#Disability&theChurch2025, Care and Support, Church Support, Hidden Disabilities, Mental Health, Mental Health Ministry
Elaina Marchenko
Mental Illness and How it Draws Us Closer to ...

Elaina sits down with Pastor Sergei Marchenko to discuss his experience with mental illness both in his home and church. Pastor Sergei shares hope for the hurting and discussed the importance of mental health awareness in the church, and from the pulpit.

Mental Illness and How it Draws Us Closer to God with Sergei Marchenko: Podcast EP 127
Adult Advocates, Care and Support, Disability Ministry, Special Needs Ministry, Stories
Shannon Blosser
What I Am Thankful For As a Pastor with ...

Ah, Thanksgiving. That festive time of year where we gather around the table with family, friends, or those who are like family to us to share in a feast of turkey, stuffing, pumpkin pie and all the foods that can fit on one plate and then some. While Thanksgiving can be about the food and the endless hours of football on television, it also provides us an opportunity to give thanks to God for the blessings we have experienced in life.

What I Am Thankful For As a Pastor with Disabilities
Care and Support, Caregiving, Church Support, Families, Parents, Special Needs Parenting
Elaina Marchenko
How to Care for Caregiving Families with Lisa ...

Elaina sits down and talks with Lisa Jamieson from Walk Right In Ministries about family caregivers, the holidays, and ways the church can better support them.

How to Care for Caregiving Families with Lisa Jamieson: Podcast Ep 126
Key Ministry, Resources, Training Events, Leadership
Stephen Grcevich MD
The Case for Supporting Key Ministry

The training, content, gatherings and experiences that we’ve created for pastors, church staff and ministry volunteers produced with the assistance of like-minded colleagues serving in disability ministry have become our principal service. So much of what we’re able do to help churches welcome and support families, we accomplish by bringing together experts from other ministry organizations.

The Case for Supporting Key Ministry
Caregiving
Jolene Philo
November Is Family Caregiver Awareness Month

November is Caregiver Awareness Month. As someone who became one of my dad’s caregivers before I started school, I grew up thinking everyone in the world was aware of caregivers and caregiving. As a young adult my husband and I cared for a son born with a life-threatening medical condition, and his typical sibling. As members of the sandwich generation, my brother, sister, and I cared for our mother for 15 years after she was diagnosed with dementia. This explains why, when I first heard that November is Caregiver Awareness Month, I was incredulous, and I still am. 

November Is Family Caregiver Awareness Month

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Why Ukraine? Part 3 of Linda's Story of How God Uniquely Equipped Her for His Purposes in Ukraine

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Why Ukraine? Part 3 of Linda's Story of How God Uniquely Equipped Her for His Purposes in Ukraine

Guest blogger Linda Bunk lives with both high functioning autism and bipolar disorder. This is the last of three posts showing how God has uniquely equipped Linda to minister effectively in Ukraine.

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How To Develop A Spiritual Care Plan For Special Needs Families In Your Church

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How To Develop A Spiritual Care Plan For Special Needs Families In Your Church

Caring for families impacted by disabilities and special needs often means having the calling and the commitment to provide a pastoral care experience that is based on a plan of how best to care for the needs of the family. Here are some things to consider when committing to caring for the spiritual needs of special needs families.

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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.

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The struggles of kids with mental illness in a sexualized culture

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The struggles of kids with mental illness in a sexualized culture

From a developmental standpoint, there are lots of teenagers who aren’t remotely equipped to manage the intensity of emotions that accompany a sexual relationship.