Special Needs Camps

The numbers are staggering and sad. In India alone, more than 26 million children and adults are living with disabilities. Support services that are readily available in other countries simply don’t exist in India and parts of Asia.

Historically, significant physical and spiritual assistance has not been available to all children with special needs. To meet this need, God called LCMI to begin reaching out and ministering to those with special needs and to their families through Special Needs camps. We also conduct Hole in the Church seminars that bring awareness and challenge pastors to include people with special needs into the life of the church.

We conducted our first Special Needs Camp in India in 2009. Since then, we have expanded the program all over India and in 2021, we began Special Needs camps in Nepal as well. The parents and children who attended and the leaders of our mobilizing churches considered this camp an oasis from the harsh realities of their daily life. Many have testified about the powerful impact the camp has on everyone involved.

LCMI conducts 3-day special needs camps in remote areas. The core purpose of these camps is to teach the Biblical understanding of disability, share the hope that is found in the Lord Jesus Christ, and initiate support groups through the local churches. At each camp, we are blessed to have a doctor, dentist, and/or physical therapist to attend to the physical needs of the campers and teach guardians how they can better care for their children with special needs. Mobility aids are given on a case by case basis.

Our goal is that these campers and families hear the Gospel and understand that they are made in the image of God and are precious in His eyes. For many of them, it is the first time hearing that they are special. Parents and guardians at these camps are amazed by the love being shown to them and their children in a country where many are blinded by superstition and fear and treat them as outcasts. Our heart is that each special needs camp will accomplish these goals:

  • To bring the Gospel to children with special needs and their families and share the hope that is found in Christ
  • To give children with special needs and their families the love and care of Christ, showing them that they are precious and unique
  • To provide encouragement and an opportunity for physical and emotional rest for parents and guardians
  • To create awareness of resources from the government that are available to them
  • To educate parents and guardians on how to care for their children with special needs