Tag Archives: children’s ministry

When should a family seek professional help for their child?

Pastors and ministry leaders are often the first resources parents turn to for advice when their child is in the midst of a significant emotional or behavioral crisis. I’m going to periodically post resources here to help church staff get parents pointed in the right direction when they’re seeking the right help for their kids.

When a parent calls me, the very first question I try to help them answer is whether their child needs professional help. I’ll do that by asking the parent the following series of questions:
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Autism, Vaccines and Dr. Wakefield…follow-up

While we don’t want disagreements over the causes and treatments of common emotional, behavioral or developmental disorders to distract us from our primary goal, children’s and student ministry leaders should have a solid understanding of current assessment and treatment methods. Continue reading

Posted in Autism, Key Ministry | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

All I Want For Christmas: Online Church Campuses for Families of Kids With “Issues”

Technology affords us incredible opportunities to “rethink” how we’re sharing the Gospel with families impacted by disabilities. Continue reading

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

Counting the Cost…Is the Church Ready to Support Families Who Adopt?

Is the church prepared to provide the resources and supports families called to this ministry will need to maintain their current level of church involvement and effectively shepherd their kids in the Christian faith? Continue reading

Posted in Adoption, Families, Hidden Disabilities, Inclusion, Key Ministry, Resources | Tagged , , , , , | 9 Comments

Are We Providing a Service or Leading a Movement? (Part One)

When I look for evidence that we’re engaged in a “God thing,” one of the strongest affirmations I see that we’re barking up the right tree is the way that God is moving through so many of His followers in different places, with different gifts and in different church traditions to minister to families of kids who have been impacted by disabilities, primarily “hidden disabilities.” Continue reading

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Defining the Win

A win for Key Ministry occurs whenever a child with a hidden disability or their family experiences a meaningful connection with their larger family in Christ through a local church. Continue reading

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One Family’s Story: Rebecca and Jamie Adam…following up

As a church we really need to emphasize the importance of that child’s faith over any outward behavior. Not every child has the ability to sit quietly for an entire sermon or look and act appropriately in front of adults, but every child has the ability to have a loving relationship with Jesus. Continue reading

Posted in ADHD, Autism, Families, Hidden Disabilities, Inclusion, Key Ministry, Parents, Spiritual Development, Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

One Family’s Story: Rebecca and Jaime Adam

I needed so desperately to hear from the church that these children were a gift, wonderfully designed by God and that it wasn’t my fault. Continue reading

Posted in ADHD, Autism, Families, Hidden Disabilities, Inclusion, Key Ministry, Parents, Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

ADHD and Spiritual Development: Tying it All Together

What if God allows some kids and adults to have ADHD so that He might use their condition to connect them to their larger family in Christ? What if he created them with a unique set of traits and abilities to carry out a special role on His team?
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Posted in ADHD, Families, Hidden Disabilities, Inclusion, Key Ministry, Ministry Environments, Parents, Spiritual Development, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Barb Dittrich: My ADHD Sundays

Do we sit down front where she is more engaged or sit in the back where fewer people see and judge our parenting skills? Wherever we are seated, she must be sandwiched between her father and I so that no physical tussles with siblings recur. Continue reading

Posted in ADHD, Families, Hidden Disabilities, Key Ministry, Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments