Our JOY Ministry for Special Needs families provides care for the special needs family members while other family members participate in the various ministries of FBC. The JOY Ministry is a place where children, teenagers, and adults with various disabilities can come to learn about Jesus. While special needs family members are in the JOY Ministry, our loving people here at FBC care for the JOY members so their moms and dads, and brothers and sisters, can also go to church and Sunday School.
Our JOY Ministry team is specially trained for working with and caring for persons with special needs. Medical nurses are also available to our JOY team to assist with special medical needs.
The JOY Ministry hosts periodic "Parents' Night Out" for special needs families. The JOY team provides activities, supervised play, and meals for special needs family members as well as other siblings while parents have some time to themselves to spend as they wish.
Kay is the mother and grandmother of special needs children. In addition to her life experience, Kay has 33 years in the field of public education, working with all age ranges of children. She currently serves in Special Education with Terrell ISD, where she has worked for eight years as in in-home trainer for homebound and special needs teacher. Kay has a BS degree from Southeastern Oklahoma State University. She has also completed various training, including: Special Education Certification in Texas; the Autism Academy as well as Best Practices for Students with Autism through Region X; PECS and ABBLS communication systems; TEAACH and ABA techniques, as well as FACES curricular.
Meet our JOY Ministry Leadership Team
Julie Adams
Julie is an Educational Diagnostician with the DeSoto ISD, where she serves two elementary campuses evaluating students with suspected learning disabilities. She is a member of the autism evaluation team, and is the contact person for Child Find for the entire district. Previously, Julie served in Terrell as a Special Education Resource Teacher with Terrell ISD.Julie has a BS degree in Speech Pathology from Oklahoma State University, with a Masters in Special Education from the University of Central Oklahoma.
Phyllis Risinger
Phyllis is a mother of six children, three of whom have special needs. She is a full-time stay-at-home mom, devoted to raising her children.Phyllis has a BS Degree from Texas A&M University in Curriculum and Instruction with a specialization in Special Education.
Jo Clayton
Jo is an elementary school teacher with Terrell ISD. She is the mother of two children, both of whom are grown.Jo obtained her BS Degree in Elementary Education from Texas A&M University in Commerce.
Lori Baldridge
Lori works with Terrell ISD as an elementary self-contained teacher, certified for grades pre-Kindergarten through 6th. She has a love for working with, learning from, and helping children began at a very early age.Lori has a BS degree in Early Childhood/ Elementary Education from Texas Woman’s University.
Lynn Lewis
Lynn is a sales representative for a temporary services employment firm. She is the mother of two boys, both of whom are grown. Lynn’s passion for children has led her to serve in many leadership and non-leadership capacities in children’s ministry areas.
at the FBC Recreation Outreach Center, 100 W. Brin St.
Parents of special needs children can leave their children in the care of our JOY Ministry team while they go shop, out to eat, or whatever the parents wish to do! Our JOY team will provide loving care, including dinner, games, and crafts appropriate for the children while their parents are away.
Siblings of special needs children are welcome as well so parents can have a time away to relax and enjoy themselves. This event is open to any families in our community with special needs chlidren!
Reservations are requested through the church office to help us with planning and staffing. (972-524-1800).
