#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

Families

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Three Tips to Help Special Needs Families Transition Back into Church

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Three Tips to Help Special Needs Families Transition Back into Church

If you listen to disability ministry leaders, surveys and thought leaders these days, you will hear a resounding concern that families impacted by disability, mental health difficulties and other special needs will not be returning to “church as usual” any time soon. I hope churches and pastors are asking what will happen to these families. Here are three things your church can do to bless individuals and families impacted by disability in your congregation to navigate the transition process and feel restored to our church communities.

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The Antidote to a Culture of Anger: Bearing Fruit

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The Antidote to a Culture of Anger: Bearing Fruit

We have become incredibly angry. We are spiteful and hateful and bored. Jesus, what do we do with this? How do we fix it, Lord? The answer to most of my questions included a simple, time honored truth: we are to bear fruit.

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How God Multiplies Ministry from within the Special Needs Community

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How God Multiplies Ministry from within the Special Needs Community

God uses the Church in important ways to come alongside people He eventually calls to leadership. God often places people in positions of receiving essential encouragement, prayer, support and equipping. In the process, He’s revealing their potential, as well as opportunities to move them into areas of ministry with other families impacted by disability.

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How to Create A Sensory Easter Story

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How to Create A Sensory Easter Story

As one of the most important times in the Christian calendar, Easter is a key teaching time for parents, as well as children’s and youth workers. But the big story of Easter can be difficult for some children and young people with additional/special needs or disabilities to understand. Here are some sensory ideas that we can use that will help us to tell the Easter story, but will also give us ways to help children and young people with additional needs access other complex themes we might want to engage them with throughout the year.

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Why You Should Care About Special Needs

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Why You Should Care About Special Needs

It can be difficult to understand the complexities of raising a child with special needs if this calling is not part of your existence. You should care, because children with special needs are the least of the least of the least of these.

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Seven Ways to Help People with Traumatic Brain Injuries Thrive in Your Church

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Seven Ways to Help People with Traumatic Brain Injuries Thrive in Your Church

I have the most amazing baby sister. She is goofy, loud, opinionated, and hard-headed. She makes me laugh and she drives me completely insane. My sister has a traumatic brain injury (TBI). She needs accommodations to be successful, especially in the church. These accommodations can help almost anyone with a TBI.

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Simple Gestures That Resonate Deeply With Special Needs Caregivers

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Simple Gestures That Resonate Deeply With Special Needs Caregivers

Caregivers and families impacted by disability are finding themselves most profoundly moved by the simple things these days. I’ve been wondering what ministry would look and feel like if we all just took a giant step back: back to the days of pie socials, potlucks, card clubs and barn raisings. Here are some ideas that any church or ministry leader can do.

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Why We’re Creating A Documentary about Caregiver Mental Health

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Why We’re Creating A Documentary about Caregiver Mental Health

Approximately five years ago, my husband Ryan and I began experiencing a mental health crisis. We lived in rural Tennessee with our 8 children, including our son Lucas who has special needs and profound autism. Our experiences in rural America, however, were not in vain. One of the ideas that emerged was that perhaps a documentary was needed to dive deeply into the unspoken mental health crisis that many caregivers silently suffer through.

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Tips to Change Good Intentions into Culture-Changing Connectedness

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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.

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How Will Your Church Building Be Used this Winter?

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How Will Your Church Building Be Used this Winter?

Church hallways around the world are still quiet places these days. But that could be changing, as ministry in the season of COVID continues with creativity into the winter of 2021.