Champions Club: Hope Restoration Ministries’ new space for children with special needs

Hope Restoration Ministries (HRM) took a meaningful step toward inclusivity with the launch of its Champions Club at the Chloorkop campus on June 14.

The initiative creates a safe and supportive environment for children with special needs and their families, ensuring they are seen, valued and included within the church and the community.

The Champions Club is more than a facility; it reflects HRM’s commitment to restoration, healing and purpose.

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Designed for children with disabilities, the club provides attentive care and meaningful engagement while their parents attend services.

“The Champions Club is not just a building,” said reverend Chris Mathebula of Hope Restoration Ministries. It restores dignity, affirms our commitment to inclusion and declares our faith: every child matters to God – and us.”

Mathebula said a growing awareness of families who struggled to attend church with their children with special needs, often feeling excluded, inspired the initiative.

“In ministry, I’ve seen parents bring children with special needs who weren’t being supported. It felt like we were turning them away simply because we didn’t know how to care for them,” he said.

“The Champions Club tells those families: You are welcome, your children are loved, and they will be cared for.”

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He credited the church’s congregation, partners and volunteers for making the dream a reality.

“Without their support and generous hearts, this would not have been possible,” he said.

The lack of services and facilities for children with special needs inspired the club’s launch.

“There are children in our communities who need special care and love. We recognised that need and decided to respond, for the glory of God,” Mathebula added.

Mathebula said he hopes this initiative will inspire others, including businesspeople, to support similar efforts.

“Many families will be transformed, children will live fuller lives, and the entire community will benefit.”

Emotionally moved, he compared the moment to the joy of childbirth.

“I’ve never been pregnant as a man, but it feels like the overwhelming relief and happiness when a woman delivers a healthy baby, finally seeing your dream come to life.”

The project became possible through a strategic partnership with the Lakewood Church in the USA, supported by a team of teachers, experts, designers, parents and volunteers.

Pastor Craig Johnson of the Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, and the founder of the Champions Clubs for Special Needs, said the impact on families has been moving.

“We’ve heard from parents who have been labelled, excluded and made to feel as if their children were a curse,” said Johnson.

“Now they feel included. They see their children as having purpose and possibility. That’s what touches me most.”

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Johnson added that the Champions Clubs aim to guide children with extraordinary needs toward their destiny and help them navigate life with dignity and hope.

“The learning and development happening here is remarkable, and it’s taking place in a church, where it should,” he said.
“This will ripple out to schools, the broader community and even government.”

He described feeling “over the moon” with joy at how the initiative was received.

“The feedback from parents, seeing them hug their children with joy, was everything.”

HRM now plans to expand the Champions Club to all its campuses across SA, ensuring more children have access to safe, nurturing spaces where they can grow in faith and confidence.

Pastor Phindi Mathebula, the wife of Mathebula, shared that for years, they welcomed families with children who had special needs but lacked the resources to correctly support them.

“Some children, especially those with autism, would scream during services,” she said.

“Because we didn’t understand what they were going through, it felt like they were being disruptive, and that made us feel helpless.”

Phindi emphasised that because their church is called Hope Restoration Ministries, they are committed to bringing hope to those families.

“This club is about teaching children the ways of the Lord in ways they can understand. It’s about caring for them and supporting their families.”

She recalled how painful it was not being able to support every family.

“But today, we are excited and feel fulfilled. We can’t wait to welcome these little champions and ensure they’re cared for while their parents enjoy the service, knowing their children are safe and happy.”

While the current facility has limited capacity, Phindi encouraged parents to register early.

“We’ve promised to do our best to accommodate everyone. With proper planning, we can care for them all.”