At Carrickfergus Church of the Nazarene in Northern Ireland, a unique parent and toddler group gathers every Tuesday. Designed for children with additional needs, Little Stars was created out of a heartfelt desire to provide a safe and welcoming space for families of children with additional needs.

Children with additional needs have a variety of conditions ranging from physical disabilities, chronic illness and potentially life-limiting or life-threatening conditions, to children with physical and sensory impairments, learning disorders, and autism.

Little Stars was started by Claire Patterson, whose son, AJ, has additional needs.

“I found it really hard taking him to the mother and toddlers in our church or around the community,” Patterson said. “I was always apologising for my son, and I thought if I was feeling like this, I would imagine so many other parents are feeling this way also. I wanted to create a safe space for the children and their parents."

Pastor Jordan Neill from Carrickfergus Church of the Nazarene quoted Luke 18:16, where Jesus says: “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”

“In many ways, the work of the Little Stars team opens a space where children and families are made to feel welcome and at home in church, regardless of ability or need,” Neill said. “It’s a reminder to each of us that the Kingdom is for everyone"

The Eurasia Region asks to be joined in prayer for the Little Stars ministry, for the kids and their families,  and that the Lord would bless them and the efforts put into this ministry.