by jphilo | Mar 5, 2012 | Different Dream, Special Needs Ministry, Spiritual Support
Guest blogger Ellen Stumbo shares a different perspective about special needs today. Rather than posting about parenting, she writes about how important people with special needs are at the church her family attends. Maybe her words will provide the perspective you need today, too.
Our Church Needs Brody
“We have a small church with good people and big hearts.”
Andy and I heard this statement when we first candidated at Orchard View Alliance. A sentiment that we now know to be true. Although we are only a few, I love to look around on a Sunday morning and see the faces of our new friends. I smile every time. In our church, disability is normal. Much like in our own family.
Last night, we had our first AWANA meeting of the year. Andy and I are learning the ropes of this children’s ministry, and along with Sandy, we are the Sparks leaders. And every time Sandy comes to church, Brody is with her.
Brody is a young adult with cerebral palsy. He has spastic diplegia, just like our daughter Nina. His voice is high and somehow it reminds me of Urkel from Family Matters. Yet once in a while when he speaks, his voice turns deep and you hear the man in Brody. Brody’s walk cannot hide the typical gait of CP, yet his servant heart does not stop him from carrying chairs around a room to make sure we all have a place to sit.
As we worked on memorizing John 3:16, Brody listened and participated intently along with the rest of the kids. One by one the children chose to go to the front of the room and try reciting the verse along with the hand motions we made up. After the kids had their turn, Brody asked to have a turn too.
Brody, a 20-something man in front of a room with kindergarten kids. He did the hand motions, he said most of the words. I looked at Sandy, and I knew she was proud. Brody has become like one of her own kids. I then looked at the rest of the kids. It is beautiful when you see children look past disability. There is something touching when you realize that they are not affected by the prejudice of our society. Brody is just Brody, and they too, were proud of him.
Our church needs Brody.
Every church, every ministry would be blessed with the Brodys of this world. Yet, there are so many parents of kids with special needs that do not feel welcome at church. So many adults with disabilities that wonder if they will fit in.
But not last night, not Brody.
Brody’s light extends beyond our AWANA nights. Brody, who by this world’s standards might seem broken, is spreading God’s word and shining his light. Brody is determined to share this verse with everyone he knows. Everyone. A few days ago, one of Brody’s care givers asked Sandy to please write down the verse Brody was trying to recite, so she can help him memorize and practice the hand motions. Brody meets with his friends, and he has something to teach them, a verse he learned at church. Brody gathers with his family, and he makes sure they all listen to John 3:16. The word of God, His promise, His sacrifice, shared by a young man that some might believe has little to contribute to society.
Brody’s light is shining. He is sharing the message. People are listening. His contribution might just be one of eternal relevance, and I just picture Brody standing before God when he hears, “Well done!” It humbles me. I have much to learn from Brody.
Our church needs Brody. Does yours?
Does Your Church Have a Brody?
Oops! Sorry I didn’t mention you might need a tissue while reading Ellen’s post. Once you dry your eyes and blow your nose, feel free to leave a comment about the Brody in your church. What is your Brody teaching you? Why does your church need Brody?
Do you like what you see at DifferentDream.com? You can receive more great content by subscribing to the quarterly Different Dream newsletter and signing up for the daily RSS feed delivered to your email inbox. You can sign up for the first in the pop up box and the second at the bottom of this page.
by jphilo | Feb 14, 2012 | Different Dream, Special Needs Ministry, Spiritual Support
Happy Valentine’s Day to everyone in special needs land!
Riding the Sugar High
Between snitching the candy your kids brought home from school parties and/or celebrating the holiday with your sweetie, maybe you’re riding a sugar high. With that in mind, this post is a short and sweet peek at a sweetheart of a Key Ministry resource.
I’m In Love with Key Ministry
If you’re a regular DifferentDream.com reader, you know I’m in love with Key Ministry. If you’re a first time reader, you may want to check them out. They provide free (yes, free) resources for churches and advocates who want to start special needs ministries in their communities. Dr. Steve Grcevich, the founder of Key Ministry, and Katie Wetherbee, KM’s educational consultant have blogs jam-packed with resources, features, and sound advice.
A Valentine’s Day Treats
Last month they created two more sweetheart pages at Steve’s blog. The first is a compilation of all the links to their most popular series of 2011, Thinking Orange…Family Ministry Strategies When Families Have Special Needs. The second is a compilation of links to their most popular series of all time, ADHD and Spiritual Development.
Savor These Sweet Treats
Once you’ve had time to savor these sweet offering, maybe you’ll want to return to DifferentDream.com and leave comment about your favorite link. And considering the day, a comment about your favorite Valentine’s candy is acceptable, too. (Mine are Russel Stover coconut-filled chocolates, in case you still need to purchase my gift.)
Do you like what you see at DifferentDream.com? You can receive more great content by subscribing to the quarterly Different Dream newsletter and signing up for the daily RSS feed delivered to your email inbox. You can sign up for the first in the pop up box and the second at the bottom of this page.
by jphilo | Dec 19, 2011 | Different Dream, Special Needs Ministry, Spiritual Support
Brian Rizzo is one cool dude. In 2008 when he was 14 years old, he was working on his Eagle Scout badge. Because his younger sister lives with autism, he developed a special needs library for his church parish. Like I said, one cool dude.
But Wait, There’s More!
Turns out, that project was only his first contribution to the special needs community. He then worked with his parents to develop learning tools to help children with special needs prepare for their First Eucharist. Because of Brian, the Adaptive First Eucharist Kit can now be purchased through Loyola Press.
Marla Murasko and Special Moms Entrepreneur Club
Special Needs Ministry: Adaptive First Eucharist Kit came to my attention via a blog post by Marla Murasko at Special Moms Entrepreneur Club. One Sunday, her family’s parish announced upcoming confirmation classes. She searched for materials that would allow her son (only 5 1/2 at the time, but as parents of kids with special needs know, it’s best to start looking early) to further his religious education when he was older.
Take a Look at What’s in the Adaptive First Eucharist Kit!
Though I am not Roman Catholic, I was impressed with the contents of the Adaptive First Eucharist Preparation Kit. Each kit includes:
The Adaptive First Eucharist Kit for children with autism or other special needs includes eight pieces:
- My Picture Missal Picture Book and Mass Picture Cards are for use at Mass. They help the child maintain focus and actively participate in the Mass.
- Bless Yourself Matching Puzzle helps the child learn how to make the Sign of the Cross. This activity can be paired with parent or catechist modeling so it becomes a gross motor imitation task.
- Who Is Jesus? Instructional Story introduces the child to Jesus as the Son of God and relates God’s family to the child’s family.
- Communion Is Not the Same as Food Matching Puzzle helps the child distinguish between the Eucharist and ordinary food.
- How to Receive Communion Matching Puzzle shows all the steps of receiving Communion reverently, providing a guide for the child to practice. This learning tool may be taught with sequencing or modeling.
- I Receive Communion Social Story is a book that reinforces the reverence and proper steps of receiving Communion.
- Helper Guide includes tips on how to use the kit.
- A backpack so the child can transport the items from home, faith formation sessions, and Mass.
Every Denomination Needs Someone with Brian Rizzo’s Vision
If every Christian denomination had someone with Brian Rizzo’s vision, the church could share the hope of Christ with many more children who have special needs. We need to work together as Christians to spread the word about resources for special needs ministry across denominational lines. So if you know of products for special needs ministry or people who make them, leave a comment. Let’s help Brian reap a mighty harvest for the Kingdom of God.
Do you like what you see at DifferentDream.com? You can receive more great content by subscribing to the quarterly Different Dream newsletter and signing up for the daily RSS feed delivered to your email inbox. You can sign up for the first in the pop up box and the second at the bottom of this page.
by jphilo | Feb 18, 2011 | Different Dream, Special Needs Ministry, Spiritual Support
My, oh, my! Amy Fenton Lee has done it again. The last time her site www.inclusivechurch.com was featured here, the topic was a free autism training webinar. Now she’s back with more free resources for churches reaching out to the special needs community.
Special Needs Ministry Resources: Forms and Lots of Links
Amy’s January 10, 2011 blog post, titled Developing a Special Needs Ministry’s Goals & Mission, is a treasure trove of forms and links for churches launching special needs ministries. In one post, she consolidated information that would take church workers days and weeks to find for themselves.
Free Special Needs Ministry Resources Can Be Your Foot in the Door
Parents of kids with special needs can use the resources, too. If your church doesn’t have a special needs ministry, show the post to your pastor or the director of children’s ministries. Think of it as your foot in the door, just what you need to give them, and others in your church without a clue of where to begin, the courage to start a ministry.
Special Needs Ministry Resources Are My Foot in the Door
Amy’s list is my foot in the door. I’m showing it to our church leaders at our all-church planning retreat when they ask for new ministry ideas. So if you know of other good church resources, share them in the comment section. I need all the feet in the door I can get!
Do you like what you see at DifferentDream.com? You can receive more great content by subscribing to the quarterly Different Dream newsletter and signing up for the daily RSS feed delivered to your email inbox. You can sign up for the first in the pop up box and the second at the bottom of this page.
Save
by jphilo | Nov 29, 2010 | Different Dream, Special Needs Ministry, Spiritual Support
Consider this blog post an early Christmas gift. Because Key Ministries is a gift to parents of kids with special needs…and for the churches that want to support them.
What Is Key Ministry?
Key Ministries was created by Dr. Steve Grcevich as a resource for churches. It equips them to support families with members who have special needs. According to their mission statement, “Key Ministry’s mission is to equip churches to welcome and include children and families affected by hidden disabilities in all aspects of the life of the church. We’re uniquely positioned to do this; our staff and volunteers are professionals in fields such as psychiatry, special education, psychology and ministry. We hope that the resources you discover here will be useful to you in ministry within your church and possibly within your family as well.”
Who Is Key Ministry?
You can read about the people who work at Key Ministries – Dr. Gcevich, Rebecca Hamilton, Harmony Hensley, and Katie Wetherbee – by visiting the staff page at www.KeyMinistries.org. After meeting Katie and Rebecca at a recent conference, I can tell you they are caring and compassionate professionals able to offer churches and parents tested and practical advice.
Key Ministry Is Free
While you’re at the staff page, surf the entire site. It is packed with resources and information. And it’s all free. That’s right, free. Pretty amazing, don’t you think? Be sure to visit Steve’s blog, Church 4 Every Child, where you’ll find enough reading material to keep you busy for a month. Then, cruise on over to Katie’s blog, which is full of tips about how to help kids with special needs succeed at Sunday school.
Do you like what you see at DifferentDream.com? You can receive more great content by subscribing to the quarterly Different Dream newsletter and signing up for the daily RSS feed delivered to your email inbox. You can sign up for the first in the pop up box and the second at the bottom of this page.
by jphilo | Oct 18, 2010 | Different Dream, Special Needs Ministry, Spiritual Support
Since google alerts first brought the Inclusive Church website to my attention, it has become one of my favorite websites.
Amy Fenton Lee, Creator
Launched Amy Fenton Lee in April of 2010, it quickly became the go to place for those who coordinate special needs ministries in their churches. As the mom of a young son with special needs, a former marketing executive, and the daughter of a pastor, she is uniquely equipped to work in this field.
5 Reasons to Visit the Inclusive Church Website
If you haven’t been to Inclusive Church, here are 5 reasons you need to visit:
- You can read interviews with people who run successful special needs ministries all around the country. Fenton Lee has interviewed a number of leaders in the field. You’re bound to find one that resonates with your particular set of circumstances.
- Fenton Lee reaches across denominational lines and into the public domain for best practices and materials that advance the inclusion of people with special needs in churches. How refreshing!
- The website addresses practical issues like safety (see the recent series on safety in children’s ministries) and prickly ones, too, like how to delete the “R” word.
- Though the primary audience for the website is children’s ministry leaders, there is a category dedicated to issues of interest to parents.
- Parents can educate themselves and intelligently approach their churches with suggestions about starting a special needs ministry. At the site, there’s information about where to start and how to approach church leaders. Best of all, when they ask where to find resources, parents can point them to www.InclusiveChurch.com.
Do You Like What You See?
So head over to the Inclusive Church and take a gander. Then come back here and leave a comment about your favorite blog posts. Or describe how you will use the information available there. New ideas are always welcome!
Do you like what you see at DifferentDream.com? You can receive more great content by subscribing to the quarterly Different Dream newsletter and signing up for the daily RSS feed delivered to your email inbox. You can sign up for the first in the pop up box and the second at the bottom of this page.
