Embrace, Empower, and Engage

Equipping the Local Church

Voice of Care's mission is to equip the local church to embrace, empower, and engage people who experience disabilities and their families in their discipleship walk with Christ.

Committed to Clear Purpose

Voice of Care is committed to our purpose, mission, and vision of full inclusion of people who experience disabilities to fully participate in the life of the Body of Christ, in which their God-given gifts are fully valued and respected.

The Voice of Care Story

Voice of Care is a ministry helping the Church provide spiritual care to people with disabilities and those who care for them. This outreach mission was established in 1976 and incorporated in 2003 as Voice of Care. A Recognized Service Organization of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, Voice of Care trains church workers and lay volunteers to serve in disability ministry. Because 90% of people with disabilities are not connected to a church home, the need is great for learning how to serve and evangelize those who are “differently‐abled.”

Guiding Statements

For Building Inclusive Ministries

  • Voice of Care believes that God creates all people in His image and all people are intrinsically valued by God. Because of this belief, we are committed to building congregations of belonging in which every person is equally valued and respected and has the opportunity to contribute gifts to strengthening the Christian Church. In fact, Voice of Care believes that a congregation is not whole unless every person has a place to fully belong. This core belief inspires Voice of Care to partner with churches, organizations, and stakeholders to serve people who live with and experience disabilities. As an expression of our Christian faith, we work together with people who live with and experience disabilities to advance the Kingdom of God by making disciples. The good news of Jesus Christ and the redemption he offers is for everyone. When you become a follower of Jesus, you become part of Christ’s body (1 Corinthians 12:27). The body of Christ depends on each member doing its work. We were each made for a particular purpose including people who live with and experience disabilities and as disciples, we all play a role in advancing the kingdom.

  • Full inclusion of people who experience disabilities to fully participate in the life of the Body of Christ in which their God-given gifts are fully valued and respected.

  • People living with disabilities and their families experience services consistent with our Statement of Purpose.

    People living with disabilities will experience Christian fellowship as the local church gathers to praise and worship Jesus.

    People living with disabilities will experience services that support their ongoing discipleship journey.

    The local church will offer a variety of ministries for people who experience disabilities at different ages, life stages, and needs.

    Family caregivers of people who experience disabilities will have personal support to help with routine demands while offering a break from daily care activities.

Download our Strategic Plan

What We Are Working On

  • We’re investing in our local churches to ensure they have the tools, resources, and coaching to support church professionals and lay volunteers to demonstrate Voice of Care purpose in every circumstance. We will use innovation and best practices to share our purpose that reflects what Voice of Care is all about.

  • We are ensuring that people living with disabilities experience all aspects of Christian fellowship. Fellowship happens as we talk together, eat together, work, celebrate and serve together. We share our lives and our faith and look for God's grace at work in our faith community. People who experience disabilities will have a seat at the table where sharing and fellowship take place.

  • We are working to provide opportunities for people who experience disabilities to grow in the Lord Jesus Christ and to be equipped by the Holy Spirit while becoming more and more Christ-like. This process will allow them to respond to the Holy Spirit’s prompting to see and experience God in all His fullness. People who experience disabilities will start to develop a unique sense of their own pattern of following Jesus and trusting him and learning from him.

  • Partnering with the local church to reassess ministry offerings, as appropriate, to ensure proper alignment with the spiritual and physical needs of people who experience disabilities. This assessment will lead to the development of meaningful activities for the entire life stages of the individual. We will see church ministries supported in an inclusive manner that speaks to the entire church congregation.

  • We are providing respite care training to church professionals and lay volunteers that will offer a temporary relief to family caregivers in planned settings and emergency situations in a nurturing faith-based environment. Participants in training learn safety practices, acquire an overview of disabilities, and find out how to create a positive atmosphere in respite situations.