disability ministry weekly round-up {1-15-12}
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Did you learn anything new this weekend? As for me, I learned how to feed a child through a feeding tube so we can support a new family at our church. (While we don't provide medication on Sunday mornings and ask parents to do that instead, in children's ministry we treat feeding tubes the same way we treat bottles of formula we may have to mix: it's a feeding need, albeit with different mechanics.)
And on to the posts for this week...
Registration for my church's February 11th respite event: If you're in the area, please join us! Note that the main button at this link is for families to register, while volunteers will register by clicking the word here in the line "Volunteers may register here."
Today I Learned Something About Down Syndrome: This isn't a new post. It's over a year old. But it's a powerful account of a man working through his fear of the unknown to see the humanity of a woman with Down syndrome. (Favorite line: "This time I noticed her nametag." I would rather know someone's name than their diagnosis, wouldn't you?)
When Prayers Go Unanswered: Julia Roberts (no, not that one...) explains in this post why she struggles more with answered prayers than unanswered ones.
Your Presence is Requested - 2011 Reflections Jackie Mills-Fernald, the director of Access Ministry at McLean Bible Church, shares what she has learned through a tough 2011 about ministry, programs, and relationships.
D6 Press Release: I'll be speaking at this conference in September on special needs ministry as family ministry. Here's a bit more info!
Great sites for therapy ideas for kids with special needs This post has great info for parents, but it's also helpful - to a point - for ministry leaders. I say "to a point" because implementing special needs therapies isn't our job in the church; sharing the gospel so that all may treasure Christ is. Some sensory tools, though, are technically based in therapy but are also useful - and for some kids, crucial - for creating a welcoming environment.
Tempted to fear? APTAT This post, written by John Knight and pulling largely from a sermon by John Piper, provides a biblical way to deal with fear as a parent of a child with special needs. And don't miss the follow-up: Bitter or angry? APTAT
Is your church listed? Or are you a family with special needs looking for a church? 3 lists of disability ministries If you saw this post of mine early on Thursday, you might have missed one addition. I know these listings don't include all the churches who are welcoming to people with special needs, so please get the word out so that families know that there is a place for them in the church.
Tough topic, yet sensitive responses from Amy Fenton Lee at The Inclusive Church:
And on to the posts for this week...
Registration for my church's February 11th respite event: If you're in the area, please join us! Note that the main button at this link is for families to register, while volunteers will register by clicking the word here in the line "Volunteers may register here."
Today I Learned Something About Down Syndrome: This isn't a new post. It's over a year old. But it's a powerful account of a man working through his fear of the unknown to see the humanity of a woman with Down syndrome. (Favorite line: "This time I noticed her nametag." I would rather know someone's name than their diagnosis, wouldn't you?)
When Prayers Go Unanswered: Julia Roberts (no, not that one...) explains in this post why she struggles more with answered prayers than unanswered ones.
Your Presence is Requested - 2011 Reflections Jackie Mills-Fernald, the director of Access Ministry at McLean Bible Church, shares what she has learned through a tough 2011 about ministry, programs, and relationships.
D6 Press Release: I'll be speaking at this conference in September on special needs ministry as family ministry. Here's a bit more info!
Great sites for therapy ideas for kids with special needs This post has great info for parents, but it's also helpful - to a point - for ministry leaders. I say "to a point" because implementing special needs therapies isn't our job in the church; sharing the gospel so that all may treasure Christ is. Some sensory tools, though, are technically based in therapy but are also useful - and for some kids, crucial - for creating a welcoming environment.
Tempted to fear? APTAT This post, written by John Knight and pulling largely from a sermon by John Piper, provides a biblical way to deal with fear as a parent of a child with special needs. And don't miss the follow-up: Bitter or angry? APTAT
Is your church listed? Or are you a family with special needs looking for a church? 3 lists of disability ministries If you saw this post of mine early on Thursday, you might have missed one addition. I know these listings don't include all the churches who are welcoming to people with special needs, so please get the word out so that families know that there is a place for them in the church.
Tough topic, yet sensitive responses from Amy Fenton Lee at The Inclusive Church:
- When a Child Shows Signs of Autism - Part 1
- When a Child Shows Signs of Autism - Part 2
- When a Child Shows Signs of Autism - Part 3
Here's one post from a blog I just found, written by a special needs ministry coordinator in California: The Church's View of Mental Illness, and Mine I'll be blogging about a second post of hers later this week.
Should we teach the Bible to those with severe cognitive disabilities? and a follow-up here: Two posts from John Knight (and don't mind the richness of the comments on the first one!)
As Christians, knowing isn't necessary (and it's ok to ask) Yep, another from John Knight. Really, I probably could have titled this post: A week of John Knight's blog, plus a handful of other posts.
As Christians, knowing isn't necessary (and it's ok to ask) Yep, another from John Knight. Really, I probably could have titled this post: A week of John Knight's blog, plus a handful of other posts.
