Category Archives: Hidden Disabilities

The Special Needs Ministry App…Mike Woods

Posted on October 26, 2012 by Dr. G

The primary way that I hope parents will make use of our app is as a daily or weekly resource for encouragement and for ideas to nurture their child’s faith. Parents of children with special needs are b-u-s-y! The goal is not to engage parents to do all things related to strengthening their child’s faith! The app is designed to support parents in discovering one small thing that they can do, one small step that they can take to help their child become who God wants them to be. Continue reading →

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Faces of the Movement…Nick Palermo

Posted on October 18, 2012 by Dr. G

What is the culture of kids with disabilities? What are their unique needs? The family’s unique needs? Why has the church been so hesitant to respond? And specifically when 20 % of the teen population has some form of a disability why don’t we see them represented in our youth ministries? How could they fit in to our communities? What it would like? Continue reading →

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Faces of the Movement…Bryan Roe

Posted on October 15, 2012 by Dr. G

When I reached middle school, my tics were so bad so overmedicated that I began to wonder, If God is so loving, why would he give me this? I also began to wonder if he could possibly have a plan for a person like me. This caused a massive cloud of depression and doubt to set in until one night, contemplating suicide, I prayed an honest prayer of surrender. From there, everything changed. Continue reading →

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The ENGAGE Conference…Downloads Available

Posted on October 3, 2012 by Dr. G

I’ll present three workshops next month at the ENGAGE Children’s Ministry Training Event, graciously hosted by the Central Pennsylvania Children’s Ministry Network at West Shore Evangelical Church in Mechanicsburg (near Harrisburg) PA, on Friday, November 9th and Saturday, November 10th.
Continue reading →

Posted in ADHD, Anxiety Disorders, Autism, Hidden Disabilities, Inclusion, Key Ministry, Resources, Training Events | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Faces of the Movement: Ben Conner (Part Two)

Posted on October 2, 2012 by Dr. G

On another level, I love to share in Bible study and prayer with kids with disabilities and I think they should all be included in the major weekly event of our congregations, Sunday worship. Continue reading →

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Faces of the Movement: Ben Conner

Posted on September 30, 2012 by Dr. G

So my strategy is to go where kids with developmental disabilities gather or are gathered: Buddy sports programs, help out at a local school, volunteer at a therapeutic horse riding facility, get involved in Special Olympics, or even have someone from your church start a program, like an assisted art program, that supports that community. When you reach out in love to kids with developmental disabilities you will also being serving their families. Continue reading →

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Book Review: Amplifying Our Witness by Ben Conner

Posted on September 24, 2012 by Dr. G

In Ben’s book, he advocates for a “practice-centered” approach to discipleship of teens and young adults with developmental disabilities. Through including adolescents with developmental disabilities in traditional Christian practices (worship, hospitality, prayer, friendship) involving participation in a community of faith, a transformative effect on spiritual development can occur based upon intuition and impression that doesn’t necessarily correspond to our understanding of intellectual or psychosocial development. Continue reading →

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Can disabilities be disabling in some places, but not others?

Posted on August 30, 2012 by Dr. G

What do we do when folks need accommodations in order to consistently attend church and participate in activities that facilitate spiritual growth but function relatively well at home, at work or in school? Continue reading →

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Three things that I think…

Posted on August 8, 2012 by Dr. G

The adoption movement is going to provide a major impetus to the development of comprehensive disability ministry in churches that haven’t yet been intentional about including kids with disabilities and their families. As churches seek to support families who adopt children with disabilities, their awareness of the needs of families outside of the church will continue to grow. Continue reading →

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Is it OK for churches to NOT have an identified disability ministry?

Posted on June 24, 2012 by Dr. G

Your church doesn’t have to have a disability ministry to “do” disability ministry. Continue reading →

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