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.

Guest Blogger Mike Woods: C3: COMFORT, Confirm, Challenge

Posted on April 10, 2012 by Dr. G

One of the primary outcomes for each team member in our Special Friends Ministry is to develop relationships with each and every child and adult with special needs that we minister to. The process that we use to develop a relationship is called C3 (Comfort, Confirm, Challenge) and is derived from the many interactions between Jesus and people with disabilties in the Gospels. Continue reading →

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More Resources for Autism Awareness Month

Posted on April 9, 2012 by Dr. G

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. Continue reading →

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Applying a Family-Based Ministry Model When Kids Have Asperger’s Disorder

Posted on April 8, 2012 by Dr. G

So…If the parent(s) are the “experts” when it comes to individualizing strategies to promote spiritual development in kids with Asperger’s, what’s the role for the church? Continue reading →

Posted in Autism, Families, Inclusion, Key Ministry, Spiritual Development, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Asperger’s Disorder…Barriers to Inclusion at Church

Posted on April 5, 2012 by Dr. G

Last Sunday, we examined some of the challenges to spiritual growth kids with Asperger’s Disorder are likely to encounter. Today, we’ll focus our attention more specifically on barriers to inclusion of kids with Asperger’s at church.
Continue reading →

Posted in Autism, Inclusion, Resources | Tagged , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Interview With Chuck and Colleen Swindoll…Part Two

Posted on April 3, 2012 by Dr. G

Yesterday, we shared Part One of an interview Katie Wetherbee conducted with Chuck Swindoll and his daughter Colleen for last fall’s Inclusion Fusion in which they discussed the different ways in which their family had been impacted by having a child (Jonathan) with autism. Here’s Part Two of the interview, followed by the content of the guest blog Colleen wrote last year for Autism Awareness Day…
Continue reading →

Posted in Autism, Families, Hidden Disabilities, Inclusion, Key Ministry, Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Autism Awareness Day 2012…Chuck and Colleen Swindoll

Posted on April 2, 2012 by Dr. G

In honor of Autism Awareness Day, we’d like to share an interview conducted by Katie Wetherbee in which Chuck and Colleen spoke at length about the impact of Jonathan’s disability on their family, how his presence in the family has been a blessing, and how Jonathan has helped Chuck become more effective in his ministry to people with disabilities. Here’s Part One of the interview…We’ll share Part Two tomorrow.
Continue reading →

Posted in Autism, Families, Inclusion Fusion, Key Ministry, Spiritual Development, Stories | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Spiritual Growth Challenges for Kids With Asperger’s Disorder

Posted on April 1, 2012 by Dr. G

We spent time this past week reviewing the criteria used to diagnose Asperger’s Disorder, and looked at some of the challenges kids with Asperger’s experience as a result of other conditions frequently associated with the disorder. Today, we’ll use this information to anticipate the obstacles to spiritual growth kids with the condition are likely to encounter.
Continue reading →

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Downloads and Free Registration for the Children’s Ministry Websummit

Posted on March 31, 2012 by Dr. G

Just a reminder…my video presentation on our current blog series, Square Pegs and Round Holes…Helping Kids With Asperger’s Disorder and Social Disabilities Grow Spiritually, will be available online from April 2-6 as part of the 2012 Children’s Ministry Websummit.
Continue reading →

Posted in Hidden Disabilities, Inclusion, Key Ministry, Spiritual Development, Training Events | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Top Posts From Q1 2012

Posted on March 30, 2012 by Dr. G

I’m grateful for the interest shown in all three of our “official” Key Ministry blogs. Along with Church4EveryChild, Harmony Hensley’s blog-A Reckless Pursuit and Katie Wetherbee’s blog-Diving For Pearls have been featured on the Wordpress Blogs of the Day feature. Katie’s blog alone has had over 200,000 page views in the first quarter of 2012! Continue reading →

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More Stuff You Should Know About Kids With Asperger’s Disorder

Posted on March 29, 2012 by Dr. G

This past Tuesday, we reviewed the diagnostic criteria for Asperger’s Disorder and emphasized the notion that the unique pattern of strengths and weaknesses seen in kids with the disorder complicates efforts to serve them programmatically. We’ll continue our discussion today by examining three additional characteristics of many kids with Asperger’s that often complicate their ability to participate in activities at church.
Continue reading →

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