Stories

The Greater Things of Revolutionary Love

The Greater Things of Revolutionary Love

The Sunday following my son’s autism diagnosis, we ventured out to church. I could never have predicted the way that attempt would go up in flames. What we experienced was not biblical, and all these years later, I’m now a disability inclusion pastor. What if, as we strive to make churches inclusive for people living with disabilities, that the greatest change from inclusion efforts is that the church finally develops revolutionary love?

COVID Vaccines and the Evangelical Community: An Alternative View

COVID Vaccines and the Evangelical Community: An Alternative View

I still remember waking up in the hospital, surrounded by about a half dozen men and women in white lab coats. They were all just looking at me, like I was a new species or a classroom exhibit. With this and many related experiences, all this time later, I routinely follow a thoughtful process, researching potential supplements, medications and alternatives to medicine, whenever my doctor makes a recommendation, and that includes vaccines. COVID vaccines are no different.

How to Create A Sensory Easter Story

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.

Why We’re Creating A Documentary about Caregiver Mental Health

 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.

God’s Design for Family and Church, Revealed in Christmas

God’s Design for Family and Church, Revealed in Christmas

Christmas brings a sweet and stirring reminder that God is at the center of family. As the church, we are God’s expression of His extended family. When we look at the manger, we see ourselves as part of Jesus’ family. And all at once, we see Jesus through the years at Christmastime.

Radical Obedience to God, Radical Protection of Grace

Radical Obedience to God, Radical Protection of Grace

The more I meditate on the actions of these heroes of faith, the more I see how everything is connected to obedience; actions intertwined with movement forward, and obedience becomes the barometer of faithfulness and even surpasses character flaws, personality quirks, and bad choices.

Simple Adjustments that Create Genuine Communication

Simple Adjustments that Create Genuine Communication

Many years ago, our family had a lovely pet boxer dog. When we got him, he already had a docked tail. Recently I realized that his tail wasn’t just cut off, but his means of communication with other dogs was cut off as well. Since that time, boxers usually get to keep their tails. They are calmer, happier and can socialize freely with other dogs. If communication is so important for dogs, it is paramount for human beings!

Who Wants a Pastor Who Takes Depression Meds?

Who Wants a Pastor Who Takes Depression Meds?

I had an appointment with my doctor, to adjust to my medication for an ongoing health condition, and to get a prescription for depression. When the doctor asked why a pastor would want to take depression medication, I responded, Who wants a pastor who can’t care for the sheep because I’m just too depressed? An important post about the need for pastors to care for their mental health needs.

The Gospel, Disability and Purpose

The Gospel, Disability and Purpose

As The Banquet Network is working to develop a training on disability for international missionaries, we’ve had the opportunity to listen to people with disabilities, across the world, share with us what they want missionaries to know. There is a significant theme that has continued to emerge in these interviews: people with disabilities want missionaries to care about disability, because it is in Christ that they have found purpose.

Unapologetic Worship, Boundless Joy, and Unhindered Love

Unapologetic Worship, Boundless Joy, and Unhindered Love

The special needs ministry at our church has been operating for four years. Each of the fantastic friends in this ministry have given me, and our church family, precious gifts. Here are some insights and beauty from three of my fantastic friends that have changed me at a fundamental level.