Elaina Marchenko sits down to interview Larah Roberts, the new Operations Director here at Key Ministry. Larah shares her heart for disability ministry, and her experience as a Special Needs mom.
5 Phases of Disability Parenting & How Churches Can Support Families in Each Phase: Podcast EP 114
Parents go through five phases as they raise their children with disabilities. It’s helpful for ministry leaders to understand these phases so we know better how to support families in these different seasons. In this episode, Sandra Peoples shares characteristics of the phases, the needs parents have in each one, and how the church can support them along the way.
How the Church Struggles to Listen
“I shared my family’s hurt and pain of feeling excluded and unaccepted by the very church that I, as its pastor, am called to love and serve. I shared offensive words shared with me regarding my autistic son’s needs. I shared how these actions created a wall between our family and the church. We felt unwelcome.” Shannon Blosser shares about church hurt, and where the church can grow.
Book Club Chat with Dr. Steve Grcevich & Lamar Hardwick: Podcast Episode 098
Dr. Steve Grcevich sits down and interviews Dr. Lamar Hardwick on his new book How Ableism Fuels Racism. This is Part 1 of a 3-part series! Dr. Lamar Hardwick will be speaking at Disability & the Church 2024 Conference in Orlando, FL May 1-3. Go to www.keyministry.org/datc2024 to register now!
A Better Question: Podcast Episode 004
In this episode, Lamar Hardwick examines how our theology influences disability ministry and how the experience of disability influences our understanding of God, faith, and life. We will talk about how understanding disability doesn’t begin with having all the right answers, but how understanding disability requires that we ask the right questions.
Supporting Students with Invisible Disabilities Podcast Episode: 086
Neurodiversity, Relationships and Mental and Spiritual Health: An Interview with Dr. Stephanie C. Holmes Part 2: Podcast Episode 084
Today’s podcast and blog is part 2 of a 2-part conversation with Dr. Stephanie C. Holmes. You might want to listen to part 1 or read that transcript before going on to this second part. The entire conversation is packed with information about autism that’s important to ministry leaders, parents, couples and individuals.
Neurodiversity, Relationships and Mental and Spiritual Health: An Interview with Dr. Stephanie C. Holmes Part 1: Podcast Episode 083
Today’s podcast and blog is part 1 of a 2-part conversation with Dr. Stephanie C. Holmes. Stephanie works extensively with neurodiverse Christian couples and families, to help these families better understand, communicate and connect with each other. Stephanie has personally experienced many of the same mental health and spiritual health challenges as the families and ministries we serve. This is part one of a must-hear/must-read podcast interview.
Reflections on Clark Griswold and The Perfect Christmas
How much stress do we put on ourselves to have our house perfectly decorated, so we can “enjoy it?” How much tension do we carry trying to navigate the family dinners and getting worried about our own “Cousin Eddie” showing up and making a scene? How often do we fill up our schedules with parties, events, and celebrations because we feel we have to do it? How often do we get to Christmas Day and have nothing left to give when it comes time to truly celebrate the incarnation of Christ and the Lord’s presence in our lives?
Organic Friendships
After all my years of teaching middle school special education, specifically a significant disabilities/autism class, you’d think I would have learned by now that some of my best-laid plans were the last things my students needed…especially when it came to making friends. I personally believe that many of the social skills activities I’ve done with my students and my own children have been a great benefit. Our kids need the training and support we provide through role-playing, social stories, and other activities, but at what point do we take our hands off and give control of those friendships to our kids? Letting go of that control can be scary.
