Let me take this moment and introduce myself. My name is Bethany Condit and I am 29 years old. Oregon City, Oregon is the place I call home. I live there with my husband of 10 years and our two beautiful daughters. The oldest is 9 and the youngest is 3. My husband works full time+ every single week. That leaves me blessed to stay home and take care of our kids. A couple years ago, I became ordained to pastor over the children and families at Connection Church.

Last year, an awareness grew of a need for children with extra challenges to have a place that they could feel comfortable and safe. A place to feel God's Love. Children with extra challenges can be any child that cannot sit through a typical Sunday School Class. They may have been diagnosed with autism, Asperger's, ADHD, or down syndrome. With the increase of diagnoses of autism on the rise, why is there not a multiplication of classes or groups within the church where families can go?

At church, we have one child who attends occasionally. He was diagnosed with autism at a very young age. My goal is to start a class that he can attend. Starting in October 2013, it will be one Sunday a month. As the volunteers in our church increase, I will be able to offer the class every single Sunday. 

My second goal is to take a trip to Houston, Texas. Lakewood Church has a program for Special Needs Children. It would be beneficiary for me to get out there and experience it all first hand. Talk to some teachers/pastors/volunteers and take a tour of the classrooms. The congregation of Connection Church has started a fund to pay for the trip's expenses. It is currently at $749! I need about $500 more before I can get the trip scheduled. (Wahoo! We are over half way there!!) The fund will pay for 2 airline tickets and hotel accommodations for my husband and me.

If you would like to contribute to this fund you can mail a check to:

Connection Church
PO BOX 1973
Oregon City, OR 97045

Please mark "Houston Trip" in the memo of the check or on a note enclosed with the check.

I want to thank everyone who has given me words of encouragement, money, or kept me in their prayers as I embark on this mission. 

With Gratitude,

Bethany Condit

Let the little children come to Me; do not get in their way. For the kingdom of heaven belongs to children like these.
Matthew 19:14 (The Voice)