Families

5 Ways to Prioritize Your Responsibilities as a Caregiver

5 Ways to Prioritize Your Responsibilities as a Caregiver

Life is a juggling act, and sometimes I have too many balls in the air. Sometimes, no matter how hard I try, one or more of the balls drop. By identifying which balls you can let fall, you can prioritize the breakable ones, like relationships with your spouse and kids, growing your faith, and even your mental health.

When You Should Leave a Church

When You Should Leave a Church

Ideally, every person is welcome and embraced by a church as Christ welcomes and embraces all with unconditional love. That, unfortunately, is not always expressed by the church. I believe in those moments when we do feel we need to leave, God’s love will guide the conversation and direct us towards a place that will be more welcoming and open to expressing the love of Christ for all people.

Caregivers, Mental Health, and Mobilizing Church Support: An Interview with Jess Ronne Part 2

 Caregivers, Mental Health, and Mobilizing Church Support: An Interview with Jess Ronne Part 2

Unseen: How We’re Failing Parent Caregivers and Why It Matters made its global online premiere May 20. This is part 2 of the in-depth questions we posed to Jess Ronne to help our readers better understand the issues raised in the documentary and how churches can be supportive of caregiving families. Read part 1 here.

Caregivers, Mental Health, and Mobilizing Church Support: An Interview with Jess Ronne Part 1

 Caregivers, Mental Health, and Mobilizing Church Support: An Interview with Jess Ronne Part 1

Unseen: How We’re Failing Parent Caregivers and Why It Matters made its global online premiere May 20. We caught up with Jess Ronne to ask some in-depth questions to help our readers better understand the issues raised in the documentary and how churches can be supportive of caregiving families.

Part 2: How Churches Can Provide Long-Term Support for Adoptive Families

Part 2: How Churches Can Provide Long-Term Support for Adoptive Families

God's directive for adoptive families is the same as it is for every family. But adoptive, special-needs families experience extra challenges to meet this calling. In part 2 of this 3-part series, Sandra Peoples shares practical tips for churches to provide places of inclusion and belonging for families.

Rest Is A Weapon

Rest Is A Weapon

The Lord knows that always feeling tired keeps us in a weakened state. Rest, on the other hand, strengthens and sharpens us. Here are a few small strategies that the Lord helped me implement to feel more rested, and grow stronger mentally, physically and spiritually.

Churches That Encourage Adoption Should Be Trauma Informed and Disability Accommodating

Churches That Encourage Adoption Should Be Trauma Informed and Disability Accommodating

Churches rightly encourage adoption and support families going through the adoption process, but are they prepared when the child or teen comes home and is diagnosed with special needs or trauma-related issues? Sandra Peoples shares three-part series on a theology of disability that can serve as a motivation for churches to meet the needs of these families.

Three Ways for the Church to Support Families with Down Syndrome

Three Ways for the Church to Support Families with Down Syndrome

March 21st is World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD), a global awareness day for those with an extra 21st chromosome. Based upon my experiences of a now 16-year old, I would like to offer three ways that churches can better support families like mine, no matter the age of the person with Down syndrome.

Finding Hope When Caregiving Stress Leads to Faith and Mental Health Struggles

Finding Hope When Caregiving Stress Leads to Faith and Mental Health Struggles

When I learned my daughter would be born with a more severe genetic disorder than my son’s, the news devastated me. After her birth, I began to experience debilitating symptoms of PTSD. Months later, I made what should have been a lethal suicide attempt. My case was extreme, but is it that uncommon for caregivers to experience clinical mental health conditions?

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

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.