Tag 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

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

Interview With Chuck and Colleen Swindoll…Part Two

Yesterday, we shared Part One of an interview Katie Wetherbee conducted with Chuck Swindoll and his daughter Colleen for last fall’s Inclusion Fusion in which they discussed the different ways in which their family had been impacted by having a child (Jonathan) with autism. Here’s Part Two of the interview, followed by the content of the guest blog Colleen wrote last year for Autism Awareness Day…
Continue reading

Posted in Autism, Families, Hidden Disabilities, Inclusion, Key Ministry, Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Autism Awareness Day 2012…Chuck and Colleen Swindoll

In honor of Autism Awareness Day, we’d like to share an interview conducted by Katie Wetherbee in which Chuck and Colleen spoke at length about the impact of Jonathan’s disability on their family, how his presence in the family has been a blessing, and how Jonathan has helped Chuck become more effective in his ministry to people with disabilities. Here’s Part One of the interview…We’ll share Part Two tomorrow.
Continue reading

Posted in Autism, Families, Inclusion Fusion, Key Ministry, Spiritual Development, Stories | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Spiritual Growth Challenges for Kids With Asperger’s Disorder

We spent time this past week reviewing the criteria used to diagnose Asperger’s Disorder, and looked at some of the challenges kids with Asperger’s experience as a result of other conditions frequently associated with the disorder. Today, we’ll use this information to anticipate the obstacles to spiritual growth kids with the condition are likely to encounter.
Continue reading

Posted in Autism, Key Ministry, Resources, Spiritual Development | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments