Monthly Archives: January 2015

Does love heal all wounds from childhood trauma?

Posted on January 30, 2015 by Dr. G

In other words, church, we have a great opportunity to love those affected by trauma! The need is great. Kids are hurting. Adults are too. Families are struggling. And the first step in being able to help is understanding the need. Jesus met people where they were, and so can we. Continue reading →

Posted in Adoption, Advocacy, Foster Care, Hidden Disabilities, Key Ministry, PTSD | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Jay Adams and the foundations of a movement…

Posted on January 28, 2015 by Dr. G

It’s important for our readers to understand how central Adams has been in impacting how pastors from evangelical and reformed traditions think about mental illness and pastoral counseling. Continue reading →

Posted in Hidden Disabilities, Key Ministry, Mental Health, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

“Downtown Nate” and a school that “gets” inclusion

Posted on January 27, 2015 by Dr. G

The administration and students of Louisville High School found a spectacular way to demonstrate Nate’s value to the community this past week. Continue reading →

Posted in Inclusion, Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The evangelical understanding of mental illness…How Freud, Skinner, Rogers and Ellis led to Jay Adams

Posted on January 25, 2015 by Dr. G

We’re beginning a series today on the theme Sin, Mental Illness and the Church. This study will be accompanied by a more in-depth, optional online study group (you may register here) including Bible reading/study and supplemental media to enlighten participants as … Continue reading →

Posted in Controversies, Key Ministry, Mental Health | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Mental Illness: Too Scared to Share – why most Christians won’t talk About “IT”…Mitzi Van Cleve

Posted on January 24, 2015 by Dr. G

I sat completely mute and stunned when mental illness was included in a list of “sins” for which restoration through repentance were possible. Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Anxiety Disorders, Hidden Disabilities, Key Ministry, Mental Health, Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

The “missing” Inclusion Fusion presentation…and more!

Posted on January 23, 2015 by Dr. G

Our friends at Insight for Living put together a fabulous discussion between Chuck Swindoll, his daughter Colleen Swindoll-Thompson and Steve Fischer entitled Transforming the Soul-What We Didn’t Learn in Seminary. Continue reading →

Posted in Families, Inclusion Fusion, Key Ministry, Resources, Spiritual Development, Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Steve AND Shannon will be presenting at #GlobalAccess2015

Posted on January 21, 2015 by Dr. G

Shannon will be leading a workshop on The Special Needs of Foster and Adoptive Families and leading a roundtable discussion on What are some practical implications of the verse “Blessed are the nations whose God is the Lord?”
Continue reading →

Posted in Adoption, Families, Foster Care, Inclusion, Key Ministry, Training Events | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Please don’t say “all kids do that” to adoptive and foster families…

Posted on January 20, 2015 by Dr. G

But when foster or adoptive parents like me hear that, it feels dismissive to the real grief, pain, and trauma our kids have experienced and how that history still influences their actions today. Usually when someone tells another parent “all kids do that,” the words are meant to be helpful, to soothe our nerves or encourage us in the midst of a hard parenting moment. But that’s not what your words do. Instead those words invalidate what we know to be true and minimize the extra layer of thinking that parenting kids from hard places requires. Continue reading →

Posted in Adoption, Families, Foster Care, Key Ministry, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 75 Comments

The elephant in the living room…Sin, mental illness and the church

Posted on January 16, 2015 by Dr. G

We appear to be far more interested in (and comfortable with) outreach to kids, teens and adults who we view as having little or no moral culpability for their disabilities. Continue reading →

Posted in Controversies, Families, Inclusion, Key Ministry, Mental Health, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

HIV and other blood-borne pathogens in children’s ministry…Shannon Dingle

Posted on January 11, 2015 by Dr. G

So what should you do if there’s a child with HIV in your church? The same thing you should do otherwise: use best practices for first aid and show love to the child and parents. Continue reading →

Posted in Adoption, Controversies, Families, Hidden Disabilities, Inclusion, Key Ministry | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments