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Adam Flermoen was losing his circle of friends. After spending years in Special Olympics and other programs to assist with living with cerebral palsy, he was turning 18 and aging out of the communities he’d known for years.
His mom, Diana Flermoen, was concerned.
“He needed community because he had left all his friends and all his socialization,” she said.
Without many options in their hometown of Yuma, Arizona, she remembered the important bonds her family developed when her younger daughters were involved in local play groups. She called the mom of one of Adam’s friends and made a pitch. Would she be interested in a group for disabled adults?
“I just figured, who cares if our kids are older? They still need play,” Flermoen said. “Parents still need to play. Let’s play.”
From that conversation, Flermoen launched Circle of Friends, which provides a variety of activities for disabled adults. The program proved so successful, Yuma’s recreation department offered to host some of its activities.
While Adam, now 39, and his peers have thrived with the support of the group, Flermoen realized last year that Circle of Friends was missing a spiritual element. She approached The Salvation Army Yuma Corps to see if it would be willing to offer an annual Vacation Bible School for disabled adults.
“They need not only structure and activities to keep them engaged but also they need Christ,” said Yuma Corps Officer Lt. Amber Herzog.
“It’s something that isn’t just adapted for them, but it’s intended for them.”
Lt. Amber Herzog, Yuma Corps Officer
As a result, Bible Adventure Thursdays was born last spring, providing a specialized VBS every Thursday evening in March.
“This is a great opportunity for us and the volunteers that we have to be able to reach out to these families and say, ‘Hey, you’re welcome here,” Herzog said. “For them to know we love you, and God loves you, and this is something that’s special for you. It’s something that isn’t just adapted for them, but it’s intended for them.”
At the heart of the weekly program is a time for worship, tapping into the Army’s long heritage of music.
“They are such great teachers of joy,” Herzog said. “Honestly, just hanging out with them and seeing them worship has been an awesome inspiration for me.”
Flermoen agreed.
“It is so touching because it’s the sincere heart of worship,” Flermoen said. “It just touches my heart when I see it.”
In addition to providing music and other activities, the weekly sessions include a Caregiver Corner. Herzog said the corner provides bonding space for parents and guardians so they “can get a little TLC.”
“It’s a place where we can pray for them and pray for the unique challenges that they’re going through,” Herzog said.
This year, the weekly program has expanded its offerings to provide specialized resources, including an expert who teaches behavioral management techniques.
With the success of Circle of Friends and Bible Adventure Thursdays, Flermoen has been asked to share her experience with other communities.
“Everybody needs to be fed spiritually,” she said. “It’s such a blessing to see them welcome the Word of God. They welcome being part of the spiritual community of The Salvation Army.”
She is hoping other corps community centers across the country will adopt similar programs.
“God is our strength and our comfort and our guide, and he’s going to provide because he loves our children,” Flermoen said. “But the thing is, if we’re not grounded in the Word, if we’re not in a community that encourages that, we can find ourselves in despair, sometimes in depression, finding it hard just to do one more day.”
In the meantime, Flermoen said she’s grateful for the support of the Yuma Corps and its vision to reach all members of the community, including those who are frequently overlooked.
“The Lord has called us to proclaim the gospel where he puts us, right? And to bring hope and comfort and healing to the people who God has put around us,” she said. “This journey has taught us a lot, but it also has taught us that the gospel brings hope and gives us the knowledge on how to navigate through this life.”
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