Tag Archives: church

Don’t tell me your church’s theology is sound if my family isn’t welcome…Shannon Dingle

I wouldn’t expect any new church to be fully equipped with how to support our family if we wanted to join. But I would expect, hope, wish, pray that they would be willing to love us enough to try to learn. Continue reading

Posted in Advocacy, Inclusion, Key Ministry | Tagged , , , , , | 25 Comments

Lorna Bradley…Special Needs Parenting: From Coping to Thriving

Throughout the years I have seen healing of deeply held emotional and spiritual wounds through coming together in a supportive, welcoming Christian community and working through our challenges together. Continue reading

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What if medication is a tool that helps us resist sin?

Could we argue that medication (or other treatment) that enhances our ability to avoid sin or to do good might be a useful tool for the individual Christian? Further, could we argue that the decision to take medication under such circumstances is God-honoring? Continue reading

Posted in ADHD, Anxiety Disorders, Bipolar Disorder, Controversies, Key Ministry, Mental Health | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Including Kids and Teens With Mental Illness in the Church and Community…#globalaccess2015

Here’s the Slideshare of Dr. Grcevich’s presentation today at the 2015 Global Access Conference, presented by Joni and Friends…Including Kids and Teens With Mental Illness in the Church and Community. Continue reading

Posted in ADHD, Advocacy, Anxiety Disorders, Autism, Bipolar Disorder, Families, Hidden Disabilities, Inclusion, Key Ministry, Training Events | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Matt Walsh, responsibility, stigma and ADHD

There might be people with legitimate disorders who get labeled with this one, but this one, this specific thing we refer to as ADHD, is a godforsaken lie. Continue reading

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Shannon Dingle…Why do you keep writing about how broken kids in foster or adoptive placements are?

But I also want to make sure we’re telling the whole story. I’m not saying “don’t adopt” or “stop it with those memes” but rather standing in the gap between Hallmark movie versions of adoption/foster care and the hard realities that sometimes persist after placement. Continue reading

Posted in Adoption, Advocacy, Controversies, Foster Care, Key Ministry, Training Events | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 27 Comments

Unintended consequences…Sin, mental illness and the church

The research appears to suggest that we have a lot of people within the church who struggle with emotional distress who have been badly hurt by their interactions with pastors, church staff, counselors and the reactions of fellow believers. Clearly, there’s an established perception among the majority outside the church that those struggling with more serious or chronic mental health concerns won’t be welcome at church…and that’s a very big problem when it comes to fulfilling Christ’s command to make disciples. Continue reading

Posted in Advocacy, Controversies, Families, Hidden Disabilities, Inclusion, Key Ministry, Mental Health | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

When Our “Can’t” Overwhelms Our “Can”…Mike Dobes

Why are the very overseers of the Church reluctant to bring the Gospel to all people, regardless of their disability? In truth, we are all disabled… some of us just hide our disabilities better than others. How do we keep missing an entire people group that is waiting to be heard, loved, accepted and embraced as they are? Continue reading

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Does love heal all wounds from childhood trauma?

In other words, church, we have a great opportunity to love those affected by trauma! The need is great. Kids are hurting. Adults are too. Families are struggling. And the first step in being able to help is understanding the need. Jesus met people where they were, and so can we. Continue reading

Posted in Adoption, Advocacy, Foster Care, Hidden Disabilities, Key Ministry, PTSD | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Jay Adams and the foundations of a movement…

It’s important for our readers to understand how central Adams has been in impacting how pastors from evangelical and reformed traditions think about mental illness and pastoral counseling. Continue reading

Posted in Hidden Disabilities, Key Ministry, Mental Health, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments