Walking into Compassionate Heart for the first time, a younger participant runs up and greets me with a high-five and a wide smile plastered across her face. “I’m so happy you’re here today! Do you want to hang out with me?” the little girl asks excitedly as she places a picture of a butterfly she colored in my hand. “Of course!” I reply as she leads me to an open table for a game of UNO with her friends. Immediately being welcomed with much enthusiasm is not uncommon for Compassionate Heart. This ministry radiates love.
“They are so quick to love, invite, and include.”
Compassionate Heart is a Christian-based ministry for children and adults with disabilities. Located in Zeeland, Michigan, Compassionate Heart welcomes fourteen-year-olds all the way to thirty-five-year-old participants. The freshly founded ministry started in 2006 with one mission: to build inclusive relationships in Christ for families and individuals with mild to moderate disabilities.
Sixteen staff members work regularly to produce fun-filled days of activities for the participants. Accounting for games, crafts, worship, and dinner, the Compassionate Heart staff is consistently ready to accommodate for any changes. The participants and volunteers never seem to lack cheerfulness and joy.
“Everyone is always excited to share their faith, love, and excitement for all things,” Kara Smith, the volunteer coordinator for the ministry said.
Smith decided she wanted a job working for a nonprofit organization after a college lecture regarding different job paths. She found a way to turn her passion for helping others into a career.
“When I saw the job posting at CH, the timing was perfect and I felt like God was calling me to this organization,” Smith said.
Smith began as the receptionist at Compassionate Heart, answering phone calls and helping participants with the daily sign-in. She was promoted to her current position as volunteer coordinator in February 2020.
“From the moment I started here, the participants have taken me in with open arms,” Smith said. “They have shown me so much love, even before they really knew me.”
The participants are always finding ways to brighten everyone’s day. Whether it be welcoming volunteers with enthusiasm, offering a friend to participate in a game of UNO, or cheering on teammates in the gym, they are always spreading the love.
“The smiles on the participants’ faces are always my favorite thing about CH. When they see a familiar face, you can always see them light up,” Smith said.
The Tim Tebow Foundation, an organization centered around bringing faith, hope, and love to those in need of a brighter day, hosts an event called “Night to Shine” throughout the country.
Compassionate Heart participates in the “Night to Shine” each year. The participants are given the chance to hang out with friends in the format of a prom.
“Each participant gets paired with a volunteer as their “buddy” for the night. At the end of the night, the volunteers crown every participant king or queen. It was such a great evening,” Smith said.
At events such as these, the loving nature of the participants does not go unnoticed. “Seeing that much love in all the people here has made me realize that I need to show love like that wherever I go, too,” Smith said.
Not only does love radiate throughout the building, but faith also does as well. Compassionate Heart has recently started going to Foundry Church on Monday nights to participate in worship.
“The first time our participants went over there, we were told by members of the church how much they enjoyed seeing their love and joy. It’s clear that our participants spread the love wherever they go,” Smith said.
On Monday nights, the participants are quick to help the members of Foundry. “They help to greet those coming in the main doors and into the worship space, as well as serving drinks,” Kristin Berghorst, Foundry’s Missions Director, said. The participants continue to spread the love even while volunteering.
“One thing I have really loved seeing is the smiles that the participants have, both as they are serving and as they are singing. It makes for a very welcoming start to our service,” Berghorst said.
The sound of worship is heard throughout the church. Hands wave excitedly in the air to the beat of the songs. “Their enthusiasm is most definitely contagious! Bringing that joy to people shows the love of God to all,” Berghorst said.
Foundry is not the only church to see God’s work through Compassionate Heart. Harderwyk Christian Reformed Church, located in Holland, Michigan, holds a weeklong event called Summer Service Week. During the seven days, the middle schoolers work at different sites to better the community. Compassionate Heart is one of the sites visited during the week.
“It’s great to see how loving and friendly the participants are. They are always so welcoming and inviting,” Nate Dewitt, the youth director at Harderwyk, said. Despite having never met the student before, the Compassionate Heart participants extend a warm welcome and invite them to join in on activities.
“In many ways, the participants at Compassionate Heart display some of the best characteristics of humanity,” Dewitt said. “They are always far less worried about some of the societies’ social rules and more worried about just caring and loving the people in their lives… Just like Jesus did.” Focusing on the little things makes the participants more joyful about life. They are always eager to make a new friend and make the world a kinder place to live.
One participant, Rebecca, said her favorite part about going to Compassionate Heart is “hanging out with friends and volunteers.” When I first went to Compassionate Heart, Rebecca was one of the participants that immediately invited me to color a picture with her. Her kindness was enough to make me realize just how friendly and inviting the environment is even for newcomers.
Getting the opportunity to help out at CH is something everyone should experience. Kristi VanKlompeberg, an activity coordinator, has experienced the lively atmosphere of Compassionate Heart for almost nine years. VanKlompeberg started by volunteering at a summer camp. This summer camp was the dawn of the ministry exhibited today. VanKlompeberg has been with the ministry since the beginning, helping the participants grow into people of faith.
“One of our participants doesn’t have a very good home life, and CH is the only place he gets to go to outside of school. He loves Compassionate Heart and comes any chance he gets. Compassionate is his happy place and has changed his life.”
The ministry has been influential on so many lives, even for the workers. For VanKlompeberg, “Seeing the happiness and joy Compassionate Heart brings to the lives of these participants brings me joy.”
Whether the participants are playing a game of UNO, worshipping at Foundry, or dancing away at the “Night to Shine” prom, the amount of love in this ministry is overwhelming.