{"id":146,"date":"2023-07-07T21:24:29","date_gmt":"2023-07-07T21:24:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brevardgathering.com\/?page_id=146"},"modified":"2024-03-22T16:45:18","modified_gmt":"2024-03-22T16:45:18","slug":"about-us","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/brevardgathering.com\/about-us\/","title":{"rendered":"About Us"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Meet Brevard Gatherings<\/h2>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_video src=”https:\/\/youtu.be\/4odXlkUoP_I” image_src=”https:\/\/brevardgathering.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Screenshot-2023-07-07-at-2.04.42-PM.png” use_icon_font_size=”on” icon_font_size=”71px” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”65%” max_width_tablet=”65%” max_width_phone=”97%” max_width_last_edited=”on|phone” module_alignment=”center” border_radii=”on|8px|8px|8px|8px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_video][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ module_id=”story” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#EEE2E4″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ disabled_on=”on|off|off” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _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

The Beginnings<\/h2>\n

Coming off their honeymoon, the Stimson’s started The Special Gathering in Cocoa, Florida. Richard taught Special Education in the public school and Nancy was a teaching assistant. It would be another three years before Richard would be full-time with The Special Gathering.<\/p>\n

Knowing he did not want to serve as a chaplain in an institution, Richard borrowed concepts from Youth for Christ and Young Life and applied them to the mentally challenged community. The Stimsons developed chapels for persons with intellectual disabilities. These chapels are a combination of Sunday School Classes, Worship Services and social events, such as camps, picnics, choirs and Christmas programs.<\/p>\n

Soon the Stimsons realized that pastoring their flocks included advocating for their social, physical and emotional needs. This meant ministering to the whole person. After all shepherds protect their sheep.<\/p>\n

With over 200 members, the ministry meets in four Florida locations (Titusville, Merritt Island, Melbourne and Vero). This is all made possible through the support of over 70 churches of multiple denominations.<\/p>\n

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The Beginnings<\/h2>\n

Coming off their honeymoon, the Stimson’s started The Special Gathering in Cocoa, Florida. Richard taught Special Education in the public school and Nancy was a teaching assistant. It would be another three years before Richard would be full-time with The Special Gathering.<\/p>\n

Knowing he did not want to serve as a chaplain in an institution, Richard borrowed concepts from Youth for Christ and Young Life and applied them to the mentally challenged community. The Stimsons developed chapels for persons with intellectual disabilities. These chapels are a combination of Sunday School Classes, Worship Services and social events, such as camps, picnics, choirs and Christmas programs.<\/p>\n

Soon the Stimsons realized that pastoring their flocks included advocating for their social, physical and emotional needs. This meant ministering to the whole person. After all shepherds protect their sheep.<\/p>\n

With over 200 members, the ministry meets in four Florida locations (Titusville, Merritt Island, Melbourne and Vero). This is all made possible through the support of over 70 churches of multiple denominations.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/brevardgathering.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Nancy-and-Richard-for-The-Beginning.jpg” title_text=”Nancy and Richard for The Beginning” _builder_version=”4.22.0″ _module_preset=”default” transform_translate_linked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ module_id=”what” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _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

What we do and Why<\/span><\/h2>\n

There are many fine organizations which address the vocational needs of mentally challenged person, such as:\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n