links I love in disability ministry {8/8/2012}
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First, let me say Happy Father's Day... in Taiwan, that is. The Mandarin word for father (which, in our alphabet, is "baba") and today's date (the word eight is like "ba," so today is "ba ba") sound similar, so it's Father's Day in Zoe's birth country.
And now, on to some links that have edified and encouraged us as my husband and I co-lead our church's special needs ministry...
Kempton Turner: When Lightning Strikes Twice Pastor Kempton's answer to the question about whether or not God allowed his son's disability is a must read.
4 Disturbing Trends in the Contemporary Church We fail in ministry (and life) when we rely on our own words, our own methods (including, I would add, an over-reliance on what secular practices are in disability-related fields in place of a primary emphasis on Christ), our own good works, and our own glory.
Can a Christian Starve to Death? Challies' answer to this question (better worded, "if God promises to supply every need, why do Christians ever starve to death or suffer in other ways?") is helpful to all of us as we consider God's sovereignty in light of the suffering that is part of many disabilities.
They Simply Don't Know My friend Adeye brings to light the glaring absence of special needs from many adoption and orphan care conferences. (I've noticed that when special needs sessions are present, the focus is limited to HIV+ or Down syndrome.)
Ellie May Challis and Oscar Pistorious "Race" in an Inspiring Series of Newly-Discovered Images Yep, I definitely have a favorite Olympian.
"Individuals can practice eugenics..." And so we, who value all life, must show a different option as we glorify the Author of all life.
Son with autism hears a softer world thanks to new headphones If a child or adult showed up to your church wearing headphones as an accommodation for a sensory sensitivity to noise, would the leaders and members of all ages welcome them or be caught off guard by something that's outside of the norm you're used to? (If we're honest, sometimes we respond with the latter, even if we know the former response is the right one.)
This isn't a disability ministry video, but it's one from a major missions-focused event we had last month at our church. Enjoy.
And now, on to some links that have edified and encouraged us as my husband and I co-lead our church's special needs ministry...
Kempton Turner: When Lightning Strikes Twice Pastor Kempton's answer to the question about whether or not God allowed his son's disability is a must read.
4 Disturbing Trends in the Contemporary Church We fail in ministry (and life) when we rely on our own words, our own methods (including, I would add, an over-reliance on what secular practices are in disability-related fields in place of a primary emphasis on Christ), our own good works, and our own glory.
Can a Christian Starve to Death? Challies' answer to this question (better worded, "if God promises to supply every need, why do Christians ever starve to death or suffer in other ways?") is helpful to all of us as we consider God's sovereignty in light of the suffering that is part of many disabilities.
They Simply Don't Know My friend Adeye brings to light the glaring absence of special needs from many adoption and orphan care conferences. (I've noticed that when special needs sessions are present, the focus is limited to HIV+ or Down syndrome.)
Ellie May Challis and Oscar Pistorious "Race" in an Inspiring Series of Newly-Discovered Images Yep, I definitely have a favorite Olympian.
"Individuals can practice eugenics..." And so we, who value all life, must show a different option as we glorify the Author of all life.
Son with autism hears a softer world thanks to new headphones If a child or adult showed up to your church wearing headphones as an accommodation for a sensory sensitivity to noise, would the leaders and members of all ages welcome them or be caught off guard by something that's outside of the norm you're used to? (If we're honest, sometimes we respond with the latter, even if we know the former response is the right one.)
This isn't a disability ministry video, but it's one from a major missions-focused event we had last month at our church. Enjoy.