Nearly a decade later, that same sense of belonging remains at the heart of Special Friends Fellowship, a West Tennessee Episcopal Diocesan ministry for individuals with special needs, ages 15 and up.
This fall, the ministry begins a new chapter under the leadership of Karrie LaCroix, St. George’s Director of Children, Family and Youth Ministry. Karrie and the St. George’s youth have spent the past two years volunteering with Special Friends, and she says they have loved every moment with the group.
Karrie brings a deeply personal understanding of the ministry’s importance. Her daughter Emma, who lived with mitochondrial disease, taught her family to embrace life fully and cherish the joy found in time together. As a registered nurse and longtime member of the Special Friends community, Karrie has a clear vision of Special Friends being a place where faith and friendship meet in a very tangible way.
“I hope that everyone in the Special Friends Fellowship will feel loved and get a chance to experience God’s love through the hearts and spirits of our volunteers,” Karrie says.
The evenings are intentionally simple: dinner around the table, time for a favorite activity, and worship together in the Nave. Some nights bring bingo or painting. Others might be a disco night, or an adventure beyond the parish. This fall, the group hopes to gather for a Memphis Tigers tailgate and visit a local horse farm.
What matters most, though, is the gathering itself. Special Friends offers a place where people are known, welcomed, and invited to participate fully in the life of the church.
As this beloved ministry enters its next season, Karrie hopes more friends will find their way to the table, and more volunteers will discover the joy of being part of it.
