Category Archives: Autism

Ministry Resources From Mike Woods for Kids With Autism

We’ve been fortunate to enjoy the benefits of Mike Woods’ wisdom and experience during his recent guest blog series for Autism Awareness Month. Mike’s truly a thought leader in the field of disability ministry, but a humble thought leader. When we first discussed his guest blog series, I’d asked him to put together a post with links to many of the excellent web-based resources he’s developed for church staff, volunteers and parents for serving kids with special needs. Mike seemed a little reluctant to blow his own horn, so I thought I’d share links to some resources Mike has developed that church staff and volunteers might find especially valuable in ministering to kids with autism spectrum disorders and their families…
Continue reading

Posted in Autism, Inclusion, Resources, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Strategies For Promoting Spiritual Growth in Kids With Asperger’s Disorder

Today, we’ll look at potential strategies for promoting spiritual growth in kids with Asperger’s and speculate about ways in which the condition might provide advantages to a Christ-follower.
Continue reading

Posted in Autism, Inclusion, Key Ministry, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mike Woods: Giving Unconditional Worth to Children on the Autism Spectrum

In my previous post I discussed the important of human engagement with children and adults with autism in an effort to develop relationships. Our goal is to bring a nurturing spirit into the special needs volunteer/child relationship…one that is characterized by genuine warmth, mutual respect, and unconditional worth. In order to facilitate these relational characteristics it is essential to maximize the use of giving unconditional worth.

Unconditional worth refers to any action on the part of the special needs staff/volunteer that recognizes and expresses the dignity, worth, and value of the child.
Continue reading

Posted in Autism, Inclusion, Key Ministry, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mike Woods: Human Engagement and Children on the Autism Spectrum

We’re pleased to share with you the third installment in Mike Woods series of guest posts in honor of Autism Awareness Month. Mike currently serves as Special Needs Ministry Director at First Baptist Church of Orlando. For more info on Mike, click here. Today’s post addresses the importance of providing comfort to children and adults with autism spectrum disorders and the theologic foundation to his ministry’s approach to relationships with persons who have special needs.
Continue reading

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

Tips for Church Staff and Volunteers Serving Kids With Asperger’s Disorder

We’ve looked at some of the common characteristics of kids with Asperger’s Disorder along with the impediments they face to spiritual growth and the obstacles parents of kids with the condition face when attempting to “do church.” Today, we’ll get very practical and explore some helpful hints for church staff and volunteers involved in serving kids with Asperger’s. Continue reading

Posted in Autism, Inclusion, Key Ministry, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Mike Woods: C3: Comfort, Confirm, Challenge…Part Two

Christianity is about entering into relationships with people…to include children with autism and other special needs. And in order to be able to do that, it’s important to be familiar with how Jesus, the Master of developing relationships, interacted with people. That’s why we use what I call the C3 model: Comfort, Confirm, Challenge that’s based on His interactions with people with disabilities. Continue reading

Posted in Autism, Inclusion, Resources, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

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

Posted in Autism, Inclusion, Resources, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

More Resources for Autism Awareness Month

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

Posted in Autism, Inclusion, Resources | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

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

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