#Disability&theChurch2025, podcast
Elaina Marchenko
Reasons to Celebrate! Podcast EP 130

Elaina sits down and shares a few of the many reasons we have to celebrate here at Key Ministry this year. We are so grateful for all that the Lord has done in and through our ministry in 2024, and we can’t wait to see what he does in 2025!

Reasons to Celebrate! Podcast EP 130
Care and Support, Hidden Disabilities, Autism, Spiritual Development
Key Ministry
Why I’m Glad to be A Sensitive Person

I wonder when did being sensitive get a bad reputation and why does being sensitive tend to make others uncomfortable? After all, Jesus showed us how to use gifts like sensitivity, empathy and compassion for the Kingdom of God.

Why I’m Glad to be A Sensitive Person
Disability Ministry, Key Ministry, Training Events
Stephen Grcevich MD
Key Ministry in 2024 - A year of unprecedented ...

As 2024 comes to a close, we look back at some of the most impactful events and relationships we were part of this past year, highlight new resources we helped create over the past twelve months and look ahead to opportunities for advancing the Gospel in 2025 through supporting local churches in their ministry with the disability and mental health communities.

Key Ministry in 2024 - A year of unprecedented impact
Care and Support, Church Support, Disability Ministry, Families, Hope, podcast, Sandra Peoples
Sandra Peoples
Including Special-Needs Families in Your ...

Sandra Peoples grew up with a sister with Down syndrome and now has a teenager with level 3 autism, so she knows how different the holidays can feel for a family like hers. But they don't have to feel different at church! With a few steps of consideration, she shares how families can feel included and valued. Let's make sure special-needs families can hear the message of hope this Christmas!

Including Special-Needs Families in Your Church's Christmas Activities: EP 129
Autism, Care and Support, Disability Theology, Parents, Resources, Special Needs Parenting
Sunita Theiss
Biblical Truths for Neurodivergent Kids: ...

Every child is wonderfully unique, created by God with love and intention. For kids who experience and process the world differently, hearing affirmations rooted in God’s truth can be a powerful reminder of their worth and purpose.

Biblical Truths for Neurodivergent Kids: Affirmations for Every Journey

friendship

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Organic Friendships

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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.

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Part 3: How Churches Can Accommodate Adopted Children and Teens with Disabilities

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Part 3: How Churches Can Accommodate Adopted Children and Teens with Disabilities

In the final part of this 3-part series, Sandra Peoples shares age group-specific strategies for churches to welcome, include, and create a place of belonging for adoptive children and teens with disabilities and traumatic backgrounds.

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The Sweetest Gift

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The Sweetest Gift

I serve as a special needs pastor at a small church in Kansas. I have had a mentally trying time for the last three months. It was on a particularly-defeated Sunday morning that I received the single greatest gift I’ve received all year.

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Four Questions For When the Fixer Can't Fix

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Four Questions For When the Fixer Can't Fix

My children have autism. The children at our church are great with our kids: patient, kind, accepting and open to them. I am thankful, but—that is not enough. I want them to have authentic, organic friendships with people their own age. Here are four questions to help churches be places where the neurotypical and neurodivergent can grow together.

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Special Needs In Real Life

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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.

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Five Practical Ways Churches Can Support Special Needs Families

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Five Practical Ways Churches Can Support Special Needs Families

There has never been a day I grieved my children. Still, deep in my heart, there is this grief. Please hear me when I say my children are a joy. They are the reason I have found my calling. But today, I want you to learn from my experience what the parents of special needs children may be feeling in your church, and how you can help.

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In Their Own Words: Church Support and Mental Illness

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In Their Own Words: Church Support and Mental Illness

Shortly before Dr. Grcevich’s book Mental Health and the Church was published, we asked our readers to share their experiences, both good and bad, about mental health needs and church support. We continue to get responses, and want to share a few that we have received since we made our initial request, for the insight that churches and ministries can glean from the experiences of others.