Illinois Church Sees the Image of God in People with Special Needs

Imago Dei — the image of God. At Calvary Church of Naperville, Illinois, the message that every person is created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27) is not just a theme — it’s how the church views each individual.

“The way God made you is literally part of the plan that God has for your life,” stated Marty Sloan, senior pastor, in a post. “You’re on purpose, you’re intentional, God placed you in the family, in the country, in the community — you’ve been placed your entire life and God did that for a divine purpose for His mission for mankind. What’s God’s purpose you might ask? To redeem mankind.”

And that belief permeates the church of 6,000 as individuals from 70 nations call Calvary Naperville home, with Calvary also being home to Spanish, Indian, and Deaf congregations!

But a few years ago, Marty approached his son, Landon, an ABA (Applied Behavioral Analysis) professional, about starting a special needs ministry.

“The Imago Dei (pronounced “E-ma-go Day”) is big on his heart — we talk about it constantly,” Landon Sloan says. “And part of the image of God are individuals with special needs.”

Naperville, which is part of the greater Chicagoland area, has a significant population with special needs/disabilities. As the church began to work toward starting a special needs ministry — as they were aware of several parents and their children who would benefit through it — they discovered that perhaps the desire’s timing wasn’t “by chance.”

As news of the effort to start a special needs ministry became more widespread in the church, Landon Sloan says they learned that Calvary has an unusual number of members who have experience in working with individuals who have special needs.

“We have somewhere between 25 and 30 ABA therapists, special education leaders, and special education teachers who make Calvary their home,” Sloan says, “and when we started the ministry, they were eager to get involved!”

STARTING OFF

In February 2024, Calvary plunged into special needs ministry with Sloan choosing to resign his ABA position to lead the new ministry called Calvary Champions. The initial step was aimed where there seemed to be the greatest need — special needs families with kids ages 4-12.

However, bringing awareness of the new ministry to the community and being able to demonstrate the church’s belief that families with special needs children are a welcomed part of the Imago Dei at Calvary required more than words and promises. So, in coordination with the launching of Calvary Champions, the church also hosted its first Night to Shine event the same month, which created a lot of conversations in the special needs community.

Night to Shine, which is similar to a prom and done in cooperation with the Tim Tebow Foundation, is exclusively for older teens and adults with special needs and their families. According to its webpage, the night centers “on God’s love, honoring and valuing people with special needs.”

Since February, Sloan says Calvary Champions has seen a growing enrollment as word now spreads through the invitation of volunteers and by word of mouth from pleased parents. Then, in September, the church expanded its reach with Champions Nursery to include children with special needs from birth to 4 years old.

And it’s not just professionals who are volunteers in Champions.

“We have a lot of individuals volunteering who have no special needs experience,” Sloan says. “I don’t necessarily care about your experience — experience is awesome — but what I value so much more is your heart. Special needs kids require a heart overflowing with love for them.”

The Champions areas offer sensory and physical play items along with learning opportunities designed specifically for children with special needs. As attention spans vary widely, Sloan notes one of the keys to ministry is allowing children to engage in things they enjoy and then, as they have a 1:1 teacher-child ratio, using those times to engage and reinforce a theme or simply that Jesus loves them — whatever their cognitive ability.

“When kids first come to Champions, it’s a new environment and, for some, ‘new’ is kind of hard for them . . ., but it’s not long before they get to the point that they cry when it’s time to leave,” Sloan says. “The Champions kids radiate an atmosphere of joy and it brightens everyone’s day.”

Champions Nursery runs anywhere from five to 10 infants and toddlers a service on Sunday mornings. The Champions class typically sees 10 to 15 children for each service, with total weekly attendance averaging between 30 and 35.

“So far, I believe we have had 72 new families join the church this past year directly because of the special needs ministry,” Sloan says.

MORE THAN A CHILDREN’S MINISTRY

Kiya Olson, the coordinator over all the special needs ministries at Calvary and a board-certified behavioral analysist and licensed clinical professional counselor, says that God placed her in the right place at the right time.

Having served as a volunteer with Champions since its inception, Olson says she was later approached to oversee the full scope of the special needs ministry at Calvary and began serving in that role in December.

“I’ve been working with families with special needs kids for so long and I have heard their many stories about being asked to leave their church, their daycares, and their community groups — it’s heartbreaking,” Olson says. “But seeing my church being able to provide a place with open arms for special needs families — to go where their kids can be taken care of and receive the Word of God at the same time — I wanted that.”

Sloan points out that Calvary’s special needs ministry isn’t limited to kids.

“This is a family ministry,” he says. “Kids may seem to be the obvious focus, but we also intentionally love on parents and do our best to positively impact their lives. For example, in May, June, and July we offer a parents’ night out on Friday evenings, and every month volunteers call parents and ask how they are doing, how their child is doing, and if there’s anything they can pray with them about.”

Sloan and Olson also agree strongly that the special needs ministries give families an opportunity to attend church together, where in the past, someone — or the entire family — stayed home to care for a special needs child.

Statements sent in by parents confirm their beliefs:

My family and I have not attended church in over six years due to my youngest son having an autism diagnosis . . . a good friend mentioned that Calvary had started Champions and suggested we check it out . . . I signed him up for Champions and we attended. We have not missed a week since we started.
—Rashonda

The acknowledgement of special needs families while providing a safe space for our autistic son was the invitation we'd been praying for. After meeting the wonderful staff at Champions and seeing the amazing sensory friendly space, we knew our son, and kids like him, would love it . . . our family knew there was finally a place for us.
—Alexa

I was prayerfully seeking a church home that would not only embrace my interracial family but also create space for and accept my 6-year-old son, James, who has autism and is nonverbal. . . . I stayed away from the church (for years). . . . I know that God led me to Calvary Church . . . Having the opportunity to bring James to Calvary Champions each Sunday, seeing him comfortably walk into the space — like he owns it — and then to see him be greeted by name, embraced, treated with dignity, and given the opportunity to learn about Christ has truly blessed my entire family . . . Thank you for seeing us, for seeing James!
—Monique

“Families being able to come to church together,” observes Sloan, “it’s a big thing . . . it’s been really cool!”

NIGHT TO SHINE, PART II

On Feb. 7, Calvary hosted its second annual Night to Shine event, with 170 guests attending.

“It was just a fantastic night,” Sloan says. “A great volunteer turn-out, families and guests loved on, limo rides, shoeshines for the boys, make-up done for the girls, karaoke, lots of laughing, dancing, and Chick-fil-A along with a short message on the Imago Dei.”

Sloan says this year’s event was even better than last year’s as they now had experience on their side. And as the guests enjoyed themselves beyond measure, parents were invited in for a relaxing sit-down meal and conversation in the lounge area.

“The parents were just so grateful and thankful,” Sloan says. “And the guests, well, many of the ones who attended last year, wanted to make sure they didn’t miss this year’s event. There was just a lot of gratitude and a lot of joy.”

Olson and Sloan understand that not every church has the staff or capacity to do what Calvary has been led to do, however, they say even if it’s just providing a quiet room, where parents can take an over-stimulated child or involve their child with some sensory toys, that effort speaks volumes to special needs families.

“Letting our church truly see and experience the image of God, not only culturally, but also through special needs ministry — where all abilities are a part of God’s image . . .” Sloan states, then pauses, “well, let’s just say, Calvary Church has been a better church since Champions started, without a doubt.”