Leading up to this year’s Inclusion Fusion, our team wants to introduce you to some of the people God has called to serve as leaders in the movement among local congregations to more effectively serve, welcome and include kids with disabilities and their families into the life of the church. Today, we’d like to start by introducing you to Aaron Scheffler, one of our speakers for Inclusion Fusion 2012, and a first-year member of the Program Committee responsible for assembling the speakers and content for this year’s Web Summit.

Aaron serves as the Executive Director for Mark 2 Ministries, an organization that works with churches around the globe to equip them to be able to show Jesus’ love to people with disabilities and to integrate these same people into their congregations. He is a life-long learner in the areas of Scripture, Business, Leadership, Disability, and Education. Aaron is a native of the north side of Indianapolis Indiana. He now lives in the Indy north suburban area with his wife, Debra where he enjoys cycling and reading in his spare time. Aaron’s Inclusion Fusion presentation is on the topic…Networking: For Ministry.

Mark 2 has served a vital role in pulling together a diverse group of churches from throughout the state of Indiana for training and mutual support as individual churches pursue active disability ministry initiatives. Many believe that networking is a business activity that is used solely by businesses. Mark 2 has demonstrated how networking is now a vital part of church life and ministry as well. Aaron will spend time in his presentation discussing how to develop networking groups to facilitate churches talking to one another to share experiences – good and bad – to further the Kingdom. He’ll also discuss how networking groups help to propel ministry while avoiding pitfalls.

Aaron will be inviting over 100 churches from across Indiana for an Inclusion Fusion “watch party” on Thursday, November 15th. Staff and volunteers from churches served by Mark 2 will gather and watch some of the video presentations of greatest interest. Members of our Key Ministry team can be available to video conference for other church groups planning watch parties for Inclusion Fusion week (November 12-16).

Here’s a brief video Aaron shared with us explaining “Why” he thinks the topic of including persons with disabilities and their families is of great importance to the church…

To contact Aaron directly, or for more information on the services provided by Mark 2 Ministries, e-mail Aaron at: aaron@mark2ministries.org, check out their Facebook page or follow them on Twitter. Here’s a blog post Aaron did last year on the Disability Ministry Connection (DMC) that he has put together in Indiana through his work with Mark 2.

Inclusion Fusion, Key Ministry’s second annual Special Needs Ministry Web Summit is made available FREE OF CHARGE to pastors, church staff, volunteers and families everywhere from November 12th-16th, 2012. For an up to date list of speakers, topics, links to speaker blogs and a link for free registration, click here.