Tag Archives: Family Ministry

Chuck Swindoll talks about autism…

Chuck 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 him become more effective in his ministry to people with disabilities. Continue reading

Posted in Advocacy, Autism, Families, Hidden Disabilities, Inclusion Fusion, Key Ministry, Leadership, Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Key Strategy #3…Expanding the circle

As Key Ministry grows and develops additional partners, we’ll be intentional in cultivating relationships with other leaders throughout the church. Continue reading

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Not Alone

Not Alone is a collaboration of parents of kids with special needs, writing for other parents of kids with special needs from a Christian perspective. Many parents involved in the project have become widely read authors in their own right. All have firsthand experience with the struggles involved in raising children with disabilities. They seek to provide a place where parents with similar challenges can “do life” together.
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Does depression result from a lack of faith?

Isn’t it possible, perhaps likely that God might use our suffering to strengthen our faith and to draw us into closer relationship with Him? Continue reading

Posted in Depression, Families, Mental Health, Spiritual Development | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

If this were your kid, would you give them an antidepressant?

First, I’d point out that the potential benefits of medication appear to outweigh the potential risks, especially for kids with anxiety, but in my experience the risk of an increase in suicidal thoughts/behavior associated with antidepressant medication appears to be greater than zero. In fact, if I had to guess, the risk may be a little higher than what the data has led us to believe up to now. Continue reading

Posted in Depression, Key Ministry, Mental Health | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

“Thinking Orange”…A Parent’s Perspective-Mike Woods

I could list a handful of wonderful gifts that you give my children by providing a special needs ministry. Today, however, I’d like to share with you four wonderful gifts that you bless my wife Linda and I with by providing a special needs ministry to our children and by being a welcoming church: Continue reading

Posted in Autism, Families, Hidden Disabilities, Inclusion, Key Ministry, Parents | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for kids with depression…pros and cons

The kids I treat are prone to what one of our therapists refers to as “stinking thinking”…automatic, irrational thoughts pop into their heads in the course of day-to- day living that trigger negative emotions and lead to patterns of self-defeating behavior. These patterns of self-defeating behaviors often reinforce their cognitive misperceptions and lead to a downward spiral resulting in symptoms of anxiety, depression, and sometimes, suicidal thoughts or plans. Continue reading

Posted in Depression, Families, Key Ministry, Mental Health, Resources | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 25 Comments

What if Mom is depressed?

But for the sake of this discussion, it appears that in examining depression as a specific disability, regular involvement of either the child or the parent with depression at church not only produces spiritual benefits, but actually helps reduce the risk for the condition itself. Continue reading

Posted in Depression, Families, Hidden Disabilities, Inclusion, Key Ministry, Mental Health, Resources, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Church…A Hostile Environment? (Part Two) Harmony Hensley

I would encourage you to take a two pronged approach to making your church a more welcoming environment for families and kids impacted by disability.
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Are they really depressed, or do they have something else?

One of the challenges I face as a clinician when a family comes to our practice because they suspect their child is depressed is teasing out all of the other possible explanations for why their child might appear depressed. Continue reading

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