Earlier this week, I did a post on the qualifications of our ministry team, describing the experiences team members bring to our work with churches. Today, I’ll summarize the types of services we provide, touch on an important value that helps form the foundation of our service philosophy, and give you a sense of how our “product” is likely to evolve over the next few years.

“Exactly what problem you are trying to solve and HOW you are doing that?  Do you lead workshops?  If so – what exactly do you teach?”

The problem we’re trying to solve is the reality that families in which a child has a serious emotional, behavioral, developmental or neurologic condition more than likely lack an active relationship with a local church. One way we try to attack that problem is by training church staff and volunteers to serve, welcome and include families in ways that are consistent with that church’s traditions, values and giftedness. Most of our training is developed in response to requests for help from churches to respond to a specific need. Just this week, we were in Cincinnati because one of the churches in the respite network there wanted to be better prepared to serve kids if they exhibit aggressive behavior. Here’s a link to a page on our website outlining some of the trainings we’ve offered recently. Key Ministry is always going to offer live training because developing the training keeps us sharp and on the cutting edge of what church staff and volunteers confront in the “trenches” of ministry. We also value the relationships that grow from the people we meet on the road. We can’t get out to all the places we’d like to go because all of our trainers have commitments to spouses, families and day jobs and our budget won’t allow it…one downside of offering services for free (donations graciously accepted). As a result, you’re likely to see a significant portion of our training made available on video during the next 12-18 months for churches we’re not able to visit in person.

We also do consultation for churches because situations arise in which books, training and articles don’t always help to address the specific need. Over the last few months, our team has been involved with ministry leaders in Kentucky and Tennessee to help craft solutions when individual children or families presented unique challenges to local churches. Several of our team members did an observation at a church in our home region when a child with hidden disabilities was creating disruption in evening programming. If your church could benefit from such a consultation, feel free to contact Katie Wetherbee @ (440) 247-0083 or by E-mail: katie@keyministry.org. We can connect by phone or by Skype.

Key Ministry also offers training to churches interested in providing free respite care to families of kids with hidden disabilities, along with other special needs. Networks of churches offering free respite are being developed in Northeast Ohio and greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky. We’re working in partnership with the “Free Respite” movement being led by staff at Vineyard Community Church to provide like-minded churches access to training for staff and volunteers and online registration for ministry guests. One of the fears expressed by church leaders hesitant to launch a respite outreach is that the church will be overwhelmed by families with special needs who want to attend weekend worship events. This fear is unfounded-the families will come, but in a steady, consistent trickle. Key Ministry helps overcome those concerns by training and equipping children’s ministry staff and volunteers to welcome and include any children with hidden disabilities and their families who’d like to become more active at church.

Ultimately, we want Key Ministry to be all about relationships and not just resources. After all, Christianity is ultimately about a relationship…with Jesus Christ. We want church staff and volunteers to feel free to shoot us an E-mail or call with problems, challenges and successes. If you’re interested in a book, check out Amazon.com. If you’re interested in someone to help share in and support your ministry, contact us.