This project is not about reaching more people. It’s about something more fundamental. It’s about what kind of church we want to be. And that makes the Agape Sensory Room different than most other building projects we’ve done.
When we built the studio in 2022, it was because we needed the space and equipment that let us minister in the new digital age. When we added on to the auditorium or built the new Crossing Kids wing or expanded the parking lot, it was because we wanted to reach more people with the good news of Jesus’s love. But what if there’s something more basic, more fundamental, behind why we make changes to our building?
The Agape Ministry shouts that Jesus welcomes everyone, so everyone is welcome to worship with us. Let me see if I can explain why this is so important.
People would be shocked and rightfully angry if we said that we didn’t want older people to come to The Crossing. The same goes for single people or Black people or college students. So why would it be okay for us to put up a sign that says no person with disabilities is welcome?
Now of course, we wouldn’t put up a sign that said that. But maybe we do something similar when we don’t have facilities and programs designed for groups of people. You don’t have to see a sign to know you’re not welcome.
Jesus tells stories that make it obvious that he invites everyone to follow him: the religious and irreligious, the old and the young, the “in” group and the “out” group, the strong and the weak, the Samaritans and the Jews, the poor and the rich. But Jesus opens his arms a little wider to welcome the sick, the broken, and the overlooked. He invites the blind, the deaf, and the lame to join his party. That’s the good news of the gospel.
The Crossing has an inclusive ministry philosophy which means that we don’t isolate kids with disabilities but instead include them with other kids their age. But when the sights and sounds of a busy Crossing Kids classroom are too overwhelming for a first grader with autism, the child may need a break from the noise. When a fourth grader with ADHD is struggling to attend a discussion-based lesson, he might need to take a break to move around before returning to focused learning. When a child’s external behavior becomes escalated, she may need a space that is specifically designed to keep her safe and allow her to work with a trained staff member.
Right now, our Crossing Kids classrooms are at maximum capacity, which means that when these situations arise, our only option is to take these kids out to the hallway. The sensory room will provide a safe place designed to meet their needs and help them have a great experience at church.
The Crossing currently has two professionally trained staff with clinical experience who run our Agape ministry and work with people with disabilities ranging from children to adults as well as their families. They, along with Agape’s interns and volunteers, will incorporate the new sensory room into their ministry on Sunday morning and at events throughout the week.
The new sensory room will primarily accommodate children infant through fifth grade. It will be built on the ground level of the Crossing Kids foyer near the exit of the slide and extend out into what is now the playground.
Construction begins immediately and should be finished this summer.
The 13x15 room will include…
It will also have soundproofing, temperature control, and dimmable lighting to create the appropriate sensory environment.
I don’t want to leave you with the impression that this new space will appear impressive. To the average person it probably won’t. But to parents with a child who has a disability, the Agape Sensory Room (along with the directors, interns, and volunteers), says, “You’re welcome here.” They will know we have made the necessary investments to make sure their child is safe and has a great experience.
The Agape Sensory Room says that everyone is welcome. That’s good news for us because it reflects the life-changing reality that Jesus welcomes us too.
The Agape Program isn't possible without the volunteers who invest in the lives of children and adults with disabilities. Would you consider serving with Agape to help make The Crossing a welcoming place for everyone? All you have to do is email our team.