Tag Archives: Disability Ministry

If churches knew how many people mental illness impacts, they’d be more interested in reaching them

The segment of the population impacted by disability, especially families impacted by mental illness, trauma and developmental disabilities, would in my mind represent the ultimate “low-hanging fruit” for local churches Continue reading

Posted in ADHD, Anxiety Disorders, Bipolar Disorder, Depression, Families, Hidden Disabilities, Mental Health, Resources | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The secret to launching a missional special needs ministry

But BIG is not always better…or most effective for creating a missional movement into the disability community. Continue reading

Posted in Inclusion, Key Ministry, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

What’s causing the epidemic of mental illness in kids?

Here are some of my hypotheses as to why over 20% of U.S. kids meet criteria for at least one mental disorder: Continue reading

Posted in Key Ministry, Mental Health | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Common mental health conditions can be MAJOR barriers to church involvement

It’s particularly difficult to understand why parents who might be able to maintain a job and a household or kids who are able to school without one-on-one aides or lots of support services aren’t able to attend church. I’ll try to explain why in today’s post…and give churches a conceptual framework for anticipating the obstacles kids and adults might experience in attending church and addressing them so they no longer remain obstacles.
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Posted in Anxiety Disorders, Autism, Families, Hidden Disabilities, Inclusion, Key Ministry, Mental Health, Ministry Environments, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

This week at The Front Door…

We’re also beginning the practice of having regular worship hours three evenings each week, supported by wonderful hosts who have agreed to be available to our attendees for chat and prayer at the same worship hour every week. Continue reading

Posted in Advocacy, Anxiety Disorders, Families, Inclusion, Key Ministry, Resources | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Thinking “Orange”: Things every kids need…with or without disabilities

All of the needs listed above tend to be more acute for kids with disabilities and their siblings, and parents of kids with disabilities have fewer places to go outside of the church where they can receive help in meeting those needs. Continue reading

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Thinking Orange…Partnering with parents when kids have disabilities

More so than with parents in the general population, church leaders may need to do more to earn the right to partner with parents from families affected by disabilities. Continue reading

Posted in ADHD, Anxiety Disorders, Autism, Bipolar Disorder, Hidden Disabilities, Inclusion, Key Ministry, Resources, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Thinking Orange: Supporting the family’s role in spiritual development when kids have disabilities…

How are the kids in the family supposed to come to know and love Jesus if we’re not prepared to welcome the parents to church…and all the other activities at church we’ve found to be helpful in facilitating spiritual growth?
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Who knew? Guest blogger Denise Schamens

I asked him if he wanted to talk about God. He spelled out “yes.” I asked if he understood what it means to be baptized? He spelled out “it means to accept Jesus into your heart.” Continue reading

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

Today’s worship schedule at The Front Door…

Here’s the schedule for worship on Sunday April 27th at The Front Door, Key Ministry’s Online Church for families of kids with disabilities who are otherwise unable to attend church. Continue reading

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