Register Your Child!

MISSION STATEMENT

Sunday School
9:45 am every week

Kids Worship
11:00 am every week

Midweek Activities
6:00 pm every week


At First Baptist Church, we glorify God by striving to see people transformed by the gospel everywhere.  We want people to be fully, devoted followers of Christ.  In His Image ministry is designed to magnify the work of God in special needs children and their families.  In the gospel according to John, Jesus teaches his disciples a lesson that is the foundation of our ministry.

As he was passing by, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” Jesus answered. “This came about so that God’s work might be displayed in him.” (John 9:1-3)

As followers of Christ, we want to support the work God is doing in the lives of special needs children.  We provide a safe and loving environment for each child so caregivers can attend services, Sunday School, and/or equipping classes. Children will also be exposed to the gospel with individualized lessons based on your child’s learning abilities. In His Image ministry is not a Sunday/Wednesday ministry, but rather a ministry designed to support families during all the mountain-top, as well as the valley experiences that incorporate our daily lives.  We are here to love you!

Meet the team

This group of people are leaders in our In His Image Ministry. These individuals have experience with a range of special needs including: autism, apraxia, Down syndrome, traumatic brain injury, hearing impairments, fluency disorders, cognitive impairments (from mild intellectual disabilities to severe and profound delays), and orthopedic impairments (including cerebral palsy).

Allison Herrin

Ministry Leader
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet non elit, consectetur adipiscing elit. Vestibulum faucibus accumsan nulla, non faucibus velit convallis et. Nulla adipiscing elit.

Jamie Roberts

  • Specialist Degree in Early Childhood Education.
  • 15 years teaching Special Education  
  • Mother of a child with a disability*Board Member and Coach for the Miracle League of the Okefenokee

Ashley Bell

  • Masters of Occupational Therapy
  • Pediatric occupational therapist at The Speech Clinic serving a wide variety of diagnoses
  • Volunteered for special needs organizations (Night to Shine, Autism support groups, summer camps, etc)
  • Past caregiver for an actor with Down Syndrome
  • Past caregiver for a family friend with a severe spinal cord injury

Caroline Herrin

  • Graduate student in the field of Communication Sciences and Disorders
  • Extra Special People (ESP) volunteer
  • Worked as supervisor at Bitty & Beau's coffee shop for 3 years. B&B employs individuals with developmental & intellectual disabilities

Kathryn Tison

  • Masters Degree in Special Education for students with Intellectual Disabilities/Secondary Education
  • Retired after 30 years as teacher of students with Mild-Severe Intellectual Disabilities, Autism, Deaf Education
  • Grandmother of child with a disability

Jeanne Crawford

  • Specialist Degree in Early Childhood Education
  • 28 years teaching Students with Special Needs
  • Grandmother of a child with a disability

Brooke Thomas

  • Masters Degree in Special Education in Teaching students with Emotional Behavior Disorders
  • Taught Special Education in public school system for 27.5 years
  • Taught students in resource, inclusion, and self contained classrooms
  • Additional training in serving students with Autism.

Janna Wright

  • Education Specialist degree and Master of Education in Communication Disorders
  • 21 years serving as a speech-language pathologist in the public school system as well as private practice

Anna Wheeler, RN, BSN

  • ICU - 3 years
  • School Nurse - 3 years
  • RN at Hospice Satilla, Waycross, Ga.  
  • Nurse Manager, St Mary's Hospice , Athens, Ga.
  • Board member Hospice Satilla, Waycross, Ga.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is In His Image?
The Special Needs ministry at FBC Blackshear serving any person age birth to 21 years old with any type of disability.  
What services are provided?
We provide a classroom for your child to attend during the Sunday School hour, during Sunday church service and Wednesday night activities where your child will be cared for, loved on and exposed to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Can our child attend classes/children’s church with his/her peers?
Absolutely! We will provide a buddy to go with him/her into a classroom or Children’s Church if one is needed.
How will you accommodate the needs of my child?
You will fill out a registration form on our website that will inform our team of any special needs your child may have during their time at FBC.  Once we receive the registration form, a member of our team will contact you.  More information will be provided to you to prepare you and your child for your visit to FBC Blackshear.
What do we do when we get to First Baptist?
One of our team members will give you all the information you need when they contact you prior to your first visit.
Are parents required to stay on campus if their child is enrolled in In His Image?
Yes! There are so many activities for you to participate in while at FBC Blackshear.  We have numerous Sunday School classes, an amazing worship service and mid-week equipping classes for you to attend.  Our hopes are that you are able to strengthen your relationship with the Lord, as your child is doing the same!
What happens if there is a medical emergency with my child?
Everyone who will care for your child is trained to handle a medical emergency. We also have a registered nurse who is on the leadership team to consult with as any need arises.
Can I take my child into the worship service?
Yes! We would love for you to worship with your child and our church family.  Members of our team will be joining you.  If you need any respite during the service, look for a team member in green t-shirts.  They can provide immediate assistance if needed during the service. 
I’m scared that my child will be too difficult to handle. What happens then?
We have a leadership team that has extensive training to handle a vast array of disabilities, behaviors and medical conditions.  All of our volunteers are trained by this team. We are here to serve you and your child. We will do everything possible to accommodate any need that arises.  Your child’s safety is the utmost importance.  If we are unable to meet your child’s needs, we will work with you and your family until we accomplish that task.  You will never be turned away from FBC Blackshear.  Your child is precious and made In His Image. We can’t wait to serve you and your family!
We have never been to church before. What can we expect?
Church can be intimidating and scary!  We want your experience here to be amazing so we are here to help you and your family in every way possible. There is nothing more important in life than a relationship with Jesus Christ.  Jesus loves you and your family so much! We can’t wait to share Him with you.  We will walk every step with you on this new journey!           

Interested in serving? Have any questions?

Director: Allison Herrin

allisonherrin@bellsouth.net
(912) 614-7847