[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a Sunday morning, and Kurt and Lynn Lueken walk into church, check their daughter Erika into her classroom, and then head to service.<\/span><\/p>\n This may sound like every family\u2019s typical Sunday experience, but it isn\u2019t something the Luekens have always been able to do. They don\u2019t take it for granted.<\/p>\n You see, their daughter Erika, 40, has Down Syndrome and Autism. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cErika has a difficult time sitting through service, as much as she tries; consequently, Lynn and I become distracted, making it hard to focus on the service,\u201d her father says. He noted that in the past, it became \u201ca challenge to persuade her to even go.\u201d<\/span> Now, she is <\/span>always<\/span><\/i> eager to go.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cErika gets ready the night before church. She feels good about herself. We\u2019ve noticed her talking about Jesus more and praying more on her own,\u201d Kurt says. <\/span>\u201cShe\u2019s 40 years old, and she\u2019s never been this excited and at peace about going to church.\u201d<\/b> The annual Under the Stars special needs prom has also been a highlight of her time in Embrace. \u201cErika\u2019s favorite part of the whole evening,\u201d Kurt recalls, \u201cwas the red carpet stroll with paparazzi and applause \u2014\u00a0and I think for mom and dad too! [\u2026] For Lynn and I to see how happy she was arm in arm with her friend taking that walk and their smiles was an indescribable moment.\u201d He adds that the experience \u201ctouched the lives of those who attended and their loved ones beyond description.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_gallery gallery_ids=”27571,27575,27574,27573,27572″ fullwidth=”on” module_class=”lwp-arrow-color” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” pagination_text_color=”#000000″ width=”60%” max_width=”60%” module_alignment=”center” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_gallery][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n The ability for Erika to thrive in a safe classroom has proven just as impactful for Kurt and Lynn. Notably, rather than expressing bitterness or sorrow for years\u2019 past \u2014 when attending church was difficult, and they hadn\u2019t found a program for people like Erika \u2014 the Luekens only relayed feeling immense gratitude and contentment for their present circumstance.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe have a total peace where we are right now.<\/b> God is sovereign and has directed our paths every step of our journey,\u201d <\/b>Kurt says. \u201cI can\u2019t tell you what a blessing it is for our family that Erika enjoys a class while Lynn and I can be encouraged by the hearing of God\u2019s Word. [The sermons] stay with us throughout the week, and we find ourselves not only discussing the teaching, but [also] applying it in our lives the best we can.\u201d<\/p>\n Embrace currently serves around 40 individuals with special needs each week (and their families), half of which are over 18.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is so exciting to watch our adults with special needs class grow,\u201d says Special Needs Pastor Amy Moore. \u201cSo many of these individuals and their families have had a limited opportunity their entire lives to be actively involved in church. The Lord is moving\u2026and at Fellowship, we are just offering up the space for the Lord to work in the special needs community in Central Arkansas.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Outside of Embrace, Erika has a <\/span>wide<\/span><\/i> range of interests \u2014\u00a0from drumming, dancing, and bowling, to online shopping, playing video games, and watching the NFL (go Bucs!). Not to mention, she could take you on in a game of croquet!<\/span><\/p>\n She also has deep compassion for people and animals. Her parents say it brings her joy to write letters for those in need of a little cheering up, donate items, and hold the door open for folks. She has even spent time volunteering at an animal shelter. That\u2019s perhaps what makes her so adept at wrangling the family\u2019s spirited chihuahuas, Kila and Lady.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_gallery gallery_ids=”27540,27544,27554,27553,27559,27558,27557,27556,27555,27562,27569,27568,27567,27566,27565,27564,27563″ fullwidth=”on” module_class=”lwp-arrow-color” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” width=”60%” max_width=”60%” module_alignment=”center” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_gallery][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n What Erika\u2019s mother Lynn loves most about her, though, is \u201cher amazing ability to love and genuinely forgive.\u201d For Kurt, it\u2019s \u201cher determination and how she makes us laugh all the time.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Although she requires a bit more love and assistance, the Luekens note Erika\u2019s level of awareness and sensitivity, how much she really perceives about the world around her. That she experiences the gamut of emotions, deeply. \u201cShe is not that different than the rest of us.\u201d<\/p>\n If interested in serving with Embrace Special Needs, please reach out to Special Needs Pastor Amy Moore, <\/span><\/i>amoore@fellowshipar.com<\/i><\/b><\/a>,<\/span><\/i> or <\/span><\/i>click here<\/i><\/b><\/a> to learn more about the ministry.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It\u2019s a Sunday morning, and Kurt and Lynn Lueken walk into church, check their daughter Erika into her classroom, and then head to service. This may sound like every family\u2019s typical Sunday experience, but it isn\u2019t something the Luekens have always been able to do. They don\u2019t take it for granted. You see, their daughter […]<\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"author":16,"featured_media":27536,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","wds_primary_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[494],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27481","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-written"],"acf":[],"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"link","format":"url"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fellowshipar.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27481","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fellowshipar.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fellowshipar.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fellowshipar.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fellowshipar.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27481"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.fellowshipar.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27481\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fellowshipar.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27536"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fellowshipar.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27481"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fellowshipar.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27481"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fellowshipar.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27481"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
<\/span>
<\/span>Roughly a year and a half ago, though, the family started coming to Fellowship after learning about the Embrace Special Needs ministry. Erika then began attending Embrace\u2019s adult Sunday morning class.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/span>
<\/span>According to her parents, Erika is an extrovert\u2019s extrovert. So, it\u2019s no wonder that one of her favorite aspects of Embrace is seeing and interacting with her classmates. As the Luekens put it, \u201cWe often compare her to The Little Mermaid, as in she just wants to be \u2018where the people are.\u2019\u201d Too, Kurt says that she likes the independence it affords her, as well as participating in classroom projects. Erika sums it up best what she loves about class: \u201cto learn about God.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n