Shine is Green Pastures ministry for adults with special needs or a learning difficulty. It takes place within a Christ-centred environment and has a person-centred emphasis.
Colin Crawford, who leads the programme, explained a little more about the Shine ministry.
“It is our desire to express the love of Jesus to adults with special needs and their families in a practical way.”
“Shine is a ministry hosted by Green Pastures Church in Galgorm, Ballymena. Green Pastures is a church equipped to reach out into our local communities and practically express God’s love to the people we do life with.”
Colin went on to say: “We want to be a church that equips, encourages and releases ordinary people to live their dream of an extraordinary life in Christ. This includes those amongst us who have a special need or learning difficulty.”
“Our hope is that we will create an opportunity for each of our adults to grow to be like Jesus. We aim to support those with special needs in all aspects of their spiritual growth. This includes worshipping, learning about scripture, experiencing fellowship, praying and serving others”, he continued.
Shine is Green Pastures ministry for adults with special needs or learning difficulties who are aged 18+.
Members of the Shine team work together to achieve these goals through two different initiatives.
• Shine Monday is a very informal and relaxed program for anyone aged 18+. They get involved in table-top games, worship, prayer time & Biblical truth. Also arts & crafts, sensory room, refreshments and lots more. It meets the second Monday evening of each month September – May from 7.30pm – 9.00pm at Green Pastures. The Shine program is very informal and relaxed and is open to all adults aged 18+.
• Shine Sunday provides an opportunity for our adults with special needs and their families to join in with morning worship at 10.30am. Colin says: “We meet in The Lounge where we enjoy breakfast together along with a cup of tea or coffee. After this we join the rest of our church family in the main auditorium where we have reserved seats awaiting us.” Shine Sunday happens on first Sunday of each month (September – June) from 10.30am – 12.30pm. Again, the venue is Green Pastures Church, Galgorm.
Colin smiles: “If you don’t already have a church, or would like to join us once a month for our ’Shine Sunday’ we would love to welcome you to Green Pastures Church.”
To connect with Green Pastures Church, Galgorm, log on to their website or Facebook page.
