Champions Club Launches Faith Curriculum for Special Needs

November 7, 2025 OLAOLUWA AYOMIDE

Empowering teens and adults with special need to grow in faith and purpose

A new chapter of inclusion and empowerment is unfolding in global Christian ministry as Champions Club, a faith-based organization serving individuals with special needs, unveils a groundbreaking initiative, the Champions Club Curriculum for Teens and Adults.

The new program marks a historic step toward addressing a long-overlooked gap in ministry resources: a dedicated, age-appropriate, Bible-centered curriculum designed specifically for individuals with special needs aged 12 and above.

A Vision Born from Compassion and Purpose

Founded in 2008 by Rev. Craig and Samantha Johnson at Lakewood Church, Houston, Texas, Champions Club began with a simple but powerful mission, to ensure that individuals with special needs experience love, dignity, and inclusion in the Body of Christ.

What started as a local outreach has since grown into a global movement, with more than 130 Champions Clubs established in churches, schools, and communities around the world. Each center provides a safe space where children and adults with developmental differences can grow spiritually, emotionally, and physically through personalized learning environments.

Now, after years of success with their children’s curriculum, the ministry is expanding its vision to reach older learners.

Meeting a Long-Overdue Need

According to Rev. Craig Johnson, Founder of the Champions Foundation, the new curriculum was created out of a clear need observed within churches and special needs programs worldwide.

“We recognized a tremendous need for a quality curriculum that speaks directly to teens and adults with special needs, their identity, gifts, talents, life skills, and relationship with God,” Johnson said.

“This is not a children’s curriculum with a new cover; it’s a full year of material designed just for them.”

Built upon years of practical experience, the Champions Club Curriculum for Teens and Adults offer a full year of lessons structured around five comprehensive units. Each unit combines faith formation with personal development, offering learners the opportunity to discover who they are in Christ while developing essential life skills.

A Holistic Approach to Growth

The curriculum’s design reflects the Champions Club’s signature four-station model

Spiritual Development,
Creative Learning,
Sensory Development, and
Physical Development.

Through these stations, participants engage in a balanced blend of worship, hands-on activities, reflection, and movement. Lessons are adaptable for both independent learners and those needing additional support, ensuring accessibility for every individual, regardless of ability level.

The program also includes a Holiday & Special Days Unit, offering themed lessons for key celebrations like Easter, Christmas, and Thanksgiving — helping learners connect faith to life’s meaningful moments.

Equipping Churches for Inclusive Ministry

Champions Club’s new curriculum is not only a resource for learners but also a lifeline for churches seeking to make their ministries more inclusive. Each lesson comes in a ready-to-use format, simplifying preparation for pastors, teachers, and volunteers.

Since its inception, the Champions Foundation has been committed to ensuring that no one is left out of the church experience. The launch of this curriculum reinforces that mission — empowering ministries to disciple individuals with special needs with excellence, empathy, and biblical truth.

A Step Toward a More Inclusive Future

As the first three units of the Champions Club Curriculum for Teens and Adults become available, churches around the world are invited to be part of this transformative journey.

More than just lessons, this curriculum represents hope — a declaration that everyone, regardless of ability, has a place in God’s kingdom and a purpose to fulfill.

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For ministries seeking to strengthen their outreach to individuals with special needs, sample lessons and purchase details are available now on the Champions Foundation website.

Through this initiative, Champions Club continues to shine as a reminder that when the church truly embraces inclusion, the heart of Christ is revealed in its purest form.