Category Archives: Key Ministry

A look at who we serve…

Posted on September 7, 2014 by Dr. G

Having a family member with special needs affects church attendance in the following ways: 46% have troubles attending church; 28% don’t attend or have given up attending; 11% of families attend services separately, with one parent staying home to manage the child while the other heads to church; 15% said they had no troubles with church attendance. Continue reading →

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Back to school…Libby Peterson

Posted on September 2, 2014 by Dr. G

Some of the best preparation we can give our kids for the new school year might be…not new clothes, but a renewed sense of self as we remind them that they are chosen by the God of the Universe to belong to HIM, clothed in righteousness, and that God loves them no matter what! Continue reading →

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Final Call for Speakers…Inclusion Fusion 2014

Posted on September 1, 2014 by Dr. G

We’re getting close to the deadline for submissions…pastors, ministry leaders, professionals or family members who wish to be part of our faculty. We need completed submissions by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on Monday, September 7th. Continue reading →

Posted in Inclusion Fusion, Key Ministry, Training Events | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

How one good deed turned into the Heart of Rock and Roll…Shane Geisheimer

Posted on August 28, 2014 by Dr. G

We share their team’s story to illustrate that special events like a Prom aren’t limited to megachurches with vast facilities and thousands of potential volunteers…the vision for this event came from five young adults in a small church located in an economically disadvantaged area of the region. Continue reading →

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

AWANA Conference Presentations on Slideshare…

Posted on August 24, 2014 by Dr. G

The most common message communicated to me during and after the conference was…”You’ve really made me think.” Please join me in praying that every leader in attendance yesterday will welcome one kid and one family to their Awana ministry as an outcome of our conference.
Continue reading →

Posted in ADHD, Anxiety Disorders, Families, Hidden Disabilities, Inclusion, Key Ministry, Resources, Training Events | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Kimberlie Zakarian…When an invisible disability meets pediatric bipolar disorder

Posted on August 21, 2014 by Dr. G

During those times, not one person from the church we were at came to visit or pray with me. My guess is that they perhaps did not know how to handle mental illness. Walking those early years alone as a parent of a child with bipolarity led to depression and trauma on my part. This is the trauma many parents of children with hidden disabilities endure. Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Bipolar Disorder, Families, Key Ministry, Mental Health, Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Cleveland rocks!

Posted on August 17, 2014 by Dr. G

The Heart of Rock and Roll Prom is a wonderful example of how churches without limitless resources can come together to provide a great experience for individuals with disabilities while promoting awareness of their needs in the communities they serve.
Continue reading →

Posted in Intellectual Disabilities, Key Ministry, Stories, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Why I’m a little unsettled by the blowback against Matt Walsh…

Posted on August 14, 2014 by Dr. G

It’s impossible for any of us to judge whether what Matt Walsh said without walking in Robin Williams’ shoes was accurate…and his words were certainly insensitive. But I also sense a frightening trend in society to shame or silence people (or organizations) with views that are unpopular in the moment. Continue reading →

Posted in Controversies, Depression, Inclusion, Key Ministry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Any parents of kids with disabilities interested in an online small group?

Posted on August 12, 2014 by Dr. G

Dr. Steve Grcevich recently contacted me with the idea of offering an online format for parent support via videoconferencing. This is a great opportunity to offer a community of support to parents who otherwise would not have access via a more traditional face to face group Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Families, Key Ministry, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The relationship between depressed mood and church attendance

Posted on August 10, 2014 by Dr. G

While many experts in the mental health or Christian counseling fields acknowledge the mental health benefits of a vital faith, this data appears to represent a signal that self-reported symptoms associated with anxiety or depression may be significant barriers to church attendance. Continue reading →

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