Author Archives: Dr. G

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About Dr. G

Dr. Stephen Grcevich serves as President and Founder of Key Ministry, a non-profit organization providing free training, consultation, resources and support to help churches serve families of children with disabilities. Dr. Grcevich is a graduate of Northeastern Ohio Medical University (NEOMED), trained in General Psychiatry at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation and in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at University Hospitals of Cleveland/Case Western Reserve University. He is a faculty member in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at two medical schools, leads a group practice in suburban Cleveland (Family Center by the Falls), and continues to be involved in research evaluating the safety and effectiveness of medications prescribed to children for ADHD, anxiety and depression. He is a past recipient of the Exemplary Psychiatrist Award from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Dr. Grcevich was recently recognized by Sharecare as one of the top ten online influencers in children’s mental health. His blog for Key Ministry, www.church4everychild.org was ranked fourth among the top 100 children's ministry blogs in 2015 by Ministry to Children.

Five Tips for Special Needs Ministry Leaders…Beth Golik

Posted on November 10, 2014 by Dr. G

Here are five tips and techniques that, in my experience, are key to get you started and keep you moving and growing. Continue reading →

Posted in Inclusion, Inclusion Fusion, Key Ministry, Resources, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Barb Newman…Why is inclusion important in Christian Schools?

Posted on November 10, 2014 by Dr. G

What, then, does inclusion look like? At CLC Network, we believe it means ownership and friendship. The general education classroom “owns” the student with the disability and each student is assigned a place of belonging within the general education setting. Continue reading →

Posted in Inclusion, Inclusion Fusion, Key Ministry, Ministry Environments, Spiritual Development, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The prayers of our people…#KMIF14

Posted on November 9, 2014 by Dr. G

Can you find a few minutes to pray for some of these requests from those who plan to attend Inclusion Fusion during the coming week? Continue reading →

Posted in Inclusion Fusion, Key Ministry | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

I love adoption, but…

Posted on November 9, 2014 by Dr. G

When we say yes as a church to caring about vulnerable children and families, let’s also say yes to talking about related challenges too. Continue reading →

Posted in Adoption, Families, Foster Care, Inclusion, Key Ministry, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 22 Comments

A place like no other…Tracy Terrill

Posted on November 8, 2014 by Dr. G

SC is a postsecondary school designed for people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. It is one of a kind – a place like no other. Continue reading →

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Joe Butler…Connecting with families in your community

Posted on November 7, 2014 by Dr. G

It’s not about starting a “special needs ministry,” as much as it’s about changing your philosophy of ministry to include families affected by special needs into the life of your church. Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Families, Inclusion, Inclusion Fusion, Key Ministry, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

When it’s scary to say yes…

Posted on November 6, 2014 by Dr. G

If we ask families in our churches to say yes to adoption, then we need to be ready to say yes to those families and their children if they need support after their yes leads to unexpected challenges. Continue reading →

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

Mental health recovery and the role of the church…Joe Padilla

Posted on November 5, 2014 by Dr. G

If you approach your pastor by saying you want to “start a ministry for mental illness,” they immediately start thinking: money, people (leaders), building space, and then they are naturally flooded with “stigma” concerns regarding liability (remember they do not have a full understanding … yet).

We need to take a different approach that doesn’t overwhelm the pastor. Instead, let’s invite them into a new process of understanding and the implementation of practical support that will not overwhelm church resources. Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Families, Inclusion Fusion, Mental Health, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

To love adoptive and foster families, (5) be willing to listen and learn.

Posted on November 4, 2014 by Dr. G

Listen to the challenges we encounter as adoptive and foster families, such as being conspicuous in public due to adopting or fostering a child of a different race, considering dissolution or disruption of a child’s placement within our family in favor of another family who might be better equipped to meet the child’s needs, losing friends or family who don’t agree with our choice to adopt or foster, and struggling with the special needs of our child, whether known before placement or presenting as a surprise post-placement. Continue reading →

Posted in Adoption, Controversies, Families, Foster Care, Key Ministry, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

A small church doing big things…Ellen Stumbo

Posted on November 3, 2014 by Dr. G

If a mom is sitting in the foyer with a child, we make sure that mom is not sitting on her own, because what is the point of going to church if you sit alone in the foyer trying to keep your child calm from the overwhelming stimulation of church? Sometimes, some of the best conversations happen in the foyer, or walking around the church parking lot pushing wheelchairs. Continue reading →

Posted in Families, Inclusion, Inclusion Fusion, Key Ministry, Ministry Environments, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments