Meet the Speakers for IFL2020
Steve Biondo || The Tim Tebow Foundation, now in its ninth year of service to children all over the world, has welcomed Steve Biondo, formerly a senior-level executive at Family Christian Resource Centers, to take on oversight of the day-to-day operations of the foundation, which will continue headstrong in its mission to bring Faith, Hope and Love to those needing a brighter day in their darkest hour of need. Since being founded in 2010 by professional athlete and sports analyst, Tim Tebow, TTF has established a reputation as an advocate for people with special needs and those in need through several main areas of ministry, most recently Night to Shine, their worldwide prom for people with special needs which began in 2015. In February 2019, this event brought together 200,000 volunteers from 655 churches across all 50 states and in 24 countries to celebrate 100,000 honored guests. The foundation has also provided more than 3,600 life-changing surgical procedures to children of the Philippines who could not otherwise afford care at the Tebow CURE Hospital, built 10 Timmy’s Playrooms in children’s hospitals around the world, fulfilled the dreams of more than 90 children with life-threatening illnesses through the W15H program and created hundreds of Brighter Days, supported life’s essentials for orphans in seven countries and provided over 120 Adoption Aid grants to families making the courageous choice to adopt a child with special needs internationally, 98 of whom are already home with their forever families. Steve currently serves on several Boards related to anti human trafficking and orphan care.
Stephen Grcevich, MD || Dr. Stephen Grcevich (MD, Northeast Ohio Medical University) serves as the founder and President of Key Ministry. He is a child and adolescent psychiatrist who combines over 25 years of knowledge gained through clinical practice and teaching with extensive research experience evaluating medications prescribed to children and teens for ADHD, anxiety, and depression. Dr. Grcevich has been a presenter at over 35 national and international medical conferences and is a past recipient of the Exemplary Psychiatrist Award from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). In his role as President of Key Ministry, Steve serves the primary vision caster and spokesperson for Key and plays an important role in Key’s efforts to develop collaborations with church leaders, professionals and organizations both within and outside the disability ministry movement. He is responsible for strategy and oversees the implementation of Key’s ministry plan. He blogs at Church4EveryChild, is a regular contributor for Moody Radio Cleveland and frequently speaks at national and international ministry conferences on mental health and spiritual development. His first book, Mental Health and the Church, was published by Zondervan in February 2018. Steve and his wife Denise live in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. They have two daughters – Leah and her husband (Max) are students at the Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine, and Mira is attending Belmont University and is majoring in psychology. Steve’s work serves as a distraction from the abysmal performance of Cleveland’s professional sports teams.
Barbara J. Newman || For over 30 years, Barbara J. Newman has endeavored to create communities of inclusion through All Belong where she serves as the director of church services. Co-administrating inclusive education at Zeeland Christian School allows her to stay on top of best practices which she shares at schools and churches nationwide and in her books and practical resources, including Autism and Your Church, Helping Kids Include Kids with Disabilities, Nuts & Bolts of Inclusive Education, and her latest title, Accessible Gospel, Inclusive Worship. Barbara was the 2012 recipient of the Christian Service Award from Bethesda Lutheran Communities, the 2015 recipient of the Henri J.M. Nouwen Award from the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, and the 2017 recipient of the Ability Award from the Disability Network – Lakeshore. She holds a teaching certificate with a cognitive impairment endorsement from Calvin College, and a Master of Arts in early childhood education and early childhood developmental delay from Grand Valley State University with a concentrated study in autism spectrum disorders.
Stephanie Hubach || Stephanie Hubach and her husband Fred have been married since 1983 and have two deeply loved sons: Fred and Tim, who has Down syndrome. They are also blessed with a delightful daughter-in-law, Cecelia and a beautiful granddaughter, Caroline. Steph is currently serving as a Research Fellow in Disability Ministries and as a Visiting Instructor in Educational Ministries with Covenant Theological Seminary. Prior to her affiliation with Covenant, she served as founding director for Mission to North America’s (MNA) Special Needs Ministries for nine years. She is also a founding member of the Lancaster Christian Council on Disability. Published in ByFaith magazine, Focus on the Family magazine, Covenant magazine and Breakpoint online magazine, Steph has periodically posted for enCourage blog and for Not Alone blog. Steph is the author of Same Lake, Different Boat: Coming Alongside People Touched by Disability—First Edition (2006), Updated and Revised Version (2020). In 2011, in collaboration with Lancaster Bible College, Steph produced a Christian Education DVD series based on Same Lake, Different Boat, which is available on YouTube. She has served as a contributing author for the Ministry Essentials Bible, The Dignity and Sanctity of Every Human Life, and Amazing Gifts: Stories of Faith Disability and Inclusion.
Kelly Rosati, JD || Kelly M. Rosati, J.D. is the CEO of KMR Consulting & the Director of the Flying Horse Foundation. A nationally recognized child advocate, Ms. Rosati has testified before Congress on the subject of foster and adoption and was the founder of a faith based, national foster care adoption program. Her work has appeared in the Washington Post, NPR, National Review and Christianity Today. Along with her husband, she is the author of Wait No More: One Family’s Amazing Adoption Journey (Tyndale/Focus on the Family.) She and her husband have four children, three of whom live with serious mental illness including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder & major depressive disorder. She is a horse and dog fanatic who lives with her family on a ranch outside Colorado Springs. Follow her on twitter at @KellyMRosati
Deb Abbs || Deborah Meyer Abbs, who graduated from University of Illinois–Champaign/Urbana with a degree in journalism, works as a freelance blogger as well as serving as a disability resource coordinator for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship in Illinois and Indiana and as a campus staff minister at College of DuPage. She is a co-author of Life on the Spectrum, a book written by and for parents of those on the autism spectrum which can be found at lifeonthespectrumbook.com. She is currently working on a Bible study to be published by IVP on accessibility and inclusion. She was a columnist with the Kane County Chronicle and currently contributes to Key Ministry. She and her cop husband, Mike, have two wonderful two sons, Brandon, 19, and Luke, 15, plus a crazy English bulldog named Crystal.
Jermine Alberty || Rev. Jermine Alberty, M.Div. has 25 years of experience serving in nonprofit, faith communities, mental health, and city government and has worked in the mental health field as an educator and trainer for 12 years. He is a national trainer of Mental Health First Aid USA; the Executive Director of Pathways to Promise and the former Senior Pastor of Bethel Baptist Church.
James Achilles || With 22 years spent in pastoral ministry and more than a decade as an educator in California public schools, James Achilles has a unique set of gifts and experiences that mold his message. But it was his daughter’s diagnosis with Ataxia-Telangiectasia that taught him the most about life, relationships, and God’ purposes for our brokenness. Today, James is the Area Director for Joni and Friends Oregon, and also serves as a speaker, free-lance writer, musician, and worship leader.
Vinnie Adams || Vinnie Adams is the “Reflectors” Special Needs Ministry Director and Campus Worship Leader at Faith Church in Dyer, Indiana. He and his wife, Kate, live in Crown Point, Indiana with their sons, Jakob (7) and Josiah (4).
Tara Bertic || Tara Bertic embodies the saying, Bloom Where You’re Planted. She is mom to 4 beautiful children and her youngest Jeremiah gave her ample opportunity to bloom. Struggling with a diagnosis of Autism, she strives to create the best environment for him. God allows her to sharpen these skills with her position at Bay Life Church in Brandon, Florida as the Exceptional Needs Ministry Coordinator where her desire is for every child to know and learn about the love of God.
Jerry & Joan Borton || Jerry and Joan Borton have spent most of their lives befriending, working with, and supporting people affected by disability. God brought them together in marriage and ministry in 1995. Jerry and Joan understand from personal experience (Jerry was born with cerebral palsy), that disability affects the entire family Today, through Luke 14 Exchange, Inc you will find them mentoring, writing, and speaking on topics of family support, discovering your giftedness as a person with a disability, and the influence of the disability movement and the Church.
Kim Botto || Kim leads Kids Club and Student Ministry at Crossroads Church as well as their initiatives around adoption and foster care. As an adoptive mom she knows the joys and challenges from a parent’s perspective, as well as from the perspective of those supporting families caring for vulnerable kids. Kim’s passion is supporting parents as they build healthy, thriving families and helping build and train teams to welcome and engage all kids, regardless of their unique needs, energy level or background.
Catherine Boyle || Catherine currently serves as Mental Health Ministry Director, Blog Editor and Social Media Manager for Key Ministry. Catherine has been impacted by mental health issues her entire life, including her own struggles with anorexia, bulimia, anxiety and depression. Catherine has led and started various ministries, including a ministry home for women with eating disorders and Outside In Ministries, founded to help the church minister to and with people with mental health issues. Catherine also authored Hungry Souls: What the Bible Says About Eating Disorder. Prior to working in ministry, Catherine served as an executive at a large U.S. bank. Catherine has been interviewed for her ministry work on radio, television and in online magazines. Catherine has a BBA in Accounting and an MBA from Virginia Commonwealth University, is married to husband Barney, and has two adult children.
Shawnda Boysel || Shawnda Boysel is an encouraging carrier of HOPE, entrepreneur, speaker, trainer, mentor and teacher for over 30 years, an adventurer with God, wife of Bob for 44 years, mom of 2 sons and most famous for being Zekes’ Nannie.
Sarah Broady || Sarah Broady is a writer, speaker, podcaster, and a mother passionate about encouraging parents of special needs children as she has a son with autism. Sarah writes on her blog Hope in Autism, as well as for the Key Ministry parenting blog, and is the founder and host of A Special Hope Podcast. You can find her blog and podcast on her website at https://hopeinautism.com.
Amberle Brown || From the age of seven, Amberle felt called to be a missionary to an unreached people group. However, at the age of 21, a rare disease left her eyes legally blind and her hopes seemingly dashed. In a beautiful story of redemption, God gave Amberle a passion to reach the largest unreached people group in the world – people with disabilities. In 2017, Amberle co-founded The Banquet Network, an organization that works with churches to help them to reach and include people with disabilities. She also works with World Relief, an organization committed to empowering the Church to serve the most vulnerable around the world.
Lee Burtman || Lee Burtman is an author, speaker, educator and most importantly, mom to a son with Down syndrome, three other adult children, and grandma to seven. Lee recently retired as the Disability Ministry Coordinator at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis. She continues serving families with children with disabilities in her church, community, and in small villages of central Ukraine. There, she works with schools, seminaries, and churches to change hearts and minds toward people with additional needs and to develop welcoming, inclusive environments where they can use their gifts for God’s glory.
Joe Butler || Joe and his wife Jen are the founders of Ability Tree. The Butlers have three children, their middle child, Micah, has multiple special needs. Joe is an ordained minister and missionary with the Assemblies of God, and holds a B.A. in Bible from the University of Valley Forge and an M.A. in Disability Studies, with a concentration in disability ministry from California Baptist University.
Jane Cawley || Jane is the founder of The Shepherd’s Well ~ a Refreshing Oasis for Moms of Special Needs Children. With the birth of her special needs granddaughter she became acquainted with an entire new community of people–parents of special needs children and, specifically, the moms. As she observed their constant loving care for their children, she saw women who were exhausted, lonely, anxious, and discouraged. She had a desire to provide a way for them to experience respite and refreshment that would nourish their minds, their bodies, and their spirits. What better way than to feed them, pamper them, pray with them, laugh with them, and offer connections for friendships—providing a refreshing oasis…The Shepherd’s Well. The Shepherd, our Lord Jesus Christ, promises “whoever drinks the water I give her will never thirst”–that’s the hope for every mama who comes to Well.
Sarah Cawley || Sarah Cawley currently serves on the board of Shepherds Well as a founding member, but her most important job is being “Meghan’s Mom”. Her 7 year old daughter Meghan was born medically fragile and introduced her to the special needs community. Meghan’s life, and Sarah’s journey as a special needs mom served as the inspiration behind The Shepherds Well. Truly an example of how only Jesus can turn our greatest challenges, into our greatest blessings.
Tasha Chapman || Since 2002, Tasha has been teaching education and leadership and mentoring women at Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis. She has also served on university campuses, and in church women’s and children’s ministries, and in ministries overseas. She co-authored Resilient Ministry: What Pastors Told Us About Surviving and Thriving (IVP, 2013), Negotiating Ministry: The Politics of Working with People (IVP, 2018), and contributed to Crossway’s ESV Women’s Devotional Bible. As guardian for her twin with profound special needs, this ministry is a part of her life and passion.
Wayne Chasteen || Wayne Chasteen is the founder of Rhyme & Reason, a trio featuring southern gospel, inspirational, light contemporary and praise and worship music that traveled locally, nationally, and internationally for many years. He pastored full-time for ten years, then for 17 years Wayne traveled, speaking, writing songs, recording, and singing. God called the team back off the road in 2012 to plant Christ First Church in Ringgold, Georgia, as a ministry of Rhyme & Reason. During his years on the road, Wayne noticed some very specific groups of people missing from churches across the country, so Wayne’s vision for CFC was to build a church where those often left out of church had the opportunity to be part of a local body of believers. With more than half of CFC’s congregation now affected by disability or caregiving in some way, Wayne has begun sharing what he has learned about creating a congregation of belonging with other pastors.
PJ Crouch || PJ Crouch is 24 and has CP. He is a Moody Bible Institute distance learning student and has worked with Lifeline for seven years focusing on special needs ministry development. He has volunteered with Joni & Friends for six years, and joined the staff of Christ First Church in Ringgold, Georgia last year where he serves as the young adult pastor.
Tiffany Crow || Tiffany is a Behavior Analyst with a background in teaching Early Childhood and Special Education. She provides behavioral training and consults for public school educators as well as church staff on strategies to assist students for success. She is passionate about the population she feels called to serve and believes that every life should be celebrated as a part of God’s perfectly planned design.
Becky Davidson || Becky Davidson is the Co-founder and President of Rising Above Ministries, a multi-dimensional outreach to families impacted by disabilities. She is passionate about supporting and encouraging special needs families and encouraging women through her platform at Redefine This Life. She co-authored Common Man, Extraordinary Call with her late husband, Jeff Davidson. Becky and her adult son with special needs, Jon Alex, live in Cookeville, Tennessee.
John Felageller || John lives in Northbrook, IL with his wife Elizabeth and his son Christopher (ASD), and is currently the Educational and Social Programs Manager at Total Link 2 Community in Northbrook,, IL. He is a regular contributor to Key Ministry’s Special Needs Family blog, as well as other special needs blogs including Hope Anew and The Mighty. He has been a presenter at several special needs ministry conferences and has done both podcast and Facebook Live interviews. Connect with John on his Facebook page: www.facebook.com/johnsspecialneedsblog/
Dr. Joe & Cindi Ferrini || The Ferrinis live in Cleveland, Ohio with one son at home with special needs, two married daughters, two sons-in-law, and 3 grandsons living nearby. Dr. Ferrini (retired dentist) and Cindi are on self -supporting staff with Cru. Cindi has authored 4 titles, together they authored Unexpected Journey-When Special Needs Change Our Course, and their new book (12/19) is Love All-ways: Embracing the Special Needs Journey Together. They have been guests on radio broadcasts with Focus on the Family and Family Life, and host Monday Morning My Marriage Matters weekly on their FB page and contribute the same on WCRF www.moodyradio.org/Cleveland.
Mona Fuerstenau || Mona Fuerstenau has been an advocate for those marginalized by difference for nearly 30 years. She is Director of Ministry Partnerships for Bethesda, a Speech Therapist on long hiatus, parent of two millennials, fan of Asset Based Community Development. She works to find ways for people of all abilities to know and share Jesus and to find a place of belonging in faith communities.
David Glover || David is President and Founder of PURE Ministries, an ordained Minister of the Gospel, and lives in Dothan, Alabama with his wife of 49 years, Lee. David has previously served as National Consultant for Disabilities Ministries for the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention and has formerly been instrumental in the founding and development of several technology companies: as Senior Vice President at Stockholder Systems, Inc. (now Fiserv, Inc.) and co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of First Bankcard Systems, Inc. (now Fidelity National Information Services). David is the author of “A Better Way: Where Least is Most”, and, as head of PURE Ministries in order to spread the PURE message, has hosted large events, called PURE Celebrations, in Atlanta, Ga and Birmingham, Al with Gov. Sarah Palin, Christian music artist Chris Tomlin, and other Christian notables. David holds a Bachelor of Industrial and Systems Engineering degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Beth Golik || Beth Golik is the Operations Director for Key Ministry, where she hosts a monthly Disability Ministry Video Roundtable and is one of Key’s church consultants. Beth is also on staff at Bay Presbyterian Church where she serves as the Director of the Special Needs Ministry.
Melanie Gomez || Married for 25 years, Melanie is the mother of two young men, one of whom was born with a rare genetic disorder. Their family of four resides in sunny South Florida where Melanie passionately pursues opportunities to share God’s message of joy, hope and purpose with every special needs mom. She lives out her calling through speaking engagements, blogging at RedefineSpecial.com, missions work, and her recently published devotional titled “Bundle of Joy”.
Lamar Hardwick || Lamar Hardwick is a father, husband, pastor and author. He holds a Master of Divinity degree from Emory University as well as a Doctor of Ministry degree from Liberty University School of Divinity. In addition, Dr. Hardwick is a graduate of the Yale School of Divinity Clergy Scholar Program. Dr. Hardwick is a contributing writer to multiple blogs and magazines. In 2014, after years of silently struggling with social anxiety and sensory processing issues, Dr. Hardwick was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder at the age of 36. He is the author of I am Strong: The Life and Journey of an Autistic Pastor (2017). He is currently the lead pastor of Tri-Cities Church located in Atlanta, GA.
Sarah Harriman || Sarah was recently hired as the Executive Director for 99 Balloons, a non-profit located in Fayetteville, AR that provides ministry models of inclusion for churches. She has 17 years of experience in the non-profit sector and is passionate about seeing every tribe, tongue and ability valued and included in the church.
Kerri-Ann Hayes || Kerri-Ann is the Director of Mosaic Kids for Mosaic Church in Winter Garden, Florida. Over the past decade, God has shaped the Mosaic Kids ministry to be accessible to families with special needs and families caring for children from from traumatic backgrounds including foster care and adoption. Kerri-Ann’s passion is to encourage families and remove the barriers some of them may experience in being part of the local church.
Brad Hoefs || Pastor Brad Hoefs has committed his life to empowering those who have a mental illness, and their loved ones, with faith-filled hope. Brad has lived experience with bipolar disorder. He’s the founder of Fresh Hope for Mental Health. Brad is a certified peer specialist and serves on the NAMI FaithNet National Advisory Group. He is the author of Fresh Hope: Living Well in Spite of a Mental Health Diagnosis. Pastor Brad regularly coaches others to live well despite their struggle with mental health issues and is committed to helping break the stigmas regarding mental illness and challenging the church-at-large to address the needs of those who struggle in silence.
Jennifer Hollenberger || Jennifer Hollenberger MSW, LCSW is a wife to John and mom of 4. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Assistant Professor of Social Work at Grove City College as well as the Co-director of Embrace Life Ministries (ELM), an outreach ministry of North Way Christian Community in Pittsburgh PA. ELM’s mission is to promote a culture in which every single individual is embraced as a unique and inherently valuable representation of the Image of God.
Stephanie C. Holmes || Stephanie C. Holmes, M.A., is a Certified Autism Specialist and Credentialed Christian Counselor with the Board of Examiners for Georgia Christian Counselors and Therapists and was formerly an LPC in North Carolina. Stephanie’s career path changed when her oldest daughter was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome in 2005. She is passionate about creating places of inclusion for people on the spectrum in the schoolhouse and the church house. Stephanie founded Autism Spectrum Resources for Marriage & Family and practices counseling at her home church, Church of Chapelhill- Dunwoody Campus. She is a doctoral candidate at Abilene Christian University pursuing her doctorate in Education and is the author of Confessions of a Christian Counselor: How Infertility and Autism Grew my Faith.
Stephen “Doc” Hunsley || Stephen “Doc” Hunsley, M.D. is the President and founder of SOAR Special Needs in Overland Park, Kansas. SOAR (Special Opportunities, Abilities, and Relationships) serves over 900 individuals with special needs through regular respite events and a Special Needs Day Camp. Doc is currently assisting over 320 churches locally, nationally, and globally in starting a Special Needs Ministry. Doc also organizes the Wonderfully Made Conference held annually every October in Kansas City. Doc is a retired pediatrician while his wife, Kay, continues practicing pediatrics. They are proud parents to three beautiful children: Luke, Mark and Sarah. The Hunsley’s middle child, Mark, is presently running the halls of heaven. During Mark’s five-year earthly stay, he gave his family the opportunity to learn from and love a child with autism. You can follow SOAR on Facebook or Connect with Doc on Twitter: @DocHunsley SOARSpecialNeeds.com
Bergina Isbell || Dr. Bergina is a Psychiatrist, speaker, and author of Victory Over Depression: With and Without Medicines and Come to the Table: A Devotional for Families and Parents of Children with Special Needs. She is an expert in the areas of Trauma and Special Needs populations. She is the wife of Dr. Amir Isbell and mother of two children with Special Medical Needs.
Larry Jamieson || Larry Jamieson is an author, speaker and special needs dad with a passion to disciple men who want to be Christ-centered servant leaders in their homes, businesses, churches, and communities. Larry’s understanding of biblical manhood became radically reshaped through some stormy years of early marriage and raising three daughters including one with Angelman Syndrome. Together with his wife, Lisa, he co-founded Walk Right In Ministries with a mission to build faith and community with special needs families.
Lisa Jamieson || Lisa Jamieson is an author, speaker and advocate whose books and Bible studies include “Finding Glory in the Thorns” and the children’s picture book “Jesus, Let’s Talk.” She is co-founder of Walk Right In Ministries where she serves as a caregiver coach and leads the Minnesota Disability Ministry Connection. Lisa and her husband, Larry, live in Minnesota with the youngest of their three grown daughters, Carly, who has Angelman Syndrome.
Rebecca Jefferson || Rebecca is a missionary with Open Air Campaigners USA and lives with severe ADHD. She has ministered as an evangelist with her missions board’s Baltimore- Washington branch since 2015. One of her goals is to not only reach people with disabilities for Christ, but also to help encourage and disciple young believers with differences in evangelism. Growing up with undiagnosed ADHD, she is familiar with the struggles and frustrations that this causes to tweens and teens who have this disorder and desires how God by his grace can enable them to honor him.
Michelle Maris || Michelle Maris M.A. serves as the Pastor of Special Needs at Eastview Christian Church in Normal, Illinois. She served the state of Illinois as a credentialed Developmental Therapist/Evaluator in the early Intervention program for 17 years. Michelle has classroom teaching experience and currently teaching a course at Moody Bible Institute.
Lisa Mattheiss || Lisa Mattheiss has served for over 25 years as a ministry leader, advisor, and tireless advocate, realizing that the most profound way to support families affected by disability was to build into the fabric of the communities where families live their lives. Parent of an adult daughter with spina bifida, Lisa is also Founder/Executive Director of LifeLine, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit parachurch organization (Chattanooga, TN) that provides support, education, and resources to families and churches impacted by disability. She has been instrumental in the launch, development, and growth of multiple church special needs ministries, training and equipping to increase access and inclusion for individuals with disabilities and their families in congregational worship, educational programming, and fellowship activities. Lisa also currently serves on staff at Christ First Church (Ringgold, GA) as Special- Needs Ministry Coordinator, integrating ministry to and by those with disabilities throughout all existing and new programs of the church.
Katie Matthews || Katie is the parent of a child with special needs, the cohort & coaching coordinator for The Banquet Network and the director of a special needs children’s ministry called Bethany Blessings in Columbia, Maryland. She is passionate about bringing the gospel to families of individuals with special needs and seeks to train other church members on how to minister to these families. As a mom and a previous public school special educator she knows first-hand what a blessing it can be to work with those who have disabilities.
Jim McCaffrey || Jim is the pastor of Gunpowder Baptist Church, an SBC church located in Baltimore County, Maryland. He serves on the board of directors for The Banquet Network, an organization who’s mission is to “Equip churches to include people with disabilities” and as a General Mission Board member for the Baptist Convention of Maryland and Delaware. Since being diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder at the age of 36, Jim has used what some would consider an impairment to lead his church to love and include individuals and families effected by special needs. For the past 18 years he has been married to his wife Sarah and together they have 5 daughters (2 which are adopted) and are currently treatment foster parents for a sibling set of 3.
Jonathan & Sarah McGuire || Jonathan and Sarah, are the parents of two boys (the youngest with special needs) and the co-founders of Hope Anew. Hope Anew is a non-profit that comes alongside parents of kids with special needs on the spiritual and emotional side of that journey guiding them toward Christ-centered hope and healing. They connect with parents through a curriculum-based Hope & Healing Workshop they wrote and facilitate as well as writing, speaking, podcasting, and Hope Anew’s private online community.
Jillian Palmiotto || Jillian Palmiotto is the Unlimited* Special Needs Pastor at Mount Paran Church in Atlanta, where she and her team serve 175 families who have children with special needs. Jillian has a B.S. in Early Childhood Education and a Master’s Degree in Interrelated Special Education. She has attended Mount Paran Church with her family for over 20 years and has been on full time staff since 2013. Jillian also founded the Together Special Needs Ministry Conference in 2016 which afforded her the opportunity to equip other church leaders to create inclusive special needs ministries.
Sandra Peoples || Sandra Peoples is a special-needs mom and sibling. She and her family live outside of Houston, TX where she serves her church as director of the special-needs ministry. She’s the author of Unexpected Blessings: The Joys and Possibilities of Life in a Special-Needs Family. You can connect with her at sandrapeoples.com
Jolene Philo || Jolene Philo is both parent and daughter of loved ones with special needs and disabilities, as well as a former educator who worked with children for 25 years. She’s written several books about caregiving, special needs parenting, and childhood PTSD, including the recently released Sharing Love Abundantly with Special Needs Families: The 5 Love Languages® for Parents Raising Children with Disabilities, which she co-authored with Dr. Gary Chapman. Jolene and her husband live in central Iowa.
Christine Pierce || Christine Pierce is the Director of Community & Outreach for Rising Above Ministries in Cookeville, TN, and plans and executes multiple events for families and individuals with special needs. She resides in Cookeville with her husband Rob. They have four adult children and two daughter-in-laws. Her desire to serve in the special needs community began after adopting two children, one who is deaf and both with educational delays and Sensory Processing Disorder.
Tammy Ross || After a career as an Occupational Therapist that spanned over 20 years, Tammy Ross felt called to a different path and became the Director of Special Needs Ministries at Appleton Alliance Church. Her family’s struggle to find support and acceptance in the church for their son who has Autism fuels her passion for helping families achieve access to the gospel and inclusion in the body of Christ. Tammy lives in the Frozen Tundra (Wisconsin) with her husband Scott and their big Floof ball Sheepadoodle Winnie. Their son Zachary, now 24, is a senior at Marion University majoring in music composition.
Shannon Royce || Shannon O. Royce serves as Director of the Center for Faith and Opportunity Initiatives at Health and Human Services. The Center was formed in 2001 to ensure that faith-based groups were engaged as partners in serving those in need. Shannon’s background includes government and private sector experience. She served as Counsel to Senator Chuck Grassley and most recently as Chief of Staff at the Family Research Council, managing day to day operations to fulfill the FRC mission. As a cancer survivor, Shannon knows what it is like to be a patient coping with a confusing healthcare system. Additionally, her family has been strengthened through their experience with special needs and she has been an advocate for families to have the supports they need to thrive. Shannon received her Juris Doctor from the George Washington University School of Law. She is married with two grown sons and enjoys running half-marathons for fun.
Ron Sandison || Ron Sandison works full time in the medical field and is a professor of theology at Destiny School of Ministry. He is the founder of Spectrum Inclusion which empowers young adults with autism for employment. Sandison has a Master of Divinity from Oral Roberts University and is the author of A Parent’s Guide to Autism: Practical Advice. Biblical Wisdom published by Charisma House and Thought, Choice, Action. He has memorized over 10,000 Scriptures including 22 complete books of the New Testament. Ron speaks at over 70 events a year including 20 plus educational conferences.
Evana Sandusky || Evana is a pediatric speech-language pathologist in private practice in Illinois. She is also a leader of her church’s special needs ministry. Evana is the mother of a child with Down syndrome and limited speech and has authored a book about their experiences.
Tyia Lynn Scott || Professionally, TyiaLynn Scott was co-owner of a small consulting firm for 16 years. Then in 2015, she shifted her focus and founded Critically Loved, to provide education and support to special needs families. Her own 19-year-old daughter, Celia, is one of six children in the United States diagnosed with a rare form of life-threatening internal bleeding; causing Celia’s childhood to be spent in and out of the hospitals. Not wanting other parents to struggle like she did learning to manage their child’s healthcare, TyiaLynn now puts all of her professional energy into Critically Loved where she works full time.
Matthew Schneider || Fr. Matthew P. Schneider, LC is an autistic Catholic priest and doctoral candidate in moral theology. Fr. Matthew was diagnosed with autism after a ministry flop, and that gives him a unique perspective on autistic inclusion in the faith both for congregants and leaders. He has written extensively about autism and other faith topics and is currently working on a 30-day devotional for autistics. Fr. Matthew has done ministry across Canada and the USA and currently lives near Philadelphia.
Lori Sealy || Lori Sealy is daily amazed at the mercies of God in her life and by the hand of Providence that has carved her every step. Her story is one of being conceived in adultery, nearly aborted, adopted into a home riddled with mental illness, and later abandoned by her adoptive parents. It twists and turns through a season of atheism and across a life of autism – culminating at the cross where Christ has mercifully redeemed what was wrecked. As a singer/songwriter and speaker Lori has a passion for helping others see how the good news of the gospel brings substantial hope in things that are horribly hard – including how it provides a steadying anchor amidst the angst of autism.
Dawn Skaggs || Mrs. Skaggs is the National Director of Whole Community Planning and Training for a faith based non-profit in their Emergency Management Division. She brings robust experience in disability inclusion, whole community emergency planning, and integration of faith based organizations in disaster planning and response. Formerly faculty at the University of Hawaii, Mrs Skaggs has expertise assisting faith and human services communities to creating programs and systems that empower individuals with disabilities to participate as a benefit and an asset in times of steady state and in a disaster.
Jeremy Smith || Jeremy is the Co-Occurring Director and a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor at a community mental health center in Ashland, OH. Jeremy has a history of working as a ministry director for Youth for Christ in Ohio and Colorado for 8 years and then working as a mental health and substance use adult counselor in Colorado, specifically starting up an Opioid Residential Treatment Center. He is the founder of churchandmentalhealth.com with the hope of connecting mental health professionals and church leaders to educate, empower, encourage, and equip them to serve their ministries and communities.
Linda Starnes || Linda Hampton Starnes has spent life actively involved in the disability community: as a special educator, parent, speaker and advocate. After working at the U.S. Departments of Justice and Education, she became the mother of two children with varying abilities and complex healthcare needs, both of whom are now young adults pursuing respective college and career lives. Linda stays current and informed on a broad scope of education, employment, and healthcare issues for young people with disabilities, through lived experiences and advocacy service on multiple local, state, and national boards for disability, healthcare, educational, and higher education institutions, including two terms on the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities. Linda resides in the Orlando, Florida area, enjoys presenting at conferences across the country focused on the welcome, access and belonging of all within educational, healthcare, community, recreational, and religious settings., and writing the occasional article on family life with a twist.
Tom Stolle || Tom currently serves the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware (BCM/D) as Associate Executive Director. Tom, inspired by his youngest son Jimmy, led the BCM/D to launch a dedicated ministry to individuals and families affected by disabilities . Tom passionately serves our churches in the area of effective special needs ministry, including leading seminars, conducting training, and helping churches start or improve these ministries.
Mitzi VanCleve || Mitzi VanCleve is the author of two books: “Strivings Within – The OCD Christian” and “In Your Dreams.” She writes out of her own experience of living with these disorders. Mitzi advocates for Christians who struggle with Anxiety Disorders and OCD through, public speaking, social media, her online support group, her blog and her books.
Janet Williams || Janet is the Director of Community Outreach for Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic at Autism Speaks. She is responsible for planning and producing events and programs that support Autism Speaks strategic goals, mission and objectives. She is also responsible for disseminating information about Autism Speaks to schools, community groups, service providers, key partners, and faith-based organizations. Janet’s most recent accomplishment was that she championed Autism Speaks newest faith-based initiative called “Blue Blessings”. Blue Blessings serves to help ALL faith communities embrace people with autism and those who love them, by taking a fresh look at ways in which their faith community can commit to becoming more inclusive by providing them with a guidebook and many resources. Janet began her involvement with Autism Speaks in April of 2015, which was shortly after her youngest son was diagnosed with autism. Janet’s desire to learn more about her son’s diagnosis is what helped fuel her passion for more involvement through volunteer work, and ultimately employment with Autism Speaks. Janet has served as a former Chair for the 2016-2017 Atlanta Autism Speaks Walk and she currently resides in the Atlanta, Georgia area. In her free time, Janet enjoys all aspects of event planning and home décor. She also loves spending time with her four children and her grandson.
Rebecca Wall || Rebecca is the Programs Director for 99 Balloons, a non-profit ministry in Fayetteville, Arkansas, where she seeks to educate, equip, and train churches on 99 Balloons’ ministry models for respite, teens, and adults. She desires to see the church embrace, include, and celebrate each and every person made in the image of Christ.
Jennifer White || Jennifer White serves as the Special Needs Coordinator of a growing ministry at Long Hollow Baptist Church in Hendersonville, Tennessee. Jennifer, and her husband Marc, are the parents to two beautiful boys, including a teenager with multiple disabilities. She has a passion for advocating for individuals with varying abilities and using her years of experience to find creative ways to connect families with the Gospel. Jennifer believes that the good news of Jesus Christ should be accessible to everyone and that church can be a place where all kinds of families feel they are valued, loved, and truly belong.
Ryan Wolfe || Ryan Wolfe is the President and CEO of Ability Ministry. He is passionate about equipping individuals and churches giving them the tools they need to either launch or advance a Disability Ministry. Formerly the Disability Ministry Pastor at First Christian Church in Canton, OH where he served over 15 years.
Laura Lee Wright || Laura Lee Wright and Linda Hampton Starnes represent well over three decades of working within disability, educational, faith-based and social service settings. Together they provide compelling data and evidence-based research, concrete strategies, realistic insights, and practical resources on supporting those with varying abilities and health care needs in a variety of settings. Both Linda and Laura Lee have speak across the country of numerous topics regarding disability and have sat on national boards.