In today’s podcast, Dr. Adam Wilson from Denver Seminary joins Catherine Boyle to share about the work he and others within the seminary have done around mental health support within Christian schools. Dr. Wilson believes that mental health is everybody’s job, whether you are a parent, teacher, ministry leader, or friend. Take a listen and read the transcript of this insightful conversation.
Mike & Michelle Beard from Imago Work in Vietnam, sit down with Beth in person to share about the 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 strategy that launched the ministry and the ripple effects it’s had in Hanoi and beyond.
Sandra Peoples interviews Jason Epps and Paul Pettit about their book, One Body, One Spirit: Disability & Community in the Church. Hear about their friendship and how Jason's challenges with church accessibility led to them writing this book together.
Elaina Marchenko sits down to interview Larah Roberts, the new Operations Director here at Key Ministry. Larah shares her heart for disability ministry, and her experience as a Special Needs mom.
Key Ministry’s first Mental Health and the Church conference is September 26 - 27, 2024. In Part 1 of this series, we learned about one group of conference speakers who have expertise in and will present on approaches and resources that have been tailored to meet relationship and discipleship needs, all related to mental health. Today's group of speakers are all experts in one important topic: trauma healing. Learn more about each of them and the unique strategies, resources and approaches each bring to MHATC2024.
Guest bloggers Gail Averette and Sheila Sullivan share helpful tips and approaches for parents of teens and adult children with disabilities to help prevent sexual abuse. Join us on October 27 as Gail and Sheila will share tips and strategies for ministry leaders to prevent sexual abuse.
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.
Parents of children with special needs are often labeled negatively: ‘troublemakers,’ ‘confrontational,’ ‘needy,’ ‘over-sharing.’ The reason we (as yes, I’m one too) can sometimes pick up some of these negative labels is that we won’t take no for an answer when it comes to our child. Why do we enter into conversations, meetings and appointments with our boxing gloves firmly on? Because the world cannot understand.
On this particular morning, several years ago, my Bible reading for the day took me to Romans 10:9-10, the Scriptures that lay out God’s path to salvation. What wasn’t so clear to me was how my son, who suffered with cognitive disabilities, would be able to meet these requirements. “How, LORD,” I asked, “is Myles gonna be able to receive salvation?”
Families affected by disabilities and other special needs live with a certain amount of chronic stress and uncertainty. Due to the unforeseen challenges of 2020, my typical capacity for coping with pressures is compromised these days. This is true for every family caregiver I know. Here are fourteen faith-anchoring reassurances from Scripture you can offer those who are ready to be reminded of God’s truth.
Dear leader in a disability-friendly church: I am the parent of a child with special needs who appreciates you so much. I understand this is a complicated season to serve in ministry. May God keep you brave and persistent. I am also praying God will help us all work together in finding solutions that fit our family and our church.
I believe Christian parents and church leaders have a responsibility to educate youth in many areas of life, not to hide and protect them, but to empower and equip them as they grow. One area where kids need equipping should be mental health. Here are seven tips on how to talk with kids about mental illness.
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.
