One Size Does Not Fit All

The Challenge of Special Needs Ministry

We have some times accepted campers who we knew had challenges that would really stretch our staff, because we’ve seen the look of utter exhaustion on a single mom’s face pleading for a break of refreshment.

In the 27 summers of Camp Promise, we have tried to reach out to as many campers as possible, regardless of financial, behavioral or physical needs. We have some times extended ourselves a little thin, because it is heart-breaking to say to any family that we don’t have room for their child at camp. We have some times accepted campers who we knew had challenges that would really stretch our staff, because we’ve seen the look of utter exhaustion on a single mom’s face pleading for a break of refreshment. We recognize that Camp Promise is not just a loving, fun vacation for our campers, but it is a real time of respite for their families.

One difficulty of accepting a wide variety of campers is meeting each one’s needs well. Some of the challenges are partnering campers together who can encourage and enjoy one another as peers, filling a cabin with similarly aged campers who have comparable abilities and sleep patterns, and assigning Bible classes according to who reads well, who needs lots of activity, who can be challenged to go deeper into Biblical truth and who needs to focus on the basics. Each year, as we get to know every camper more deeply, we are better equipped to provide a camp atmosphere that benefits all those who are a part of it.

The Gospel Opportunity

Ideally we could provide a wide range of Camp Promise programs; camps for children with mental disabilities, conferences for adults with physical disabilities, and family support retreats for those caring for people with special needs, to name a few.

However, we do recognize that we could serve our campers even better if we could provide weeks of camp more specifically designed for varying ages and abilities. Ideally we could provide a wide range of Camp Promise programs; camps for children with mental disabilities, conferences for adults with physical disabilities, and family support retreats for those caring for people with special needs, to name a few. There are so many more ways that we can reach out to, support and encourage people touched by disability and their families.

Big Sky Bible Camp has always been committed to sharing the gospel with those who come onto our grounds, and the proposed new facility will allow us to reach more people, more effectively. It will provide a more accessible space to reach out to those with special needs. It will provide more time in the schedule to add weeks of Camp Promise specifically geared to folks we are not now able to minister to. It will allow us to better serve those who already come to Camp Promise, as we can plan weeks for them and their peers. It will provide a place for retreats and conferences for families of people with special needs.

We praise God also for all the ways we will see Him expand our reach, and for all the people who will learn about the God who made them just the way He wanted, through the ministries made possible through a new, expanded facility.

We know that one Camp Promise program will never be able to reach all those affected by special needs. It is our desire to be the best stewards of the property God has blessed us with and we believe that these new facilities will be a tremendous way to do so. We praise God for the ability to help campers thrive at our traditional weeks of camp, even if they need a little extra guidance. We praise God for the opportunity to reach out to many campers with special needs, for whom Camp Promise is the only chance they have to enjoy a week away. We praise God also for all the ways we will see Him expand our reach, and for all the people who will learn about the God who made them just the way He wanted, through the ministries made possible through a new, expanded facility.


About the Author:

Jeff Ort has been involved in special needs ministry since 1993 and has been Director of Camp Promise since 2003. He has led Friday Night Out, a ministry to people with special needs, since 2005. In his spare time, he enjoy reading, board games, soccer and ultimate.