The Church of the Holy Comforter

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because He has appointed me to bring Good News to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor. Luke 4:18-19

I went to the Church of the Holy Comforter today, it was INCREDIBLE!!! 60% of the members in their congregation have a mental illness. Kathryn, the program support director, spent three hours of her day to show me the Holy Comforter Church and the Friendship Center. I got to see art time, their garden house, the noon prayer service, and community lunchtime. I have never seen or heard of anything quite like it. It is beautiful. This is an answered prayer that Holy Comforter is open to having me volunteer on Tuesdays. Weekly visits to the church will provide a powerful contextual component to this course; it serves as a great example of a way the Church is a welcoming community for those with special needs. I can't wait to go back.

“The Friendship Center is an outreach program of Holy Comforter Episcopal Church that offers respectful and supportive community to friends and neighbors marginalized by poverty, mental illness, and various disabilities. Twice a week the Friendship Center provides meals, transportation and activities to 80-100 program participants. Regular activities include gardening, woodworking, weaving, painting, ceramics, music, field trips, and games.”

To learn more about the Friendship Center or Holy Comforter Episcopal Church, go to: http://holycomforter.episcopalatlanta.org/

Attractive aspects that this ministry offers their congregation:

Sustainability- The ministry trains and employs five to ten individuals to take care of the gardens and the greenhouse.

Creativity- There are many forms of art in which they can express themselves.

Celebratory- They are proud of their work, their work is often put up for art shows and sold. Beautiful stuff. The artists get 75% of the profit. They are able to be rewarded.

Flexibility-I asked about a schedule and she laughed and responded, “No schedule here, it is flexible. We offer them choices where they are not often given the option to choose for themselves."

Worship-Noon prayer service with simple hymns from an African hymnal book, a time for prayer and prayer requests, and a short devotion.

After several months of searching for an organization, church, or nonprofit to in which I could volunteer, this church is an answer to prayer. Holy Comforter is a rare example of a church that is truly embracing individuals with special needs. They are fully participating members in the life of the church and they are worship leaders in the prayer services.