Workshops & QuickTakes Listed by Blocks
Block #1 Workshops (Friday 9:15-10:30am)
A Ministry Worker's Compact Guide to PTSD: Jolene Philo || The Ministry Worker’s Guide to PTSD defines trauma and PTSD, examines causes of trauma and how unresolved trauma affects brain function and physical health. Those attending will learn how the brain responds to traumatic events and corresponding behaviors related to the response. The impact of trauma on faith development will be discussed and those attending will brainstorm what ministry leaders can do to make people living with PTSD feel safe at church.
Disability Ministry During the Week: Jillian Palmiotto || Creating places of belonging for people impacted by special needs and disabilities on Sundays is a great mission. But families have needs the other days of the week, too. This session will provide ideas for partnering with existing community organizations to help families navigate the special needs roadmap of life. You will also learn how the church can help families by assisting them in navigating the often complicated resources that will help them go from surviving to thriving. You don't have to be everything to everyone, but you can certainly point them to everything and everyone they need.
Multi-sensory Strategies to Foster Children's Spiritual Formation: Beth Golik & Rev. Dr. Karen Roberts || Whether you are in an inclusive classroom setting or providing one-on-one buddy support, we all face the same challenge: we have the biblical mandate to share the Gospel with and foster the spiritual formation of all people, including our students with learning differences. This hands-on workshop will provide multi-sensory strategies to engage children in the spiritual practices of prayer and Scripture memorization. We will explore ways for church and home to work together to foster the spiritual growth of each child. Participants will experience a variety of tools and will receive sample materials to use at church and/or at home.
Developing a Respite at Home Program Between Disability Ministries: John Felageller, Katherine Meiners & Andrew Beaty || In 2022, a partnership was developed between the Internship Department at Joni and Friends and Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. Hear about the process of how ministry leaders from both sides came together to provide direct respite care to local families in the Chicago area, and how both the families and interns benefitted. Learn how your church or ministry can partner with local university student interns to serve the needs of families in your ministry, support the growth of the interns and engage the local church.
A Shepherd's Look at Disability: Wayne Chasteen || In 2012, I founded Christ First Church. For more than 3 years prior to planting Christ First Church, God dealt with my heart about special needs ministry, and the need for a safe haven for people in the disability community. Over the last 10 years, God has grown a faith family that understands that inclusion is near the heart of God. Hope Kids, our disability ministry, has moved from vision to reality, to become the largest present ministry of our church. We now have more than 30 families within our church affected by either an intellectual or physical disability. Learn how our ministry started and grew, with lessons for your own ministry.
Block #1 QuickTakes (Friday 9:15-10:30am)
Church Health's Best Kept Secret: Inclusive Disability Ministry: Jim Roden || After having a medically fragile son with significant cognitive delays, and a personal journey into the rich and rewarding world of disability ministry, I decided to do a doctoral dissertation on the relationship between disability ministry and church health. I did in-depth, multi-faceted research into three very different disability inclusive churches, in order to discover any positive and/or negative impact from disability ministry on the health and vitality of those churches. In this session, learn about the eight positive church-health benefits and two negative consequences that--in the end--were viewed by all three churches as positive benefits.
Integrating Deaf Into The Body: Brandon Gaskin || Accessibility is hospitality. What happens when Deaf becomes the norm in our ministry and outreach, not a second thought? What would happen when we include Deaf in the decision making process, where they are seen as equal? What if we provided an interpreter? Or the church leadership learns sign language? The Deaf community would become more connected into the Body, more valued in their thoughts. Healing would happen. Transformation with the Deaf community and in the church would happen.
Dementia Friendly Worship Resources: Victoria White || How do you continue to connect with your aging congregants when words, memory and mobility fade? What worship practices engage persons living with dementia? What can pastors, worship leaders, friends, and the congregation do? In this presentation, learn five ideas to jumpstart your congregation in re-membering congregants living with dementia.
Jesus Knows Emotional Health, Grief and Despair: Keon Abner || In this QuickTake, Pastor Keon Abner will explore Jesus’ time of grief and despair in the Garden of Gethsemane, with application for how we should approach and handle our own emotional and mental health ‘stuff.’
A Place of Hope: Marie Kuck || Does HOPE live in a place? How can we spread HOPE and make a radical kingdom impact even as we advocate for churches to understand and welcome individuals and families living with disability? There is a way!
Block #2 Workshops (Friday 10:45am-12:00pm)
Accelerating Disability Ministry: Two Innovative Strategies for Churches: Thomas Boehm & Erik Carter || Churches are at different places along a journey of becoming communities where individuals and families impacted by disability are physically present, relationally engaged, and spiritually flourishing. In this workshop, we will explore two innovative strategies designed to accelerate local disability ministry. Community Conversations offer a structured way to engage a cross-section of church members and community representatives to develop partnerships, deepen dialogues, and design strategies to accelerate disability ministry. Church Convocations are another strategy to bring together church leaders with individuals and families within a church to worship, pray, share testimonies, and discern steps forward to advance disability ministry within church mission. Both strategies involve structured ways to strategically gather various stakeholders to have discussions designed to deepen dialogues and accelerate culture change that help churches become communities of belonging and flourishing for all.
Create Engaging Curriculum Using Best Practice Brain-Based Teaching: Charla Holst || Brain-based teaching is beneficial for all learners and is great for the inclusive classroom. Using the whole brain, including all of the senses, makes it fun to learn and helps with challenging behaviors, too! Brain-based teaching allows new information to be more readily retained, retrieved, and more easily applied in the real world. Every level of learner can benefit from brain-based learning and examples will be provided. You will learn how to apply brain-based teaching to Bible lessons and experience how using the whole brain and engaging all the senses makes learning fun, engaging and very effective. Learn how simple, inexpensive changes can be made to existing curriculum or learn to create your own engaging curriculum using brain-based teaching. We will experience creating engaging curriculum together as we see, say, hear and move to learn.
Successful Inclusion in a Christian University: Rebekah Dyer || Grand Canyon University (GCU) in Phoenix, AZ is a private, Christian university that started an inclusive program for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the Fall of 2021. The first cohort of participants will be graduating in April of 2023. GCU has extended their Christian worldview through this program. This workshop will outline the elements of the program, collaborations throughout the university, and how inclusion has impacted the participants and other students in the university. In addition, the workshop will review best practices in supporting inclusion in higher education settings.
Block #2 QuickTakes (Friday 10:45am-12:00pm)
Not Your Mother's Small Group: Jenni Von Tobel || Quite often, well-meaning small group leaders in Kids/Student ministries ask how to 'fix' a 'problem' child. As ministry leaders, we know the child is not a problem--and that sensory or trauma dysregulation, anxiety, or other factors are at play. This QuickTake will share practical tips and language for training Small Group leaders, especially seasoned leaders, on how and why kids are different today than they were 20 years ago, why that's okay, and how to support them. Takeaways include: the rise of sensory processing disorder and trauma in this next generation and its effect in a small group setting; kids won't sit criss-cross applesauce--and why its ok for them to move/fidget/not make eye contact; ways to encourage leaders to replace their idea of what a small group should look like with the reality of today's kids.
ICNU: 4 Most Important Letters in Volunteer Recruitment: Doc Hunsley || Volunteer recruitment is always one of the biggest concerns for any ministry leader, no matter what size your ministry is. I will share with you the four most important letters in the alphabet for volunteer recruitment and how they will help you recruit volunteers at over a 90% success rate, with longevity!
Don't Assume: Becky Davidson || When working with families impacted by disability, it is easy to assume you know what they need. So often, churches launch programs in an attempt to reach families, but they end up missing the mark for lack of knowing what their families truly want or need. In this Quick Take, Becky Davidson will share ideas and tips from what she has learned working first hand with families as a disability ministry leader, and personally as a mom to an adult son with disabilities. She hopes to help your church create and develop the most impactful support models for the families you serve.
Sufficient Grace: When a Faith Leader has a Brain Disability: Tony Roberts || Faith leaders are human--no surprise there. As human beings, they are subject to the same physical, psychological, and spiritual disabilities as the general population. Faith communities are called by Christ to care for those who are hurting, to pray for those being persecuted whether from external sources or from within their own minds. The story of Tony Roberts as a pastor, then mental health minister who has benefitted by support from the faith community, is a story that has blessed many through his books, blogs, podcast, audio, video, and personal contact. In this QuickTake, learn about Tony and his mission is to share the sufficient grace that he has received with others in ministry and beyond.
Block #3 Workshops (Friday 1:30-2:45pm)
CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUPS: A Game-Changing Way to Strengthen Families: Lisa Jamieson || Churches and Zoom are popular venues for organizing and hosting meaningful small group connection for caregivers in families living with disability. In this workshop, we will explore reasons and ways to get started, including ways to relieve stigmas and misconceptions. Topics will include method options, curriculum ideas, leadership and facilitation tips, marketing, and other general best practices.
The Value of Visuals: Tiffany Crow & Jennifer Donald || You’ve heard the adage, “A picture is worth a thousand words” and we believe it’s true! Visuals are a powerful environmental tool that support learner understanding, independence and decrease behavior. In this session, participants will learn the function of specific visuals, as well as strategies for incorporating them in instruction.
Effective Practices in Developing Deaf Disciplemakers in the Church: Becca Diley Triplett, Jamie Jiang , Brandon Gaskin & Tanya Polstra || There are 350+ Deaf people groups around the world, each with their own culture, language, norms, and values. Presently, 98 out of 100 Deaf people have little to no access to the Gospel. Said another way, less than 2% of Deaf people in the world have been reached with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 80% of Deaf people live in developing countries; 83% have no access to education and only 3% have access to bilingual education. Of the 400 sign languages of the world, close to 40 sign languages have parts of the Bible translated, but only one sign language has all 66 books of the Bible translated. Deaf people groups have rarely been provided equal space in the Church, with opportunities to share God’s truth in their heart languages. Even where Deaf people have been pursued with the gospel, it has often been done with a compassion-based approach where ministry is done for Deaf people rather than with them. When churches say they have a Deaf ministry, it can mean a lot of things: an interpreted service, a Deaf congregation within a hearing church, a fully integrated bi-cultural church, or even an independent Deaf church. Each approach has strengths and weaknesses – but there are some common effective practices. In this panel discussion, you will learn from Deaf leaders themselves. These leaders have not allowed the barriers or the lack of resources to be an excuse to stop advocating for access, communication, and belonging within the Body of Christ. Come and experience the richness of Deaf Culture through their stories and experiences, so you and your Church can begin to effectively engage every generation of the Deaf community with the love of Jesus.
Co-Laborers in the Gospel: Building Organic Disability Ministry: Lisa Mattheiss & Wayne Chasteen || Churches tend to focus on congregational life as programmatic ministry (men's, women's children's, youth, music, disability, etc.). But disability ministry is not meant to exist in a silo of its own on the periphery. Disability ministry to and alongside people with disabilities ought to permeate every aspect of congregational life. To really pursue a biblical disability ministry, we must embrace the mission of a gospel-centered local church. But how do you build a congregation like that? Christ First Church was intentionally planted with disability ministry in mind. This workshop will explore the core biblical foundations and commitments made at the planting of the church, and how those commitments continue as the church and its disability ministry continues to grow. The workshop will also present how the foundational commitments have been used to assess progress, and will walk through a practical approach to growing an organic congregational disability ministry, including a vision for future development.
A Church for Every Child is a Job for Every Adult: Linda Bunk & Timofey Dovgalyuk || This workshop will be in the form of a conversation between Timofey Dovgalyuk and Linda Bunk. Timofey Dovgalyuk is an architect, business owner and Linda's employer. Linda is a person afflicted with bipolar disorder and Asperger’s/Level 1 autism. Linda and Timofey met at McLean Bible Church and have served together on many mission trips to Ukraine and Poland. Timofey and Linda will share how God, through a healthy Great Commission church culture, impacted their individual lives and brought them together not only to serve in ministry, but to work together in a high-end Design Build company.
Block #3 QuickTakes (Friday 1:30-2:45pm)
Waiting to Exhale: The ABC's of Church-Based Respite Nights: Michael Crawford || The challenges of providing for a loved one with a disability can often leave many families exhausted and in desperate need of a break, which is why Respite Nights can become one of the most critical (and popular!) components of a Disability Ministry. This QuickTake will provide listeners with tools and strategies to help their churches provide effective Respite Nights that will be fun for participants and a much-needed breather for caretakers and providers.
Discipleship and Disability: Growing in Grace is for all God's Children: Sevrin Hamilton || Often within Disability Ministry, we treat those who experience disability as passive bystanders who we serve. God calls all believers to grow in grace. This quick-take aims to help us see our brothers and sisters in Christ who experience disability as active and vital members within the body of Christ. Practical tips will be shared on how God desires and intends all believers, with all our differing abilities, to grow in grace and be conformed into the image of Christ.
The Limping Olympian: A Theology of Endurance: Thomas Boehm || Experiencing disability creates pressure. This pressure is not only experienced directly by the person impacted by disability, but also by their biological and spiritual family. This pressure is better harnessed by God for transformation and revival when disability is viewed through a biblical lens. As L. B. Cowman noted in her acclaimed Streams in the Desert, “great pressure means great power!” This QuickTake will overview 10 pillars of a solidly biblical theology of disability to help undergird and strengthen disability ministry efforts that can lead to personal, family, and church revival.
God Is Able - A Message of Hope for the Disabled and Also their Parents. An Inspirational Message for Everyone.: Amy Meekins || If you have a disability and are looking to be reminded of God’s love for you, your worth, and your value, come join me. If you sometimes get discouraged by the enemy’s lies, let me share with you some things I do to get my mind and heart back on track with God’s truth. The fact is, we can trust our Heavenly Father, Beautiful Savior, and Comforter, the Holy Spirit, because God is trustworthy. If you are the parent of an individual affected by disability, I would love to share some tips that my parents learned and that helped me growing up. I have a message of hope for you, too. If you are any person looking for inspiration, I want to share God’s work with you, too. Come, let’s gather together and explore the goodness of God, and talk about what we can put into place as we move forward and step into the wonderful plan that He has for us.
Block #4 Workshops (Friday 3:00-4:15pm)
There's Always a Seat for You at Our Table: Kristin Kondratowski & Walter Kondratowski || Dinner churches are popping up all around the world. In 2022, we launched 'Our Table,' a ministry/church plant within an existing Presbyterian church in our hometown. With the help of a leadership team, we designed a new worshiping community around a meal, a message, and a mission. Our motto is, “we feed hungry people.” The leadership of Our Table personally invites folks who participate in the town’s food bank, adults affected by disability who live in local residential group homes, and people who are hungry physically, spiritually, and relationally; we just have a knack for inviting people on the fringes and keeping the evening laid back. The ministry is funded through grants, missionary fundraising support, and the generous gifts of a potluck-style dinner. This workshop will give a taste of what Our Table experiences every Friday night, and showcase a new way of outreach to the people whom Jesus loves dearly. Since it’s an interactive evening with a home-cooked meal, it’s also an easy way to give respite to caregivers. Check out our website for a snapshot of how it works. This workshop will show others how easy it is to tell people, “there’s always a seat for you at Our Table.”
Practical Tools for Teaching God's Word: Stephanie Powell || Everyone deserves to hear Scripture in a way that makes sense to them. It is essential that we present the Gospel in a way that gives our listeners the best chance to understand. Additionally, we need to give them an opportunity to respond the best way they can. In this workshop we will discuss recognizing the skills of your listeners and how to use that knowledge to better impact them with God’s Word. I will share how I have used my experience as an educator and therapist to adapt and create material for individuals with special needs. You will learn activities and strategies that can easily be applied to any learning objective. The results will be more confident teaching, better interaction with your students and a better understanding for your learners.
Leveraging Technology to Reach All Families: Kim Thorpe || When used intentionally, technology can be a valuable tool in your ministry pocket. In this workshop, Kim will share a wide range of technologies (including, but not limited to social media) that we can utilize to further the Gospel message and build life-giving community. Most of these technologies are free or low cost to you or your church. For families impacted by disabilities, social media can often be draining and leave them feeling worse about their circumstances. But we, the Church, can be a voice of truth and encouragement in this space. Along with discussing the types of technology available, we will also work together to design and reframe some common posts or emails that churches might make or send to ensure that they are inclusive and supportive of families with disabilities.
Starting A Disability Ministry From Scratch: Jason Morrison || Whether you are starting a Disability Ministry from scratch or you think you have a few things figured out, this workshop is for you! Jason Morrison will walk you through a comprehensive eleven-step plan for starting a dynamic Disability Ministry unique to your community. This plan is built off of 20-plus years of ministry experience and comes complete with FREE resources. Don't miss it!
Keeping Ministry Safe for Everyone: Samantha Jones & David Jones || In Keeping Ministry Safe for Everyone, we unpack the risk management process for disability ministry. This process is a proactive approach to safety in an Inclusive Ministry. This interactive workshop includes nine practical ways to manage the most common inclusion ministry risks, because safety doesn't happen by accident.
Block #4 QuickTakes (Friday 3:00-4:15pm)
Beautiful - Inviting Everyone Into The Mission: Barb Stanley || What if the most beautiful part of disability ministry is that it was meant for everyone? Barb Stanley from Wonderful Works Ministry shares how building creative inroads for all members of your church to serve in your ministry can help change church culture, and make breakthrough moments possible. Join us as we look at disability ministry in a new way, one where everyone in the congregation can be invited in.
Stop Starting Disability Ministries: Ryan Faulk || What does it mean for a church to “grow” in disability ministry? Is it a growing number of people you serve? An increasing number of programs the church offers? Sure! But only if those things lead to effective discipleship of people living with disabilities. So, how do we encourage the right sort of growth in our disability ministries? 1) Develop a biblical worldview and theology on disability. 2) Identify and remove barriers. 3) Build effective ministry models. 4) Implement sustainable leadership structures. This methodology may or may not result in a specific “disability ministry.” And that is more than okay. In this QuickTake, learn why, as a movement, the next phase of disability ministry development is expanding beyond siloed and separate ministries to see people with disabilities discipled in every corner of the church, not just in “their” corner.
#NonprofitsWorkingTogether: TyiaLynn Scott || Why should your church or ministry want to work with other organizations? What if this is the best way to connect with new families and help people find Jesus? Learn why #NonprofitsWorkingTogether should become a common hashtag associated with your organization. During this talk, you will learn the benefits of supporting families alongside other nonprofits, how to fill in gaps for one another, and serve families more completely together. Love the thought but have no idea how to gain new partnerships? Join us to find out!
The Impact of One Ohio Church's "Disability Ministry Celebration Service": Isaac Bates, Jennifer C. Bates & Pastor Tim Bussey || Pastor Tim Bussey, Isaac Bates and Jennifer C. Bates will share about their epic journey of disability ministry at First Christian Church, Canton, OH. Churches and ministry leaders will learn ways to empower individuals with exceptional developmental needs in leading worship or Scripture reading for Sunday morning services.
Block #5 Workshops (Friday 7:45-9:00pm)
Trauma Informed Kids and Student Ministry: Kim Botto || Millions of American children have experienced trauma. Due to past experiences, traditional discipline simply isn't effective. We’ll dig into “why” behind disruptive behavior while learning practical and proven methods to respond to kids with challenging behavior in healthier and more effective ways. Because of the challenging behaviors of their kids, families across the nation are being asked not to bring their kids back to church. With the right tools and a hopeful heart, we can do better. In this workshop, learn how to 1) build teams who are equipped to welcome ALL kids and provide safe environments for them to learn and grow and 2) gain practical ideas so that volunteers are empowered, parents feel understood, and kids are better able to understand the love of Jesus.
The Role of Lead Pastors in Creating Congregations of Belonging: Rev. Dr. Karen Roberts & Rev. Jeffrey Moore || Pastor Jeff Moore, Lead Pastor and Pastor Karen Roberts, Pastor of Disability Ministries of First Presbyterian Church of Aurora, IL will share their congregation's journey of becoming a congregation of belonging. The workshop will explore the unique role of the lead pastor in the promotion of and implementation of disability ministry. We will explore resources and strategies for collaborative efforts between the pastoral staff and disability ministry leaders, so that people of varied abilities in their community find a place to belong. Participants will each receive a copy of "The Family Table: The Place We All Belong," a Sermon Series and Study Guide centered on the 10 Dimensions of Belonging by Erik Carter.
Let's Talk Identity: Naming the Tensions in the Conversation: Christie Penner Worden || The word “identity” is important and relevant. What does scripture say about our identity? How does our family story, our culture, or our life experience impact how we see ourselves? Let’s take a look at how finding our identity in Jesus, as a child of God and image bearer, resolves some of the significant tensions our kids are experiencing around identity today. There are three significant tensions in the identity conversation: ● Tension between individual uniqueness and a sense of belonging ● Tension between what stays the same about me and what changes over time ● Tension between what is true always and what is sometimes true This tension is resolved in the person of Jesus.
Worship As One: Learning with People with Disabilities About Worship and Prayer: Victoria White || Worship leaders, pastors, people with disabilities and their families each bring unique perspectives to what is involved in meaningful worship and prayer. We invite you to learn with us about these vital practices, discover what some churches are doing well, and learn ways we can each more fully worship as one, by offering options that create accessibility.
The *New* Path to Accessibility: Jenni Von Tobel || With the rise of Sensory processing disorder nearly matching that of autism, there is a new definition of accessibility in our churches. While it's the law to be accessible from a physical standpoint, if someone can't participate because they are overwhelmed from a sensory perspective, are we really accessible? This Workshop, led by a team of 3, including a young-adult leader with Autism, will challenge the notion that inclusion means accessible, and share strategies on how to make your spaces sensory and trauma-friendly. Participants will leave with practical ways to *Create kids/student environments that promote regulation (and prevent dysregulation) with adaptive seating, sensory tools, visual supports and more *Train small group leaders on the new generation of kids (and how to help them understand why kids aren’t the same as they were 20 years ago) *Hear from a young adult with Autism on what surprising things dysregulated him (such as his peers crying during a salvation message), and how to handle those situations *Why language is the key to accessibility.
Block #5 QuickTakes (Friday 7:45-9:00pm)
Marriage Ministry: Marriage on the Autism Spectrum: Rev. Dr. Stephanie & Rev. Dan Holmes || Have you considered how neurology impacts marital and family counseling? Have you considered how Theory of Mind and perspective-taking differences may impact a couple’s ability to connect spiritually, social-relationally, cognitively, and physically? Have you considered that NeuroDiverse and NeuroTypical people may have different capacities or needs to connect, or even how connection is defined to each person? In this QuickTake, Stephanie and Dan Holmes, a NeuroDiverse couple and counselor/coach team will share their heart for helping ministers and lay pastors understand the dynamics of a neurodiverse marriage and family system.
God's Design in Disability for the Church: Larry Gadbaugh || Incorporating those with disability into the life and rhythms of the Church embodies the remarkable nature of the Gospel to a watching world. God’s Word is clear: everyone, regardless of ability, is made in the image and likeness of God. As Luke 14 and 1 Corinthians 12 powerfully expound, the diverse Body of Christ reveals the heart of Christ’s Gospel. The disability ministry movement is needed to help equip the church to faithfully go and make disciples of all nations and people of all abilities. In this session, learn why the disability ministry movement needs to be rooted within local churches who will carry out the long obedience of discipleship with people of all abilities, and learn how the Church shines brightly and God is glorified as the weak and the strong within the body of Christ come together to honor and welcome one another.
Grumble Less, Lament More: Jerry Borton || Many people with disabilities may not be identified as a leader, because we are perceived as grumblers. The Bible teaches us not to grumble. That can be difficult. Throughout history, people with disabilities have had significant reason to complain. If we want to grumble less, we need to learn to lament better. Lament done well gives us a Biblical framework to express our pain.
A Proactive Plan for Creating Inclusive Community Resources: Peggy Ployhar || Creating inclusive environments for our communities goes beyond good programming and training initiatives, especially if we want to minister to families and individuals holistically. Peggy Ployhar, Founder and CEO of SPED Homeschool, has worked over the past 5 years to develop collaborative relationships with 200+ businesses and ministries to expand the inclusive network available to homeschool families affected by disability. In this talk, she will cover lessons she has learned through these various collaborative initiatives her organization has used to seek, vet, and cultivate inclusive community resources. You will walk away from this workshop with practical and strategic advice for developing a workable plan to expand inclusive resources in your community that you can't wait to implement.
Block #6 Workshops (SATurday 9:15-10:30am)
Finding God's Ministry Purpose for Your Life: 7 Keys to Identify and Accelerate Your Personal Mission and Ministry: Catherine Boyle || Being a parent of a child with disabilities consumes time, financial resources, and mental and spiritual health. But what if, in your challenges, God has uniquely positioned you to draw wisdom from your family’s life experiences to bless and disciple others? In this session, Catherine Boyle will help you identify some unique factors that form your ministry from God, and how to move from concept to living out His heart’s desire for you.
Gender Identity, Sexuality & Porn with Autism Spectrum Youth: Dr. Stephanie Holmes || Special interests and passion, entrenched thoughts, and impulse control are part of the challenges in working with adolescents on the autism spectrum. Spectrum youth can struggle with social skills, social interactions and finding belonging in community, which can make them vulnerable to bullying, exclusion, and more likely to be persuaded by social contagion, if social pressure can lead to belonging or to a social group. When an autistic youth comes to believe something, it becomes a “truth” to them, much like we in Christian counseling have come to a belief in God and Scripture. We believe what we believe, not out of proof, but faith. When an individual on the spectrum locks their mind onto a belief system, it becomes a perception of truth. Trying to argue logic or present them with what we believe to be facts does not usually dissuade them, but can instead almost entrench them into the position. In this session, ministry leaders and families will learn strategies to work with these adolescents, when their interests become focused on gender, technology or pornography.
Sermon and Teaching Strategies to Support All Learners: Brett Muscarella || The sit-and-get model of sermons does not meet the learning needs of many people with disabilities. In this workshop, learn research-based educational strategies to support all learners within your congregation. Participants will walk away from the workshop with a fresh new perspective on teaching and learning within their churches and will have a toolbox filled with new support strategies.
Building Disability Teams That Last - 3 Tips for Retaining Volunteers: Barb Stanley & Debbie Kowal || Tired of recruiting volunteers only to have them quit? This workshop focuses on three ways to help retain volunteers and build disability ministry teams that last. We will look at: Building Relationships--how to connect with volunteers and church leadership and why both matter so much. Building Up Over Time--how to equip and empower your volunteers on an ongoing basis. And Building Perspective--how to learn from your volunteers’ experiences and fix the problems you never knew existed. Taught from both the perspective of a Ministry Leader and a Ministry Volunteer, this workshop will help you know what to think about as leader, and what your volunteers might be thinking, too.
Block #6 QuickTakes (SATurday 9:15-10:30am)
When the Caregiver is Out of Commission: Joe and Cindi Ferrini || We often consider how to help caregivers as they care for someone with special needs. And most caregivers would rather give than receive, but what happens when the caregiver is out of commission, in the hospital, or ill for a very long time? We recently found ourselves in the place of being out of commission and needing care. In this QuickTake, we’ll share some of the things we learned that helped us navigate those waters.
The Power of Community: John Felageller || In this session, John will share a personal account of how finding and building a community around him helped to support him as a special needs father, and navigate the various personal challenges related to that experience. He will share the ways in which he intentionally developed relationships that in turn became a support structure for him, and the practical ways a parent can help build those for themselves within their own churches, neighborhoods and among their friends.
What We Will Be Has Not Yet Appeared: Students with Disabilities Going to College: Observations from a Disabled Campus Pastor: Peter Gordon || Problems in campus disability ministry: Ministry success depends on connection with individuals, not blanket solutions or a singular approach. Less than 20% of eligible students register with college disability support. Campus ministers are not able to cope with the spiritual needs of disabled persons, and disability services are not equipped to deal with spiritual needs. Working towards a solution: Developing a theology of disability ministry. What are each individual's gifts? All people who are called by God are gifted by Him as well. God is preparing us for something greater than we can imagine, because God calls us--but not according to our abilities or disabilities.
Empowering Individuals with Autism for Employment: Ron Sandison || Currently in the US, 80% of people on the spectrum are unemployed or underemployed; only 3% are gainfully employed. Professionals and parents will learn the eight keys to empower individuals with autism for life’s transitions and equip them for skills for a career. In this session, Sandison teaches practical ways to transform special interests into employment opportunities, developing skills for employment and understanding workplace cultures and norms. Ron also shares his own struggles with employment and how he was able to obtain gainful employment. He will also share the knowledge he acquired from interviewing over a fifty young adults on the spectrum and professionals in the autism community while writing his fourth book Autism, Growth & Transitioning into Adulthood, from Kregel Publishers (2023).
Block #7 Workshops (Saturday 10:45am-12:00pm)
Caregiving When you Just Don't Care: Joan Borton || There is no doubt family caregivers love the person we care for, but we’re human. Some days, the privilege of caring feels like a burden. Depression, feelings of burnout or ongoing weariness may plague our days. In this session, we’ll acknowledge these feelings and explore ways to find the courage to continue serving our loved one. Friends and faith community representatives will learn about the life of a caregiver and discover ways to join us in our journey.
Preventing Parentification: Strategies for Families and Ministry Leaders: Jolene Philo, Lisa Jamieson & Catherine Boyle || Parentification happens when otherwise well-meaning adults put adult-sized issues on a child’s shoulders. Parents of a child with disabilities who also have children without disabilities are especially vulnerable to dependence on the ‘typical’ siblings in ways that are not age-appropriate or emotionally healthy for those children. In this workshop led by Jolene Philo, Lisa Jamieson and Catherine Boyle, learn the signs of parentification, as well as strategies for prevention and tips for relationship repair. This session will also include practical suggestions for ministry leaders to help parents with children with disabilities parent well.
How to Influence Your Pastor (Without Buying Coffee): Shannon Blosser || Pastors have a lot on their plate in leading their churches. They have a passion for all of God's children, yet sometimes struggle to see the bigger vision of new missions and ministry. In this workshop, Rev. Shannon Blosser (a senior pastor and father of a special needs child) will walk through the five questions every pastor wants to know about a new ministry. These are questions he uses to engage mission and ministry, but are also vital questions that can help discern ministry fruitfulness. Through this, he will lead participants in seeing ministry through a pastor's eyes, and help encourage ways to increase engagement from your senior pastor in disability ministry.
Sensory Rooms: A Support Rather Than a Distraction: Tiffany Crow & Matt Barnett || This workshop will discuss the valuable tool a sensory room can be, while learning the science behind sensory tools. This workshop will further discuss behavioral benefits and pitfalls surrounding sensory rooms. Let’s plan to make the most of the tools we have. Come learn to maximize your sensory room and/or plan wisely for one in the future.
Using Storying for Disability Ministry Engagement and Discipleship: Pam Harmon || Storying is a process of sharing the Gospel, used throughout the world to start churches with unreached people groups who do not yet have written Scriptures in their languages. Storying can also be an effective tool used for people of all abilities to learn and remember stories of Jesus. In this workshop, learn how to use Storying as an important part of the environment and approach one may use with individuals with IDD as we connect with the Gospel message, grow in our relationship with Jesus, and learn to share stories about Jesus with others.
Block #7 QuickTakes (Saturday 10:45am-12:00pm)
Where Faith, Deaf & Hard of Hearing Children & Families Come Together: Tanya Polstra || Deafness is an unseen disability with a profound impact on families worldwide. Nearly every occurrence of deafness brings disorienting and foundational changes to a family. Deaf children born to Deaf households are the rare exception. Unlike more common and visible conditions, parents often don’t know what resources to ask for, feel lost and confused, and do not have opportunities to meet Deaf role models or Deaf adults who can answer their questions. Many parents do not know what deafness is, have never met a deaf person before, and find no help in their churches. Christ calls us to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. People living with Deafness and disabilities are present in our communities, yet are often overlooked or neglected out of fear and ignorance. Many individuals impacted by deafness and disabilities long to find a place in a church ready to embrace them with the truth that they are “fearfully and wonderfully made.” This presentation will give participants the tools and resources needed to reach out to families affected by these unseen disabilities in a Christ-like manner of love and respect.
Don't Forget You're Married: Steve Chatman || Disability and special needs takes a serious toll on a couple's marriage. Divorce rates are high, and many of those who stay together are seriously disconnected. One of the best things a couple can do for the children they care for is to have a strong and healthy marriage. For couples raising and caring for a child with disabilities and/or special needs, a healthy marriage can be a life-giving oasis that refreshes their souls and sustains them during the long journey before them. This session will help couples, and those who minister to them, discover three things that are vital to maintaining a strong and healthy marriage for the long haul.
Avoid | Tolerate | Serve | Love: Timofey Dovgalyuk || The Great Commission is for everyone, including people with hidden disabilities. A Great Commission church culture should not just be for everyone, but should be lived out through everyone. In this presentation, learn how lead pastors, by promoting a Great Commission culture, can bring awareness to disabilities and equip every member of the church to live on mission.
Pursuing Your Pools of Bethesda: Katie Matthews || We know that in both the biblical era, and today, there are places in communities where people with disabilities tend to congregate. In John 5 we see one of these places being the pool of Bethesda. A key task for the church is to identify our own “modern-day pools of Bethesda's”. In this Quick Take, we will discuss how to identify and implement outreach strategies to engage with those in your community who are impacted by disability.
Block #8 Workshops (Saturday 12:15-1:30pm)
Tools for a Resilient Marriage While Parenting Children with Disabilities: Kristin Evans & Todd Evans || Married couples face unique relationship stressors when parenting children with disabilities. Yet oftentimes, the focus can be on how to help their children and processing their own individual experiences as a disability parent. These marriages need unique interventions. In this workshop, couples will gain practical and evidence-based skills for how to build a resilient marriage in the midst of the strains on their relationships. Couples will practice how to apply these skills and make a plan for how they will implement these tools at home in everyday life.
How to Get Senior Leadership on Board: Steve Chatman || You see the need to launch or expand a disability/special needs ministry in your church. You have a passion to do something. You have a plan, or at least some really good ideas. But how do you help the leadership at your church catch this vision and support your plan? In this session, Steve Chatman offers ideas, insights, and practical tips for helping the leadership at your church see the need, hear your heart, and support the plan. As a current disability ministry leader, a special needs dad to two girls with Down Syndrome, a former pastor who was approached often with ministry ideas, and a former volunteer/staff member who wanted his leadership’s support, Steve has seen this situation from many sides. This session will show you how to be ready to share your heart and vision with the leadership at your church.
Youth Ministry Beyond Words: Josh Jacobs & Chris Thompson || This workshop is for every youth worker who senses that the way teenagers learn is diverse, and that one talk or lesson hardly connects with them all. Josh and Chris, youth pastors from Virginia and Michigan, have been there. They’ve discovered that the spaces you create and the rituals you invite students into can inspire teenagers of all abilities to connect with God and each other. Join us, and let’s explore some practical ways to make your worship service, youth group, Sunday school, and camps/retreats more memorable and meaningful to teenagers. Leave our gathering with three examples that you can try in your context. This workshop will include creating a welcoming physical environment (facility design, lighting, acoustics, etc.) and specific principles to incorporate when planning services and events (visual schedules, ASL, inclusive-language, etc.).
Taking the Mystery out of Working with Parents - Stories, Solutions, & Action Steps: Tom & Julie Meekins || Ministry staff and volunteers: we appreciate you! Thank you for stepping into a role that isn’t always clearly defined. We come to you as two parents of a daughter with a disability, and we also represent many other parents of children with disabilities who we have had the privilege of serving through the years. As a bonus, our daughter with disabilities will also share from her perspective. Our desire in this workshop is to take away some of the mystery that comes with your job, and ease some of the struggles. We will share real-life stories and solutions and leave you with action steps.
A Place of Belonging: Amy Troyer || A teen or young adult with special needs has the same desire as his or her peers: to have friends and a place where they feel they fit in or belong. But the world of people with special needs can look like isolation, loneliness and boredom. Individuals in the special needs community rarely attend school dances, plays, or school sporting events and are even less likely to be a part of the church youth group, if they even have a home church. One mom put it this way: 'My son is a part of the church youth group; he is just not ”in” the youth group.’ In this workshop, learn how to create opportunities for teens and young adults with disabilities, where friends in the community with varied abilities will have the opportunity to experience God’s love, build relationships and explore a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Expanding Your Lens for Community Outreach: Brad Mowry & Sara Webb || According to the latest census, 15% of public school students have a disability and/or receive special education services, an increase from 6.5 million to 7.2 million within 10 years. These numbers are likely to increase with the long-term impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Therefore, how all students experience belonging in ministry settings is more pressing than ever. We have the God-given honor to redefine “normal,” and create spaces designed for students on the margins--which will actually benefit all students! In this workshop, through an interactive exploration of our society’s biases, Jesus’ ministry, and Universal Design principles, you will begin to create outreach plans tailored to your community and ministry settings. As a result, you will expand the lens thru which you see your community and be able to respond to needs in a new way.
Block #8 QuickTakes (Saturday 12:15-1:30pm)
Three Things You Need to Know About Ministry Evaluation: Robert Crosby, PhD || Ministry is hard. We offer countless hours, precious resources, our hearts, our creativity, our lives. But many of us are left wondering, Am I really making a difference? To answer this question, research psychologist Dr. Robert Crosby offers a surprising new look at ministry evaluation. As he shares his unusual life journey from pastor to statistician, Dr. Crosby debunks the “If just one child…” fallacy, offers new ways to measure spiritual and relational growth, and shows how evidence-based evaluation can strengthen and empower your ministry.
Special Needs Services and Advocacy: Oreada Kita || In this QuickTake, learn about dynamics that impact the wellbeing of every person in the family, both the person with a disability and the persons without disabilities. Ms. Kita will share what a holistic approach of supporting the whole family might look like, including intervention plans that provide support for each person.
Breaking Point: Heather Croas || We all have our own breaking point, that place where life becomes overwhelming and may lead to trouble coping. For some, myself included, the use of unhealthy coping skills such as self-harm are an attempt to regain a sense of control or to numb the pain. All too often, unhealthy coping skills can also lead to suicidal ideation and suicide attempts, when you no longer see a way out. It's far past the time we start talking about suicide. My goal is to create an environment where people feel comfortable talking about it, without the shame attached. This presentation will show ways to look at suicidal ideation and self-harm from a different perspective, to help eliminate the stigma associated with mental health struggles.
