Allergies nothing to sneeze at for some churchgoers

Going to church can make some people physically ill. In fact, they may find they can’t be as involved in church activities because of the problem.
   
A sensitivity to fragrances — such as perfumes, air fresheners, carpet fresheners or cleaning products — is the most obvious culprit.
  
Yet, things as innocuous as grout around newly laid tile can cause a physical reaction in people with allergies or respiratory problems.
   
Paul Brasher, pastor of New Hope Baptist Church in Pell City, St. Clair Association, has found some of these people cannot attend regular services. Instead, they have to be involved in tape ministries.
   
One of the church’s members, Gail Benefield, understands this situation. There was a period, she said, when she was at church “every time the door was open.”
   
Then she found that whenever she was there, she became ill and had to leave. Besides allergies, she experienced a motion disorder triggered by fragrances.
   
Her church saw her go from being very active, to having to stop attending services because of her sensitivity.
   
She said the church purchased a camera and set up a closed-circuit television in a room separate from the sanctuary where she and others could worship. “The church bent over backwards to help me.”
   
Benefield said the church took additional steps to address the needs of others with similar problems.
   
New Hope conducted a survey to determine if there was a need for a Sunday School class for people with allergies.
   
The survey resulted in several initiatives. A Sunday School class for those with sensitivities currently has about five members and meets in Benefield’s home.
   
The church also created a fragrance-free room outside the sanctuary where people can see and hear worship services. Brasher said the room is set off by glass, is equipped with a speaker and has a stone tile floor instead of carpet. That room is where Benefield and others go to participate in the services.
  
Another step the church took was to establish an environmental committee to address the needs of those with sensitivities.
   
In addition, New Hope hosts fragrance-free services. The most recent one was in early December, providing a special holiday worship time and the opportunity to participate in the Lord’s Supper.
   
It was the first service of its kind for Brasher, who became the church’s pastor in July.
   
On that Saturday morning in December, five or six attended the Christmas service. For Brasher, the service proved enlightening.
   
“Basically, I did a lot of listening,” he said.
   
Brasher said some of the service was a testimony time, during which he asked those gathered to educate him about their special needs. Some of the people were from other churches; most were from New Hope.
  
What he discovered was “a lot of these can’t go to church because they’re allergic.” Nonetheless, “… these people want to worship.”
   
He learned how people with sensitivities must adjust their lives, buying — for example — a pair of shoes six months ahead of time to allow the new smell to subside before they wear them.
   
He said one of the people attending the fragrance-free worship time couldn’t participate in the Lord’s Supper because of an allergy to plastic cups used to serve juice.
   
As a result, Brasher said glass cups will be needed in future services.
   
Benefield said the fragrance-free services, which have had an attendance as high as 15, have been held at Christmas and Easter. Plans are under way to have the services more often, with efforts being made to determine how frequently.
  
Other Baptist churches are taking steps to accommodate those with allergies, including Shades Mountain in Vestavia Hills, and Dawson Memorial in Homewood.
   
Bob Hatfield, Dawson’s minister of music, and Aubrey Edwards, Shades Mountain’s minister of music, said there are occasional reminders to choir members about fragrances.
   
Reactions to fragrances, added Edwards, can cause vocal problems. When a person’s allergies begin to act up, they become stuffy and can’t sing as well.
   
The two churches either have put up signs reminding choir members others have problems with fragrances or occasionally mention the matter in rehearsal announcements.
   
Susan Forehand, director of women’s ministries and associate director of recreation at Shades Mountain, said the church’s walking track is a fragrance-free zone. “We’ve basically done it out of necessity.”
   
Fragrances, she explained, are stronger when people perspire. Dealing with those strong scents becomes a huge obstacle for those with sensitivities.
   
She said there have been occasions when the smell of fragrances was so strong that those wanting to use the track had to leave or walk on the gym floor.
   
The church launched an effort to make the track fragrance-free about six years ago.
   
Forehand said signs placed near the track and rest rooms encouraging everyone “to be mindful of other people.”
  
“I’m glad we have the ability to control that and ask people to be accommodating,” she said.
Experiencing allergic reactions in a church setting apparently is more commonplace than one would think.
   
Though people with extreme sensitivities may find it difficult to go to church, Brasher emphasized those with special needs should draw to the body of Christ, not away from it.
   
He said those with allergy problems should let their church know about the problem.