Resilience, Faith, and Radical Change at Blandburg UMC
12/13/2023
Walking into Blandburg United Methodist Church, it’s immediately apparent that a remarkable transformation is unfolding within the walls of this century-old building. What started as a modest vision to serve an oft neglected community has evolved into an inspiring tale of resilience, faith, and radical change. This is the story of the Patchwork Praise ministry, a place where the power of inclusivity is on full display.
The dream for an inclusive ministry that catered to people with special needs began nearly a decade ago when Luke Hullihen, the son of pastor Jaynee Hullihen and her husband Zane, began attending a special needs ministry out of Emmanuel Church in Johnstown. Recognizing the need for a similar ministry closer to home, in 2019 the Hullihen family formally began developing plans to create a once-a-month special needs service in Blandburg, a small town in Pennsylvania located on the outer edge of the Western PA Conference. Unbeknownst to them, they had embarked on a journey that would redefine their community and congregation.
Once plans were set in motion, April 2020 was slated for the debut of this service. Flyers were printed, meetings were attended to promote the event, and everything seemed ready - until the global pandemic brought all their plans to a screeching halt. With safety as a priority, the ability to launch didn’t come until late 2021. By this time, the congregation had entered into a period of uncertainty as the members were grappling with the question of disaffiliation from the United Methodist Church.
At that time, the church had approximately 20-25 members with only a handful attending regularly. “Our family made up about half of those, though only about seven attended on a regular basis,” explained Heath Hullihen, another son of Jaynee and Zane. Heath attends the church with his family and is responsible for the audio/visual and IT needs. “We decided to vote not to disaffiliate based much on the principles that made us want to start such a ministry in the first place.”
After the vote to stay with the United Methodist Church, only seven regular attendees remained in the dwindling congregation. Faced with this stark reality, the Hullihen family and their church community recognized the need for radical change. Around three weeks into the new year, they made a momentous decision – to shift their traditional service, which had been in place for a century, into a service focused on inclusion and specifically tailored for the special needs community. This change was not made lightly; they ventured into the unknown guided by their faith and God's vision.
Their ultimate plan was to create a service that embraced the special needs community, a weekly commitment rather than the initial monthly side project. To their surprise, they found that there were few places offering such a dedicated service.
“Many places will offer a respite room for special needs individuals so the parents can worship or have something like what Luke attends on an off night non regular schedule,” Heath shared. “But we found no one within at least 100 miles or more of us doing a weekly service centering the special needs community and honestly found only a handful across the United States.”
In May of 2023, the new ministry was launched, marking the beginning of a profound transformation and reinvention of the church building and congregation.
updating the worship space to reflect a more contemporary vibe, removing pews to accommodate wheelchairs; expanding the parking lot and building an ADA-compliant ramp; adding Bible verses to the walls; and creating a sensory space. The challenges the ministry faced were daunting and financial constraints posed a real problem. They initiated fundraising efforts and applied for grants, often working on projects with faith as their only currency. Many people donated their time and money to support the program, most notably the now Fiske Community Bible Church with other assistance and support from the disaffiliating churches in their charge.
The transformation was not just physical, but also in the shift in approach to hospitality and worship. Snacks and drinks are provided weekly in their fellowship area and available throughout the entire service. Noise-canceling headphones are accessible for those who struggle with sensory overload and sermons are deliberately shorter and more visual. Worship itself is unique and embraces participants of all abilities and ages. Attendees are able and encouraged to move between the sanctuary and the sensory area in the fellowship hall as they wish, engaging in a worship experience that doesn’t force silence or stillness on people who cannot adhere to societal expectations of church behavior.
Their efforts have yielded results as they continue to see attendance grow steadily. The inaugural service drew 32 attendees and though numbers fluctuated during the busy summer season, the church community continued to expand. Currently, around 23 people attend regularly. Blandburg United Methodist Church set out to create a place where everyone could worship as they saw fit, without judgment and their mission was clear: to share God's love and let judgment be left to God. The church became a sanctuary for those who had previously felt excluded. As the ministry continued to evolve, it became evident that the environment created for special needs individuals was also welcoming to others who didn't fit into some church communities, whether due to their personal beliefs or life circumstances.
the church is actively trying to combat is the hurt and trauma experienced by those they are trying to reach at the hands of the broader church. Many had been shunned by churches in the past, and the process of winning back trust is gradual and ongoing. “While we have had great success getting people to come back subsequent times, getting them there that first time is more of a challenge,” Heath explained.
The ministry's success stories are already many. The church has welcomed individuals who had been turned away or haven’t found their home previously. While this ministry serves the greater community, it is also personal to the Hullihen family. They now have the opportunity to include their son Luke, an adult with autism who never attended church regularly because of experiences at other non local institutions. He is now an active member of the congregation, opening all their services by playing the drums and managing the snacks in the fellowship hall. He is not only able to attend church regularly and participate significantly in the service, but was able to take his first communion at the age of 31.
The core message of the Patchwork Praise ministry is about God's love extending to all, regardless of social situations, life circumstances, abilities, and more. They have created an atmosphere where people can come as they are, without fear of judgment, and where they can strengthen their relationship with God.
Heath said it best. “The decision to focus on teaching The Word and Jesus to as many people who may want it but may not have felt welcomed to hear it has shown its rewards and God's power.”
The journey of the Blandburg United Methodist Church is a testament to the power of small ideas, patience, and faith. What began as a dream to serve a special needs community once a month has blossomed into a thriving, weekly, inclusive ministry. It demonstrates that with faith and perseverance, even the smallest seed can grow into something remarkable and exceed all expectations. The Blandburg United Methodist Church is not just a place of worship; it is a symbol of transformation, inclusivity, and God's boundless love.
See more information about this ministry.
