On this particular morning, several years ago, my Bible reading for the day took me to Romans 10:9-10, the Scriptures that lay out God’s path to salvation. What wasn’t so clear to me was how my son, who suffered with cognitive disabilities, would be able to meet these requirements. “How, LORD,” I asked, “is Myles gonna be able to receive salvation?”
A New Model for Disability Ministry and Discipleship: House Church
Ministering to families who are impacted by disability was especially difficult for pastors during the start of the COVID pandemic. In June, I began to seek the Lord for a way that we could keep everyone physically safe, obey CDC health guidelines and provide the community that the people so desperately needed. And the answer was found right at home.
Tips to Change Good Intentions into Culture-Changing Connectedness
The global pandemic increased society’s awareness about the feelings and implications of being isolated. The question remains, what will be the lasting impact of that new awareness? Lisa Jamieson offers some observations and tips for churches and ministries to deepen connection with special needs families.
Mental Illness and Discipleship
Best Practices for Hybrid Ministry - Combined Virtual and In-Person Gatherings
As 2020 winds down, one thing is clear: the ministry changes experienced this year will continue, and many of these changes will become the new standards, including offering both in-person and virtual options simultaneously for church services and classroom gatherings. As ministries have shifted to meet the challenges of 2020, best practices for a variety of important ministry details have emerged. We have compiled the principles and practical solutions shared in recent discussions with ministry leaders, and offer these to you and your ministry team so that the mission of spreading the gospel and developing disciples can continue unhindered in 2021.
The Church and Substance Abuse Recovery
The Church has a spotty past with working alongside people who have substance misuse issues. The goal of recovery shouldn’t be just to stop the negative behavior. While that’s certainly important, our goal should be a transformation from the inside out. Here’s some information about substance abuse that can help your church.
Special Needs In Real Life
One of the reasons why Illuminate - Inclusion Fusion Live 2020 is the largest disability ministry conference in the United States is because it addresses real life with special needs. But our desire is that this conference will address questions that maybe you haven’t been able to ask anywhere else.
Adverse Childhood Experiences and Steps for Youth Ministry
“Adverse Childhood Experiences” is the new focus of clinical mental health and psychology. At its essence, research has found a high correlation between childhood trauma and environmental instability that leads to numerous mental health, medical, social, academic, and career problems. It is evident that part of the solution needs to be with the Church, specifically youth ministry. Here are some ideas.
When Disability Slows Down Christmas
The bustle of Christmas and the Advent season are felt deeply in the offices of churches and Christian ministries around the world. We are battling to balance productivity with meaningful reflection and the celebration of Jesus’ coming — both within ourselves and among those we serve. In this season that beckons us to find and follow our Savior, people with dementia and intellectual-developmental disabilities have life-transforming things to teach us about discipleship.
A Free Mental Health Guide For Faith Leaders
Many churches are at a place of that first talk with a pastor, where a concerned layperson might discuss whether churches should be worried about mental health. The American Psychiatric Association has created a guide is to equip faith community leaders to help with a mental health need, because “faith community leaders are gatekeepers or ‘first responders’ when individuals and families face mental health or substance use problems.”