On Sunday 26 February 2023, Community Evangelist Rueben Beelders conducted a divine service for parents, carers and children with special needs. This divine service was the second of a series of planned interventions aimed at supporting both parents and children.

The message for the divine service was taken from the message of the angel, Gabriel, when he informed Mary of her task to bear and raise Jesus, “For with God nothing will be impossible.” The Community Evangelist explained to the congregation that when we call to the Lord and do so in faith and confidence, and know that He is capable of anything, then we can experience Him in unexpected ways.

After the divine service, Sister Naomi Kieswetter addressed the parents in attendance. Her presentation was titled, “Finding Balance” amidst the many demands of being a parent of a special needs child.

As was reflected in Mary’s life, great effort, trust and faith are required by the parents in order to achieve balance. Sister Kieswetter provided three guidelines to assist in achieving this:

1.            Love:

1.1.         Love yourself. 

1.2.         Love your spouse. 

Use the 5 “love languages” to determine your spouse’s preference for communicating.

1.3.         Love your child.

Use the 5 “love languages” to determine your child’s preference for communicating.

2.            Language:

2.1.         How do you speak of and speak to your child?

2.2.         May our language be inclusive, uplifting and positive.

3.            Leadership:

3.1.         How we speak to and of and treat our children, will be replicated not only by the rest of our families but by society at large.

3.2         Our leadership will define how others treat them.

3.3        "When we change ourselves, we change the world".