#Disability&theChurch2025, Advocacy, Autism, Care and Support, Caregiving, Church Support, Disability Ministry, Down syndrome, Hope, podcast
Elaina Marchenko
Supporting Families Affected by Disability with ...

Elaina Marchenko sits down with Rachael VerMeulen from A Little Extra Love Ministries to talk about the reality for families affected by special needs, the need for disability support in Colorado, and what Rachael will be sharing at Disability & the Church Conference.

Supporting Families Affected by Disability with Rachael VerMeulen from A Little Extra Love: Podcast EP 134
Advocacy, Autism, Care and Support, Church Support, Disability Ministry, Families
Sunita Theiss
3 Ways to Make Your Church More Welcoming for ...

The church is a place for everyone, yet for many families with neurodivergent children, attending church events or services can be a challenging experience. Children with sensory and communication differences may need unique accommodations to feel comfortable, included, and valued. This season, as your church plans special services and activities, consider these three simple yet impactful ways to create a more welcoming environment for neurodivergent kids and their families.

3 Ways to Make Your Church More Welcoming for Neurodivergent Kids
Care and Support, Caregiving, Church Support, Event, podcast, Stories, WorldWide Ministry
Key Ministry
Night to Shine, What You Need to Know: Podcast ...

Larah Roberts sits down with Beth Golik and talks about the annual Night to Shine Event sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation. Beth gives a peek into what the event looks like and also shares how your church can prepare and host one of these events in your city!

Night to Shine, What You Need to Know: Podcast EP 133
#Disability&theChurch2025, Care and Support, Disability Ministry, Families, Leadership, podcast, Special Needs Ministry
Elaina Marchenko
Looking Back, Looking Ahead with Andrea Roseman ...

Elaina sits down with Andrea Roseman from Access Ministry to discuss the wins of 2024, the changes she wants to make in 2025, and the way the Lord is working in and through Access Ministry.

Looking Back, Looking Ahead with Andrea Roseman from Access Ministry: Podcast EP 132
Care and Support, Church Support, Disability Ministry, podcast, Sandra Peoples
Sandra Peoples
Your Ministry Wins from 2024 & Ministry ...

Sandra Peoples shares praise reports from churches across the country as we celebrate what God is doing through accessible churches. She also shares the biggest challenges churches say they are facing in the new year and lists resources to help with each challenge. 

Your Ministry Wins from 2024 & Ministry Opportunities in 2025: Podcast EP 131

Autism

, , , , ,

Praying for Protection from Powers and Principalities

, , , , ,
Praying for Protection from Powers and Principalities

I’ve been in ministry long enough to know that the prayers and time spent seeking God determine the outcome of ministry and special events. Everyone working in the space of special needs or mental health ministry needs to stay prayed up, in God’s Word, for guidance, wisdom, and protection. Make no mistake, the work of all special needs ministry, including ministry to and with people whose disability is revealed in behavior, is very much intertwined with the battle over whose life holds value. Anyone working in this space is on the front line of the battle between darkness and light.

, , , , , ,

Mental Health Ministry and The Platinum Rule

, , , , , ,
Mental Health Ministry and The Platinum Rule

When my cat died, chewy.com showed great care and concern for my loss, even beyond the principles of the Golden Rule. Chewy went all the way to the Platinum Rule. And the Platinum Rule is how churches can make mental health ministry happen and be successful.

, , , , , , , , , , ,

Waking a Sleepy Church: The Urgent Need for Mental Health Ministry

, , , , , , , , , , ,
Waking a Sleepy Church: The Urgent Need for Mental Health Ministry

Janet Parshall issued a powerful call to the church to minister more effectively to persons with mental illness in this keynote presentation from Inclusion Fusion Live 2019, a national disability ministry conference hosted by Key Ministry. She identifies key biblical figures who experienced symptoms of mental illness, challenges church leaders to end their stigmatization of persons with mental health issues and pastors to begin addressing the topic in the course of their preaching.

, , , , ,

Disability Doesn’t Stop Me From Giving God My Best. Neither Should The Church.

, , , , ,
Disability Doesn’t Stop Me From Giving God My Best. Neither Should The Church.

If you want to involve disabled people in ministry and leadership, re-imagine how your current structures, schedules, and systems work. It may be the church itself that is stopping people with disabilities from giving God their best.

, ,

A Conversation About The Cost Of Special Needs Ministry

, ,
A Conversation About The Cost Of Special Needs Ministry

Creating a church that is truly inclusive will come with a cost. Wanting a return on investment is not inherently wrong, but when it comes to the fear of being able to finance a special needs ministry, the most important thing to focus on is where the repayment will come from.

, , , ,

Four Essentials for a World-Changing Church

, , , ,
Four Essentials for a World-Changing Church

If the church is to be Christ-like and world-shaping, we need to be leaders and pioneers in loving all of God’s people, not lagging far behind our schools and social service organizations in how we respond to the needs around us.

, , , , , ,

Pastors, Here’s how to be a shepherd to special needs families in your church.

, , , , , ,
Pastors, Here’s how to be a shepherd to special needs families in your church.

David’s words about how God shepherded him have become my model for pastoral ministry to the special-needs community. Pastors, here are four things to consider when pastoring special-needs families through moments in the valley.

, , , ,

Why the Home Group Model Is Hard for Special-Needs Families and How to Make It Easier

, , , ,
Why the Home Group Model Is Hard for Special-Needs Families and How to Make It Easier

Many churches are moving away from the traditional Sunday school model and using home groups. But this way of “doing life together” can leave special-needs families isolated and alone.

, , , ,

Building Better Banquets: How Prioritize Special-Needs Ministry In Your Church

, , , ,
Building Better Banquets: How Prioritize Special-Needs Ministry In Your Church

When church leadership is approached about the need to create environments that can serve the needs of the disability and special-needs community, the most common response is a lack of education and lack of resources. In other words, there is no room in the budget, no room in the mission, no room in the vision of the church, and no room for discussion about disability theology.