Capernaum – “You will never be able to out-love these kids.”

Once a month, down the blue unit hall at Henderson County High school, a room full of very special people meet. Before even entering the room, you can feel the excitement inside by the sound of joyful voices that seep out of the doorway and into the empty halls of the school. Inside that room, you will find teachers from the high school, community leaders and high school students volunteering their time and serving the needs of teens and young adults with developmental and/or intellectual disabilities.

Young Life, a nonprofit, nondenominational outreach program for middle school and high school students as well as for young adults, now has a new program they are offering in Henderson called Capernaum. Steve Treece, Young Life Area Director, says “The goal of Capernaum is to give people with disabilities the same opportunity to hear the gospel and experience the gift of life as able-bodied people have.” He explains that, “The name comes from a small middle eastern fishing village where the Bible records that Jesus did some of his most amazing miracles. Today, when you enter the city there is a sign that reads ‘Capernaum, the city of Jesus.’”

During their December meeting, they celebrated Christmas with a focus on teaching generosity. The students, led by Casey Davis, Young Life Staff Associate, decorated cookies, wrapped gifts to donate to a local family in need and listened to a lesson about how and why we should be generous. Young Life has been a part of my life since I was a middle schooler,” Davis said. “I met the Lord through Young Life and have always had a passion for youth getting an opportunity to meet the Lord just as I had.”

In addition to the Young Life staff, teachers and students are also devoted to seeing this program meet its goals. Julie O’Nan, Becca Dickens and Andrea Williams, all special education teachers at Henderson County High School, and Paula Wilson, program assistant, volunteer their time after school to serve at Capernaum. “We started this in September. It helps them develop friendships and provides an after school activity for our special needs people,” O’Nan says. “I would like to see this program grow to where we can extend this service into adulthood. Many of my students stay in high school until they are 21, but after that there is very little for them to do,” the 22-year veteran of the school says.

A few Henderson County High School students see value in the program as well and invest their time after school being, what Young Life refers to as, “Student Buddies.” On this day, Gabbie Waggener, 11th grade, and Lauren Cummings, 12th grade, were sitting in the middle of the participants in the classroom, talking, laughing and helping them decorate cookies and wrapping gifts. “I was a peer tutor with them last year. I just really enjoy them,” said Lauren as she holds pieces of tape to assist the students at her table with their gift-wrapping project. Kendra, an 11th grade student with special needs, interjects, “It’s good. I like all of it!” Liz, a 2014 graduate of the school who has autism, says quietly, “It’s nice.” On the other side of the room, Gabbie sits at a table and listens to Hunter, 12th grade, and Eli, 10th grade, tell her about the Christmas decorations at their houses. Gabbie plans to pursue a career in special needs education after she graduates from high school. “They are all just so genuine in here. They have good hearts,” the teen said. When asked what his favorite part of Capernaum was, Hunter stands up from his chair and points to Gabbie, saying, “Her. She’s my friend.” A wide smile appears across her face as she replied to him, “Yes Hunter, I sure am.”

“You will never be able to out-love these kids.” Treece said, “They always return more love than they are given.”

As Capernaum grows in participants, the need will increase for both volunteers and funding. They will soon need a location, larger than the school’s classroom, to meet and accommodate the increasing number attending. They are counting on the compassionate hearts of the people of Henderson to support this program. If you are not able volunteer or donate, there is another way you can help that anyone can do and is free of charge: prayer. “Young Life is a ministry that is based on prayer. We ask for prayer from every believer in our community,” says Treece.

If you would like additional information about how to connect a special needs teen or young adult to this program or if you are interested in volunteer and donation information, please email Casey Davis at [email protected] or by visiting henderson.younglife.org.

Amanda Waggener is a blogger for the Huffington Post, author of No Grit No Pearl blog site and is a native of Henderson. She and her husband are the parents of two teenagers who they are raising with as much zeal as they can muster.