Category Archives: Hidden Disabilities

It’s the hidden disabilities that keep kids out of church

Posted on July 23, 2018 by

The study found that the children most likely to be excluded from church are those with autism spectrum disorders and common mental health conditions – anxiety, depression, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Conduct Disorder and ADHD. Continue reading →

Posted in Autism, Hidden Disabilities, Inclusion, Key Ministry, Mental Health, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Eight things I think about the suicide epidemic

Posted on June 11, 2018 by

Here are eight thoughts for church leaders and my fellow Christians to consider in making sense  of the suicide epidemic. Continue reading →

Posted in Hidden Disabilities, Key Ministry, Mental Health | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Join Kelly Rosati, Amy Simpson, Kay Warren and myself for a Twitter chat on youth mental health

Posted on May 6, 2018 by

I’d like to invite our readers to join with me, along with Kelly Rosati, Amy Simpson and Kay Warren on Tuesday, May 8th at 2:00 PM Eastern time for a Twitter chat designed to encourage pastors, ministry leaders and key volunteers to consider how they can be involved in addressing the epidemic of mental illness in children and teens. Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Hidden Disabilities, Key Ministry, Mental Health | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

How a hidden disability kept one family from church

Posted on December 18, 2017 by

Some friends in a like-minded ministry have produced a wonderful video that illustrates the challenges one family impacted by a hidden disability experienced in maintaining their involvement at church. Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Hidden Disabilities, Key Ministry, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The rising tide of mental health ministry in the church

Posted on October 23, 2017 by

Dr. G takes a closer look at ministry resources offered by Fresh Hope, shares an amazing testimony from Colleen Swindoll-Thompson and a video describing Key Ministry’s model for mental health inclusion ministry. Continue reading →

Posted in Hidden Disabilities, Key Ministry, Mental Health, Training Events | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The mental health crisis among persons with autism

Posted on October 8, 2017 by

Perhaps one of the reasons the church has struggled to effectively minister with many persons with autism spectrum disorders is that we don’t do a very good job of welcoming and including children and adults with mental health-related challenges common among persons with autism?  Continue reading →

Posted in Autism, Hidden Disabilities, Key Ministry, Mental Health, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Refiner’s Fire

Posted on July 17, 2017 by

I began to study what the Bible has to say about suffering and discovered it is more of a gift than I ever understood before. Continue reading →

Posted in Families, Hidden Disabilities, Key Ministry, Mental Health, Resources, Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Is past experience of church a barrier for persons with mental illness and their families?

Posted on March 6, 2017 by

I suspect that past experiences of church may be a major barrier to current church involvement for many adults with a history of mental illness or parents of children or teens with significant mental health conditions. Continue reading →

Posted in Hidden Disabilities, Key Ministry, Mental Health, Stories, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

We’re starting a new group for leaders in mental health inclusion ministry

Posted on January 30, 2017 by

Our crew at Key Ministry is starting a Facebook group for leaders interested in advancing the cause of mental health inclusion ministry. Continue reading →

Posted in Hidden Disabilities, Inclusion, Key Ministry, Leadership, Mental Health | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

A different way of looking at mental health ministry

Posted on November 21, 2016 by

I left feeling very encouraged that the Lord is raising up like-minded people in many different places to champion the development of mental health inclusion ministry as he is doing for special needs ministry. Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Hidden Disabilities, Inclusion, Key Ministry, Mental Health, Training Events | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment