How can the Church welcome families impacted by
DISABILITY, MENTAL HEALTH AND TRAUMA?
The Gospel is the key.
The Gospel is the key
to welcoming individuals and families impacted by disability.
WHO WE ARE
A gospel-driven movement supporting disability inclusion.
Key Ministry serves churches seeking to welcome individuals and families impacted by disability, mental health and trauma, for the purpose of making disciples of Jesus Christ.
Through training, resourcing, and ongoing support, we help church leaders create environments where individuals and families impacted by disability can hear, believe, respond, belong and be discipled to know Christ.
APRIL 21-23, 2026
APRIL 21-23, 2026
WASHINGTON, D.C.
MCLEAN BIBLE CHURCH
RECENT
Podcasts Episodes
185: From Curiosity to Compassion
What Churches Get Wrong (and Right) About Mental Health Ministry
183: Start Here with Lauren Hickman – It Begins With Prayer
182: Disability & the Church Stories: The Story Behind “Spaghetti Sunday”
181: Caring with Intentionality
180: Discipling Teens with Hidden Disabilities
179: When Grandparents Bring the Kids to Church
177: Three Qualities of Disability Awareness
176: The Trauma Pastors Rarely Talk About with Dr. Steve Grcevich & Jeremy Smith
175: Top Ten Disability Ministry Wins from 2025
175: Top Ten Disability Ministry Wins from 2025
As we end one year and look forward to the next, we can praise God for all He’s done in 2025. In this episode, Sandra Peoples shares ten wins from the disability ministry movement. She also covers five things she’s looking forward to in 2026.
Ep 174: Jesus’ Christmas Names
In this episode of the Key Ministry podcast, we reflect on one of the lesser-known yet deeply meaningful names of Jesus found in Luke 2: “the consolation of Israel.” Drawing from Simeon’s encounter with the infant Christ, this conversation explores how Jesus is not a consolation prize for a broken world, but God’s personal comfort given to His people. For families and individuals impacted by disability, this name of Jesus offers real hope, belonging, and rest during the Christmas season and beyond.
173: Helping Vulnerable Kids Heal – Whole-Person Practices for Families & Churches
What helps vulnerable kids truly heal and thrive—especially children navigating disability, trauma, foster care, or adoption? In this conversation, Dr. Steve Grcevich sits down with Rachel Medefind, Director of the Institute for Family Centered Healing and Health at the Christian Alliance for Orphans (CAFO), to explore how God uses loving families, local churches, and simple daily practices to foster whole-person health. Drawing from her own story, her work at CAFO, and current research, Rachel offers deeply hopeful, gospel-rooted encouragement for parents, foster and adoptive families, and church leaders who want to walk faithfully with vulnerable kids.
RESOURCES
Stories, Articles & Downloads
It’s Just a Fact, Not a Complaint
The Wedding Gift
I’m Fine
Everything I Have
Still Life
When Hurting People Come to Church: A Vision for Mental Health Ministry Ep 166
3 Myths in the Church About Mental Health
DATC 2026 Call for Speakers
School Daze or School Days?
Salvation for Children with Disabilities with Sandra Peoples Ep 162
Salvation for Children with Disabilities with Sandra Peoples Ep 162
In this episode, Sandra Peoples shares about the chapter she contributed to the new book, Children and Salvation. How is the conversation about salvation for children with disabilities different and how is it the same? Sandra shares from her experiences as a sister,...
Having Student Volunteers in your Disability Ministry with Amy Kendall Ep 161
In this episode of Key Ministry: The Podcast, Amy Kendall shares the value of having student volunteers in disability ministry. She highlights the unique energy, reliability, and relatability students bring, along with how serving builds their confidence and...
A Theology of Belonging with Chris Hulshof Ep 160
This episode of Key Ministry the Podcast, with Dr. Chris Hulshof, explores the difference between simply welcoming someone and truly offering them belonging in the body of Christ. Drawing from Acts 9 and Saul’s encounter with Ananias, we see that belonging is...
TOGETHER
We can reach further.
Key Ministry is a nonprofit 501c3 that depends on the investments of individuals donors and churches.
To sustain our mission and fulfill our role in this Great Commission movement, we’re seeking partners willing to invest a recurring monthly gift to Key Ministry.
With your ongoing support, you become part of a powerful ripple effect—helping us reach and equip church leaders who, in turn, launch ministries that bring the gospel to individuals and families impacted by disability.
Would you consider joining us as a monthly partner?
TOGETHER
We can reach further.
Key Ministry is a nonprofit 501c3 that depends on the investments of individuals donors and churches.
To sustain our mission and fulfill our role in this Great Commission movement, we’re seeking partners willing to invest a recurring monthly gift to Key Ministry.
With your ongoing support, you become part of a powerful ripple effect—helping us reach and equip church leaders who, in turn, launch ministries that bring the gospel to individuals and families impacted by disability.
Would you consider joining us as a monthly partner?
Looing for a welcoming church?
WHAT WE DO
We serve churches looking to welcome
individuals impacted by disabilities through:
Conferences
We bring together church leaders and families through conferences designed to inspire and equip them to welcome individuals impacted by disability.
Disability & the Church
The Disability and the Church (DATC) conference is a yearly in-person event that addresses disability, mental health, and church inclusion.
Mental Health & the Church
The Mental Health & the Church Conference equips church leaders with strategies to support individuals and families impacted by mental illness. Through expert-led discussions and “Quick Takes” sessions, attendees will gain insights on providing peer support, creating inclusive church environments, and collaborating with mental health professionals.
Regional Disability Events
The Disability & the Church Regional Events deliver the same high-impact training and practical strategies from our national conference—now in your backyard! These immersive, day-and-a-half experiences are designed to equip church leaders with the tools to create welcoming, gospel-centered communities for individuals and families impacted by disability. Walk away with fresh ideas, meaningful connections, and a renewed vision for inclusive ministry.
Collaboration
We provide tailored consulting and foster collaboration to help churches create effective disability inclusion strategies.
Monthly Virtual Roundtables
Key Ministry's Monthly Video Roundtables are designed for church leaders and ministry professionals to engage in focused, interactive discussions on disability and mental health ministry. These sessions offer practical solutions and peer support to address challenges and implement inclusive strategies, with the goal of fostering stronger, more supportive church communities.
IdeaShare
Key Ministry's IdeaShare is a collaborative forum aimed at sparking creativity and innovation in disability and mental health ministry. Its goal is to provide a platform where leaders can exchange new ideas, resources, and strategies to enhance church outreach, making ministries more impactful and accessible.
MORE INFO
Coaching
We offer free, practical resources to guide churches in embracing and supporting individuals with disabilities, mental health challenges, and trauma.
Mental Health & the Church
Churches across North America have struggled to minister effectively to individuals with common mental health conditions due to the lack of a widely accepted outreach model. In Mental Health and the Church, Dr. Stephen Grcevich offers a simple, flexible model for mental health inclusion, addressing seven barriers to church participation and providing strategies for families and churches to foster spiritual growth for those impacted by mental illness.
Checklist & Get Started with Special Needs & Disability Inclusion Ministry
Looking to create or expand an inclusive ministry in your church? Our resources are designed to support you, no matter where you are in the process. Whether you're gaining senior leadership support or equipping volunteers, we offer the vision and practical tools to help your church welcome more families impacted by disability.
Books We Recommend
Here are some recommended books that can help deepen your understanding and enhance your ministry to individuals and families impacted by disability and mental health conditions.