Our team at Key Ministry seeks to provide churches with the best possible resources for successfully including and ministering to families of kids with disabilities. We’re honored to offer you the resources of one of the church’s leading experts in ministry to children and adults with autism spectrum disorders.

Mike Woods will be sharing a series of guest blog posts in honor of Autism Awareness Month. Mike currently serves as Director of the Special Friends Ministry at First Baptist Church in Orlando, Florida. Prior to joining the staff at First Baptist, he worked for the largest school district in St. Louis as an Autism and Inclusion Specialist and is a Board Certified Associate Behavior Analyst. He has also served as a Master Training Specialist for the Judevine Center for Autism and as an Early Interventionist for the Missouri First Steps Program. Mike has taught continuing education courses on autism at Coastal Carolina College in North Carolina. He received his Masters Degree in Conflict Management from Trinity College and Theological Seminary. He has conducted workshops for a variety of churches, several national level autism conferences, and various annual state conferences.

Mike is happily married and is the father of three wonderful boys, all of whom are on the autism spectrum.

Here’s the schedule of what Mike has in store…

Tuesday, April 10th: C3: Comfort, Confirm, Challenge (a process for developing relationships with each child and adult with special needs served in ministry)

Thursday, April 12th: C3: Comfort, Confirm, Challenge…Part Two

Tuesday, April 17th: Human Engagement and Children on the Autism Spectrum

Thursday, April 19th: Giving Unconditional Worth to Children With Autism

Tuesday, April 24th: I’ll share links and descriptions for some of the most helpful resources Mike has made freely available to church staff and volunteers on the Web.

Mike’s series will be an excellent compliment to our current discussion on promoting spiritual growth in kids with Asperger’s Disorder and other social disabilities. The next installment of that series will occur on Sunday, April 15th, when we look at tips for church staff and volunteers serving kids with Asperger’s Disorder.

I’d invite you to check out the excellent website Mike has put together for the Special Friends Ministry at First Baptist Orlando and look forward to sharing his posts with you over the next two weeks!