Father's Heart Church: Called by God By Don Blascak

There is an old cliché that contends that the Lord God moves in strange ways. And He does. All things serve His purpose. He never was above manipulating people and situations to achieve His purpose. This story is illustrative of such an intervention. God first called Pastor John Phipps to ministry. This story then takes what in the beginning must have been considered an unexpected turn. John and his wife Dina found that God had given them the very special gift of two autistic children. They were exactly the children that God wanted John and Dina to have.

As Pastor John and Dina continued their ministry over an eight year time period in several states, they were gradually led to Tucson where a very unique calling awaited them. The calling was to open a church to minister to children and adults with special needs.

As a Pastor and father, John had insights into the conditions that often challenge parents of children with special needs and adults with special needs as well. A little over two months ago John and Dina opened the doors of "Fathers Heart Church" an all inclusive church that ministers to children with special needs, their families and several special needs adults. The congregation meets every Saturday evening at 6 pm at Palo Verde Baptist church. On Tuesday night the congregants have bible study.

There is a very tangible bonding that occurs at each gathering, reinforced by the security and knowledge of a shared experience and shared challenges. "Father's Heart" is a refuge and place of sanctuary for adult parishioners and parents of challenged children who might not, for a variety of reasons, feel comfortable in a more traditional congregational setting. Understanding, wisdom, and discernment abide in this caring and cultivated venue.

At present within John's church there are five children who are challenged by autism, two who have cerebral palsy and one child with serious bi-polar issues. In addition there is also an adult blinded by a stroke, another with learning disability, and another with fetal alcohol syndrome.

Over 25% of the congregants family members are on Social Security Disability. This high rate of disability limits the congregant's ability to support the church. John is a bi vocational Pastor and works as the administrator at Palo Verde Christian School.

John relates stories of several church attendees who became broken and contrite based on experiencing the pure and unconditional love so obvious in the church. In particular a single mom with four children whose life has been changed forever and now feels released and relaxed for the first time in years.

Cultural competence is key in ministering to these special gifts of God. Dina is the Director and Trainer, who also cares for infants and children who are unable to sit with their parents during church. The couple, united in this unique ministry are planning a respite project called "Fathers Heart Cares" to allow parents with the full time, and often stressful task of raising their own special needs children, respite breaks to relax -- go to dinner, see a movie or just rest for a few hours. An additional project is a prayer support group and a soon-to-be-organized program called "Life Line" which will assist and train coping skills and offer insights into supporting these special children by a series of presentations by professionals in this field of need.

Pastor John and Dina welcome assistance in a ministry already blessed and sure to grow. You may wish to visit their web site at www. fathersheartchurch.org or call John at 327-6683. He and Dina welcome your thoughts, support and prayers.