Arkansas church starts "special needs" ministry

From the Weekly Vista in Bella Vista, Ark.:

The outside isn't pretty; the inside is a work in progress; the pastor is all heart.

Pastor Steve Hoover officially began a new and unique church, The Point of Bella Vista, early last month.

The church is located on McNelly Road off County Road 40, in a commercial steel-sided building behind the Church of Christ.

The church is specifically geared to families with a special needs member; those who might not be comfortable during a typical church service, according to Hoover. He said initially they are concentrating on those with autism and Down's Syndrome.

The idea began six years ago when Hoover was spending time with his cousins children; one of them has autism and another child was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome.

Autism is a severe developmental disorder, according to the Autism Research Institute, and Asperger's Syndrome is a high functioning form of autism.

Hoover said he has not been able to find any other churches that focus on autism, even after he did an Internet search.

"As far as we know this hasn't been done before. When this got laid on our hearts I thought it would be just for autistic, but we decided that any family with a special needs member is welcome," said Hoover.

His enthusiasm shines through as he talks about his plans.

"My vision is to have a children's choir made up of kids who are autistic, Asperger's, and any other special-needs child, that will go sing at other churches."

Hoover has a treasure trove of ideas, but believes it important that the church evolve as they go along.

"Maybe we'll have a room where a husband and wife could have dinner alone; that time is so hard to get for parents who have a special child. Or a room where the family could share a meal. We'll have play rooms, a movie room, changing rooms and our chapel area."

The building still bears the name of the owner, Fayetteville Mechanical. The inside is enormous and Hoover doesn't have every room planned out yet.

The use of the building and all utility bills are being donated - a fundraising drive will begin this month.

"When I found out we could have the building at such a cheap price, free, I knew it was time," Hoover said. Hoover also likes the fact that there is a garage area with an overhead door that will allow a vehicle to pull in and unload passengers out of inclement weather.