Project: Jesus and special needs children Art

It all started with a young boy who wanted to play the role of Joseph (baby Jesus’ father) in a Christmas nativity play. But this young boy with Down’s syndrome had sadly never been selected for this role.
 
My name is Nitza Salazar. Helping children with special abilities shine is my dream and my passion. When I heard about this boy’s dream, I started looking for more children with disabilities so they could be the stars on stage and found so many eager children and parents.
 
The Children’s Ministry team with the Seventh-day Adventist Church in western Washington adopted this cause and started a Christmas pageant in 2018 where children with disabilities could be the stars on the stage. The first year, the church auditorium was packed with family, friends and neighbors to cheer on 25 children with special needs. Children with disabilities do not often have the opportunity to share their talents in front of big audiences; this event opened the opportunity for many of them to feel appreciated and accepted. 
 
The second year at a bigger venue was equally well attended. And then Covid arrived. Children and families couldn’t gather, but they still wanted to participate and shine. So parents and kids recorded video clips for a virtual choir.
 
This year 70 children with disabilities are getting ready to shine in a new performance. The Special Stars ministry keeps growing and growing and we keep running out of large venues to host the event. But guess what? The Lord provided the Federal Way Performing Arts Center with 700 seats for December 17, 2021.
 
And the dream is growing! Did you know there are very few paintings of Jesus with children with disabilities? At the Christmas program this year, I’d like to present a piece of art that expresses the wide spectrum of disabilities. All our children should feel valued and accepted and normalize disabilities.  I’d like to give each participating child a copy of a painting that includes them and Jesus. We have an artist secured to illustrate each of the 70 children.
 
Here's where we need your help: We need to raised funds to cover the cost of creating this piece of art depicting Jesus with children with many disabilities. We have about half of the funds already raised and are eager to see your support, too. This painting of Jesus and children is a not-for-profit venture.
 
I hope you will join me in this cause! Thank you in advance for your contribution!
 
If you have any questions or if you'd like your children or yourself to be part of this amazing program, please call me at (253) [phone redacted] ext. 76236.