteps.

Real-World Takeaways for Churches:
- Tips for assessing and repurposing the spaces you already have — no major construction required!
- Budget-friendly equipment and furnishings that support sensory needs, focus, and calm.
- Why listening first and collaborating with families is the foundational key to launching a meaningful ministry.
- How teens can transform their own lives and perspectives by volunteering with special needs children—even fulfilling their service hour requirements!

Whether you’re looking to attract young families from your neighborhood or simply want to serve differently-abled members of your congregation, you’ll find practical advice, encouragement, and inspiration in this episode.

Listen in and learn:
- How to approach outreach to families with special needs
- What questions to ask when designing your church spaces
- Ideas for flexible seating, fidgets, weighted blankets, quiet spaces, and more
- Encouragement for small and mid-sized churches—you can make a huge difference!
- Where to get professional help (and why consulting with occupational therapists matters)

Don’t forget to subscribe for fresh episodes on the 1st and 15th of every month with new guests, actionable conversations, and practical church renewal strategies. If this episode helped you, please LIKE, SHARE, and COMMENT with your own experiences or questions about special needs ministry!

Resources & Links:
- Visit our website for articles, eBooks, and free assessment tools: https://www.revitalizemy.church/
- Listen to past episodes on church revitalization, hospitality, leadership, and more!

#SpecialNeedsMinistry #ChurchRevitalization #InclusiveChurch #ChildrenWithAutism #ADHD #SensoryRoom #FamilyMinistry #ChurchLeadership #BartBlair #AmandaPerches #ChurchPodcast #Neurodiversity #AssistChurchExpansion

Is ministry burnout and discouragement draining your passion for church revitalization? In this episode, Bart Blair and Nathan Bryant share five biblical and practical steps to help pastors overcome discouragement, regain momentum, and enter 2026 with renewed fire for ministry.

Episode 33 of the Revitalize My Church Podcast explores:

Step 1: Look to Jesus for Restoration — Understand that your identity as God's child matters more than your ministry performance. God loves you unconditionally, not because of what you accomplish. Learn how to lean into your calling with confidence in God's provision, not your own abilities.

Step 2: Look Back on What God Has Already Done — High-achieving pastors often skip celebration to move to the next goal. Discover why celebrating small wins—spiritual growth, restored marriages, baptisms, and the simple fact that your church is still alive—is critical for combating discouragement.

Step 3: Check the Eternal Scoreboard — Stop measuring ministry success only by numbers. Understand that one person coming to Christ has eternal consequences that far exceed any attendance metric. Fix your eyes on what is unseen, not on visible metrics.

Step 4: Share the Load Through Delegation — Most pastors are doing too much and carrying unsustainable responsibility. Create a practical inventory of your tasks, identify what only you can do, and delegate the rest. Discover how delegation connects others to their calling and prevents pastoral burnout.

Step 5: Rest and Care for Your Soul — Jesus modeled regular withdrawal for prayer and restoration. Learn how to implement a monthly (or weekly) personal retreat day. Nathan shares his powerful practice of using a notebook to brain-dump burdens, clearing mental space for genuine encounter with God.

Bonus: Build Peer Accountability — Every pastor needs another pastor who understands the weight of ministry. Learn how to find and nurture a peer mentor relationship that provides encouragement, prayer, and authentic community.

This episode includes real-world examples, like how pastor Jerry faced unexpected resistance to simply repainting his church sanctuary, and Bart's golden accountability relationship with pastor Bob Church in Alberta. Whether you're in a small church plant or established congregation, whether you're struggling with unmet goals, resistance to change, or pure exhaustion, this conversation offers hope and actionable steps to reclaim your joy in ministry.

If you're tired, discouraged, or questioning your calling as a pastor in church revitalization, this episode will remind you of your true identity in Christ and provide the practical tools to sustain healthy, joyful ministry.

For more resources on church revitalization, pastor burnout, and leadership development, visit RevitalizeMyChurch.com or connect with Assist Church Expansion.

Subscribe to the Revitalize My Church podcast for episodes on church growth strategies, overcoming resistance to change, community outreach, and pastoral health. New episodes release on the 1st and 15th of every month.

#ChurchRevitalization #PastorBurnout #MinistryDiscouragement #ChurchLeadership #PastoralCare #SmallChurchMinistry #ChurchGrowth #PastoralWellness #ChristianLeadership #LocalChurch

Most churches rely on ineffective methods like stage announcements, program inserts, and mass emails. These approaches typically result in low commitment rates, with many volunteers saying yes but never following through. Nick's framework addresses this by creating a systematic process that treats volunteer recruitment like a well-designed pathway rather than random requests.

Do you have enough prospects in your pool? Think of names on a list to talk to in order to get the number of volunteers you need. This is the foundation - having specific people identified rather than making general appeals.

If someone is a name on your list and you don't know them well, you need to get into a conversation with them. This might start over email, text, or in the lobby, but the goal is moving from prospect to actual dialogue about serving.

Getting them into orientation, which Nick approaches differently than most churches. This is where prospects learn about the ministry's purpose and impact.

This is where many churches lose volunteers even after they say yes. The onboarding process includes several sub-phases:

• Observation Phase: Letting prospects see the ministry in action

• Thorough Vetting: Applications, background checks, interviews

• Intentional Apprenticeship: Serving alongside experienced volunteers with checklists

• Follow-up and Placement: Six-week check-ins to ensure success

The volunteer is now actively serving in their assigned role with proper support and ongoing development.

Retention depends heavily on early follow-up. At the six-week mark, ministry leaders should meet with new volunteers to discuss:

• What aspects of the role energize them

• What drains or frustrates them

• Process improvements from a fresh perspective

• Potential role adjustments if needed

The Nonprofit Security Grant Program provides up to $200,000 per physical address for facility hardening, including:

• Security cameras and monitoring systems

• Door access control and key card entry

• Alarms and emergency alert systems

• Fencing and bollards for vehicle barriers

• Blast-resistant glass and window coverings

• Security training (up to 5% of total grant)

Approximately 50% of organizations that apply receive funding, but success rates are much higher for properly prepared applications. Churches working with experienced consultants see success rates around 95% when applying consistently over 2-3 years.

The grant typically opens in May-June annually, with state-specific deadlines varying based on federal budget timing.

Even churches with limited budgets can effectively utilize the full $200,000 grant amount. Security upgrades often cost more than expected, and the improvements provide both enhanced sa...

• Why Christmas outperforms Easter for visitor attendance
• The 3-step framework for successful Christmas outreach
• How to train your congregation to invite effectively
• Creative alternatives to traditional Christmas services
• Critical follow-up strategies to keep visitors coming back
• Real examples from church plants and revitalizing churches
• How to plan impactful events with just $200 and 25 people

1. Planning Your Event Start planning now - early November is not too early. Consider what your church can authentically do well rather than copying other churches. Use AI tools like ChatGPT to brainstorm creative ideas within your budget.
2. Mobilizing Your Congregation Train your people on how to invite effectively. Personal invitations during Christmas have the highest acceptance rate of any time during the year. Create multiple touchpoints throughout December, not just Christmas Eve.
3. Planning the Follow-Up Have a January event already planned before Christmas arrives. Announce your next opportunity during Christmas events. Create a clear pathway for visitors to return.

• Decorating homes for elderly residents
• Community meals for those without family
• Angel tree partnerships with local schools
• Mobilizing neighbors for service projects

• Fire pit parties with s'mores
• Outdoor Christmas BBQs
• Relationship-focused Christmas parties
• Collaborative community projects

1. Procrastination - Waiting too long to plan
2. Lack of mobilization - Not training your congregation to invite
3. No follow-up plan - Missing January reconnection opportunity
4. Copying others - Not being authentic to your church's identity
5. Doing nothing - The biggest mistake is not trying at all

• Start planning your Christmas strategy immediately
• Work creatively with your current budget and resources
• Think beyond traditional Sunday services
• Train congregation members on invitation strategies
• Schedule your January follow-up event now
• Focus on what your church does authentically well

• Leadership conflicts over vision and direction
• Congregation splitting into opposing camps over worship style
• Attendance declining from peak of 250-300 to under 60 people
• Members spiritualizing personal preferences instead of focusing on biblical matters
• Lack of new believers and baptisms over multiple years

• Unite around the need for change and new direction
• Prepare mentally for the challenges of revitalization
• Commit to supporting whatever changes would be necessary
• Understand their role in the revitalization process

• A four-page letter criticizing a sermon on Jesus turning water to wine
• Complaints about sanctuary lighting being "too dark" for theological reasons
• Objections to contemporary language used during services

• Looking beyond just musical ability to leadership and character qualities
• Considering older, more mature believers who bring theological depth
• Recruiting from local colleges, universities, and even karaoke venues
• Being willing to invest in temporary solutions while searching for long-term fits

• Not taking personal attacks personally while remaining compassionate
• Maintaining identity in Christ rather than ministry success
• Having unified elder support when facing criticism
• Learning from previous ministry mistakes

• Why Question: Defining your biblical purpose
• Who Question: Clarifying your cultural identity
• How Question: Building your strategic plan
• Where Question: Painting your preferred future

• "The Vision Driven Leader" by Michael Hyatt
• "Exponential" by John & Dave Ferguson
• RevitalizeMyChurch.com (free resources & blog)

• Identify and recruit the right people for hospitality roles
• Create volunteer teams that focus on discipleship, not just task completion
• Turn Sunday service into a "spiritual gymnasium" for volunteer growth

• Why every church needs parking lot volunteers (even with empty spaces)
• How to train volunteers to create meaningful first impressions
• Making visitors feel expected and welcomed from the moment they arrive

• The difference between greeters and ushers
• Strategic volunteer placement throughout your church building
• How to help longtime members connect with newcomers

• Less-than-perfect music ministries
• Developing preaching skills
• Limited children's programming
• Small church size

• Website: maryannsibley.com
• Instagram: Follow for practical hospitality tips and volunteer leadership insights

• Start with a few committed volunteers rather than trying to recruit large teams
• Focus on discipleship through service opportunities
• Create consistent welcoming experiences from parking lot to sanctuary
• Expect God to bring new people and prepare accordingly
• Authenticity matters more than perfection in church hospitality

• First-time visitors are often scared and uncertain
• Many haven't been to church in 15-20 years or ever
• People are looking for connection and acceptance
• We represent Jesus and "the joy of the Lord is our strength"

1. Front Door Experience
   • Genuine, joyful greeters (not just going through motions)
   • Warm welcome without being overwhelming
   • Clear directions for newcomers
2. Corporate/Building Hospitality
   • Thinking like hosts in our own home
   • Clean, welcoming physical environment
   • Clear signage and navigation
   • Thoughtful preparation for guests
3. Personal Hospitality
   • Leaders modeling hospitality in their homes
   • Inviting people into your life beyond Sunday
   • Building real relationships and community
   • Cultural shift that starts individual, becomes corporate

• Many churches have 60-80 members but only 25-50 in attendance
• No clear expectations or obligations
• Membership becomes a finish line instead of starting point
• People commit more to little league than to church

• Covenantal commitment both directions (pastor to members, members to church)
• Clear expectations and benefits
• Active participation requirements
• Integration into church family as team members/partners

• Regular attendance
• Serving in ministry
• Participation in small groups
• Financial support
• Investing in relationships with non-believers
• Respecting church leadership and authority
• Commitment to church mission and values