Special Needs Ministry, Strategies
Stephen Grcevich MD
How any church can “Make ‘M Smile”

Make ‘M Smile represents a great model for a summertime special event to share God’s love with kids and adults with a broad range of disabilities. Marie Kuck and her team have developed a model for a celebration that churches of all sizes might easily replicate, with each event taking on its own unique flavor from the sponsor, the event venue and the mix of participating disability-related organizations.

How any church can “Make ‘M Smile”
Catherine Boyle, Church Support, Mental Health, Stories
Catherine Boyle
The Illusion of Impossible Created by Mental ...

God is the master director and storyteller. The most important story, of how He works with humanity and how He came to rescue humanity as fully God and fully human is of course the Big Story. But the Big Story is full of trillions of lesser stories. And I’m convinced the lesser stories mostly revolve around God breaking through the illusions we have in our lives. 

The Illusion of Impossible Created by Mental Illness
Advocacy, Church Support, Culture of Life, Families, Inclusion
Andrea Foster
Questions Church Leaders Wish They Could Ask ...

As a young mom of four children, two of whom have disabilities, including severe intellectual impairment, I ask God tough questions. I imagine many ministry leaders wonder some of the same things I do, but fear asking. It’s natural to wonder and it’s okay to ask. It’s in wrestling with such questions, pressing into Jesus in prayer and exploration of His Word we not only find answers but gain a deeper understanding of who Jesus intended the Church to be.

Questions Church Leaders Wish They Could Ask Out Loud
Controversies, Key Ministry, Mental Health
Stephen Grcevich MD
Are kids from devoutly Christian families with ...

There is no clear evidence growing up in a family with traditional religious beliefs related to sexual expression or attending a church espousing traditional beliefs makes kids any more likely to attempt or commit suicide and overwhelming evidence that teens who delay the onset of sexual activity - gay as well as straight - are much less likely to struggle with suicidal thoughts or behavior.

Are kids from devoutly Christian families with same-sex attraction at higher risk of suicide?
Advocacy, Church Support, Inclusion, Resources, Special Needs Ministry
Lisa Jamieson
How Churches Can Encourage the Blind and ...

God has used my blindness to others in so many ways. In my ability as a songwriter, I’m able to describe things in a deeper way than people who can see. I show people trust-in-action as I follow other people’s directions. Most of all, I think I’m able to show people that, despite my being totally blind and using a power wheelchair, there is still joy.

How Churches Can Encourage the Blind and Visually Impaired

Adult Advocates

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Disability Doesn’t Stop Me From Giving God My Best. Neither Should The Church.

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Disability Doesn’t Stop Me From Giving God My Best. Neither Should The Church.

If you want to involve disabled people in ministry and leadership, re-imagine how your current structures, schedules, and systems work. It may be the church itself that is stopping people with disabilities from giving God their best.

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Pastors, Here’s how to be a shepherd to special needs families in your church.

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Pastors, Here’s how to be a shepherd to special needs families in your church.

David’s words about how God shepherded him have become my model for pastoral ministry to the special-needs community. Pastors, here are four things to consider when pastoring special-needs families through moments in the valley.

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Five Activities to Target Adults with Disabilities

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Five Activities to Target Adults with Disabilities

At Accessibility Summit in March my husband Lee and I spoke on outreach events for families with disabilities. During the Q & A time we talked about activities specifically for teens/adults with disabilities (including those living in group homes). Here are some ideas we came up with after the discussion and as we've been talking about it in the weeks since then: