Monthly Archives: October 2014

To love adoptive and foster families, (4) let our kids be kids…

Posted on October 30, 2014 by Dr. G

But they are kids, first and foremost. Welcome them as you would any other child. Work with their parents or guardians to figure out how to include them well.
Continue reading →

Posted in Adoption, Families, Foster Care, Key Ministry, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Silent Fighter…

Posted on October 29, 2014 by Dr. G

The depths still loom. They threaten. They seduce. They fight back, grasping at your feet. But your fight, the teaspoons you have gathered into your body, says, “I cannot let you take me. I cannot.” No explanation, just blind trust and hope that your fight and your faith will lead you to better waters. Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Anxiety Disorders, Depression, Mental Health, Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

To love adoptive and foster families, (3) partner with us…

Posted on October 28, 2014 by Dr. G

So it makes sense that one way to love the adoptive and foster families in your church is to partner with us. In many ways, this looks just like family ministry does for everyone else. Continue reading →

Posted in Adoption, Advocacy, Families, Resources, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Join us Wednesday for a “Notable” documentary…

Posted on October 27, 2014 by Dr. G

The film highlights three stories of individuals with disability living in a culture where families are often shamed, isolated and marginalized by their community because of their child having a disability. Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Key Ministry, Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

He won’t remember: Children and PTSD…Jolene Philo

Posted on October 26, 2014 by Dr. G

But very few churches talk about the babies, special needs babies, who also suffer from PTSD. Because we don’t want to believe they feel pain. Very few churches talk about children already traumatized before birth or children traumatized by direct or observed trauma.
Because we good church people don’t want to believe they remember.
Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Hidden Disabilities, Inclusion Fusion, Mental Health, PTSD, Resources, Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 38 Comments

#2…Churches should become trauma and attachment-informed

Posted on October 23, 2014 by Dr. G

So, church leaders, what can you do to become trauma- and attachment-informed and to then use that knowledge to serve adoptive and foster families well? Continue reading →

Posted in Adoption, Advocacy, Controversies, Families, Foster Care, Hidden Disabilities, Inclusion, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 27 Comments

Five ways the church can love their adoptive and foster families

Posted on October 21, 2014 by Dr. G

When their parents are being elevated with comments about what a great thing they did, then those children may feel like they are less deserving of their families than a biological child might be. Continue reading →

Posted in Adoption, Advocacy, Families, Foster Care, Key Ministry, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

The compelling case for social media in special needs ministry…Barb Dittrich

Posted on October 20, 2014 by Dr. G

The question for us became, “If our parents can’t come to us, how can we come to them?” Continue reading →

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Jeff Davidson…No More Peanut Butter Sandwiches

Posted on October 19, 2014 by Dr. G

At first, it was difficult coming to terms with laying down my dreams. Like any special-needs dad, it’s hard emotionally to reach the point where you realize the dreams, goals, and plans you had for your child aren’t going to happen the way you hoped. But whose dream was it anyway? It wasn’t God’s dream. Continue reading →

Posted in Families, Inclusion Fusion, Intellectual Disabilities, Stories, Training Events | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Are parents of kids with ADHD stigmatized at church?

Posted on October 18, 2014 by Dr. G

Would it make more sense to err on the side of grace in how we view families of kids with ADHD, at least until we know them well enough to feel we could walk in their shoes? Continue reading →

Posted in ADHD, Controversies, Families, Inclusion, Key Ministry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments