Teddy, Curtis, Annie and Victoria Lloyd.
(This is the first in a new series called “Unlimited: My Story.” Each month, a parent of a special needs child will share the impact that our Unlimited Ministry has had on their family. Today, meet Annie Lloyd.
Annie Lloyd has been identified in many ways during her time on this earth.
Journalist.
Wife.
Mother.
Hippie.
“I guess that explains why someone would move from San Diego to Darlington,” Annie said, laughing. “We found a house on six acres out here. We like the open space and we’re avid gardeners. We’re just hippies.”
Not only did Annie and Curtis Lloyd find a house in Beaver County, but they also discovered a church home at Pathway. And God has used their son’s communication issues to surround them with the love and care they were seeking.
Annie attended a Roman Catholic church while growing up in Youngstown. Curtis, who was born in Utah, was raised as a Mormon. The two met while Annie was a journalist at the Baltimore Sun and Curtis was attending the Naval Academy in nearby Annapolis, Maryland. Curtis was commissioned as a Naval officer on May 27, 2011. The next day, he and Annie were married. Two days after that, the couple packed up and moved to San Diego.
While the weather was certainly gorgeous in southern California, their life wasn’t always filled with sunshine. “Curtis was in special forces,” Annie recalled. “He had been deployed and there was plenty of training. He was home less than 20 percent of the year.”
By that time the couple had two children — Victoria, who is 6, and Teddy, who just turned 5. And that meant Annie was caring for them alone most days. She would struggle as she took them to a Catholic church, which did not have child care options. So when Curtis was discharged and the Lloyds moved to Beaver County in 2016, Annie knew that if the family were to attend church together, it would have to feature child care.
But not just any child care. To complicate matters, Teddy has been diagnosed with Apraxia, which prevents his tongue from moving properly as he speaks, and he has been placed on the autism spectrum, though his diagnosis frequently changes.
Teddy now attends kindergarten at Blackhawk Intermediate School. Two years ago, he came home from his special needs preschool with a postcard promoting an upcoming Respite Night at Pathway Church. These events are designed to free up an evening for couples who have children with unique needs.
Annie and Curtis took Teddy to the church’s first event on December 16, 2017 — and they’ve been returning to Pathway each weekend since. “We’ve had a great time here at Pathway,” Annie said. “The Respite Night was a wonderful first impression. I really felt comfortable with Teddy being there.”
And the Lloyds are now comfortable calling Pathway their church home. They attend the 10:45am service each Sunday while their kids are across the walkway in the children’s wing. Victoria jumps right into Crosstown activities each week, while Teddy starts out in a sensory room for children with special needs. “The sensory room has been wonderful,” Annie pointed out. “It can be very draining to walk around with Teddy and explain why he struggles to communicate and make friends. The people in the sensory room now do the explaining for us.”
Jenna Hannum, who oversees the special needs ministry at Pathway, explained that a sensory room uses music, ambiance and accessories to offer a calming environment for special needs children.
“Teddy is just about the sweetest kid you’ve ever met,” Jenna said. “His favorite thing is music. Teddy loves to sit outside the sensory room and listen to and sing along with the elementary worship. The safety of the sensory room allows him to participate in a way that makes him feel comfortable.”
Once Teddy is comfortable, a “buddy” takes him to the Crosstown Kindergarten for a Bible story and craft, then it’s off to the Playland for more fun. He returns to the sensory room at the end of the service.
“Our buddies are highly trained in the area of special needs,” Jenna said. “They know Teddy well, and have grown to care deeply for him and his family. We see it as a privilege to have a small part in caring for Teddy each week.”
And the comfort level for their children’s care has the Lloyds engaging deeper in the life of the church. They’re inspired by Pastor Jeff’s teaching and are growing in their faith with their small group. “I am very deficient in Scripture and the theology department,” Annie admitted. “I have so much reading and studying to do and I am thankful that my small group is helping guide me.”
Curtis, she added, remains “undecided” on a spiritual path.
“My husband's journey in faith is long. Spending time overseas and witnessing some pretty awful things done in the name of God complicated his journey further,” she explained. “In spite of all this, he is an amazing man, husband and father. If you were to see how he lives his life, you would never know that he is conflicted spiritually. I believe I said at Pizza with the Pastors that he is a good Christian man — he just doesn't know it yet.”
But here’s what the Lloyds do know. They arrived at Pathway initially for child care, and have received so much more in the months since. “The church has been so generous without expecting anything in return,” she acknowledged. “Pathway has been so welcoming and non-judgmental and accepting of who we are. It’s been quite a breath of fresh air.”
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What is a Respite Event?
Parents of children with special needs can leave their children — both those with and without special needs — at Pathway Church and enjoy an evening to themselves. Unlimited staff will provide fun activities for the kids, which will include a bouncy house, Wii, a movie, a snack, and more. After you sign up, a member of the Unlimited staff will contact you to conduct a brief interview before your child(ren) may attend. This is to ensure that we can provide the best care for your child. Our next Respite Night is set for 6-8pm this Friday, October 18, in the children’s wing at our Chippewa Campus. Can your child join us? Let us know by emailing Jenna Hannum.