Category Archives: Families

Four challenges of leading disability ministry as a special needs parent…Shannon Dingle

Posted on March 24, 2015 by Dr. G

If the parent of a child with special needs wants to serve or lead in disability ministry at your church, don’t say no. But do ask some questions out of love, knowing that these parents willing to serve also need to be served too. Continue reading →

Posted in Families, Key Ministry, Leadership, Parents, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Lorna Bradley…Special Needs Parenting: From Coping to Thriving

Posted on March 15, 2015 by Dr. G

Throughout the years I have seen healing of deeply held emotional and spiritual wounds through coming together in a supportive, welcoming Christian community and working through our challenges together. Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Families, Key Ministry, Resources, Spiritual Development, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Drop Box: Opening TODAY and showing March 3, 4, and 5 nationwide

Posted on March 3, 2015 by Dr. G

It’s a worldwide heart issue! No parent should feel like their only option is to discard a child, and no child should be treated as anything less than deeply valuable. Continue reading →

Posted in Adoption, Advocacy, Families, Foster Care, Key Ministry, Resources, Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

What about them? Karen Jackson of Faith Inclusion Network

Posted on February 26, 2015 by Dr. G

My daughter did have a place in a church now, but what about all those other families affected by disability? What about them? Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Families, Inclusion, Intellectual Disabilities, Resources, Training Events | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Including Kids and Teens With Mental Illness in the Church and Community…#globalaccess2015

Posted on February 20, 2015 by Dr. G

Here’s the Slideshare of Dr. Grcevich’s presentation today at the 2015 Global Access Conference, presented by Joni and Friends…Including Kids and Teens With Mental Illness in the Church and Community. Continue reading →

Posted in ADHD, Advocacy, Anxiety Disorders, Autism, Bipolar Disorder, Families, Hidden Disabilities, Inclusion, Key Ministry, Training Events | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Disability ministry has captivated my heart…Bekah Behnke

Posted on February 6, 2015 by Dr. G

Disability ministry has not only stolen my heart, but also captivated it. There is not a time in my life that I was not surrounded by God’s beauty shining through my friends with disabilities. Continue reading →

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Unintended consequences…Sin, mental illness and the church

Posted on February 5, 2015 by Dr. G

The research appears to suggest that we have a lot of people within the church who struggle with emotional distress who have been badly hurt by their interactions with pastors, church staff, counselors and the reactions of fellow believers. Clearly, there’s an established perception among the majority outside the church that those struggling with more serious or chronic mental health concerns won’t be welcome at church…and that’s a very big problem when it comes to fulfilling Christ’s command to make disciples. Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Controversies, Families, Hidden Disabilities, Inclusion, Key Ministry, Mental Health | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 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 →

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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