Everyone has a place in God’s family, and for intellectually disabled adults who come to Richmond’s First Baptist Church, that’s the Lambs Class.
Martha Willard, who co-leads the Sunday morning class with Ann Bey, found a warm welcome there after becoming the legal guardian of her younger sister, Betty. Betty, disabled since birth, had come to need more care than their elderly mother in Kentucky could provide, so Martha and her husband, Bill, opened their home and their hearts. So did the church.
“I was a member of another church at that time, but I watched the [RFBC] service on TV and I thought, ‘I bet they have a class for my sister,'” Martha says. “So I called and they did.”
A retired public school teacher, Martha came to class with her sister and soon started helping out with teaching.
“We do visuals, crafts and things to make lessons and the Word of God easier for them to understand at their level,” she explains. “I just love doing it and I’ve been doing it for 10 years.”
The class has eight regular members at the moment—ranging from age 30 or so to senior citizens (Martha’s sister Betty is now 64)—plus several dedicated volunteers who assist Martha and Ann.
“They’re at different levels,” Martha says. “But to be able to say a Bible verse each week and to have a Bible story is so important. We pray for each other. They share prayer concerns that they have, and it’s beautiful. Praise time is important, too. I’ve got a prayer tree board that I hold up and help them to think: What are you thankful for? And I remind them that every day, Jesus is alive. Jesus is with you.”
What has God taught her as she teaches others?
“Patience, love, care, being firm,” Martha replies. “I have loved studying the Bible. You know, it’s God’s Word. It will never, ever pass away. All books will be gone, but the Word of God will stand.”
Preach it, sister!
Note: Several of our Lambs are preparing for a retreat at Eagle Eyrie this fall. If you’re interested in supporting this ministry, contact Allison Collier at collier@fbcrichmond.org for more information.