Click The Servant - Summer 2010 to access this issue in which we:
Jackie Mills-Fernald, director of ACCESS Ministry at McLean Bible Church in Vienna, Virginia, and Jim Pierson, President Emeritus of CCFH Ministries in Knoxville, Tennessee collaborated to bring us this enlightening booklet.
Click the link to access Making The Church Inclusive For Members With Disabilities.
Visit our Online Store for additional resources.
This issue features Riverwood residents sharing their gifts with others and our president, Gary W. Spangler salutes Jim Pierson, president emeritus.
Please click to read The Servant Spring 2010.
Reading Kathleen Deyer Bolduc’s Autism & Alleluias was a wonderful experience. While I was impressed by Kathleen’s prose writing style, I was surprised by joy at the first poem. The prose relates a variety of events from Joel’s life; the poems reveal his mother’s deep emotions stirred by her son. The scripture at the beginning and prayer at the end of each chapter summarize the content. The scriptures, the stories, the poems, the prayers combine to give a loud message: every person regardless of ability is created by God and has purpose for being here. Joel has a lot to teach us about worshipping God. His mom did a good job of telling his story.
If asked for a suggestion for a book to use for a parents’ support group, I would suggest Autism & Alleluias. The range of topics would keep a group talking for a long time. Just a few ideas: dealing with the school system, developing a support system, maintaining a positive relationship with physicians, handling sexual development, keeping the marriage strong, letting go, parenting siblings, and developing faith in your child with a disability.
Autism & Alleluias will encourage parents of children with disabilities, help parents without children with disabilities know what the experience is like, and help people who work with them have better insights.
We are always glad to share news of ministry activities. The Power, Hope & Grace Bible Church, Detroit Michigan, Special Needs Ministry held its 4th annual “Celebration Sunday on March 21, 2010. This enriching event included “Empowerment Workshops.” Click here to see the Celebration Sunday Program Brochure and the Empowerment Workshops.
Send us news about your ministry that we may share with others.
This issue welcomes the New Year with great feature articles:
Please click the link to read The Servant Winter 2010 Issue and feel free to share with others.
“Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?”… John 1:46NIV.
Nathanael asked this question after being told that the Messiah had been found and He is Jesus of Nazareth. Nathanael had formed an opinion beforehand that caused him ask the question without reservation. We may encounter this attitude as we seek to include persons with disabilities in the life of the church. Especially when seeking to embrace those with a cognitive or behavioral diagnoses.
A few of the synonyms used today for the word good are: beneficial, suitable, skilled, virtuous, helpful, and obedient. People who are differently enabled may not be initially perceived as having these characteristics.
As we prepare to observe Thanksgiving, Christmas and then the new year, we must not forget our mission. We have to be sure our celebration services, commemorations, pageants, and other activities are inclusive. This is certainly not a seasonal charge but an ongoing one that is particularly important this time of year.
People of all abilities may experience difficulties during this period. However, for those with disabilities, their families, and caregivers; the added pressure can be arduous.
To enrich your inclusion effort, go the CCFH Online Store for:.
Use CCFH resources to ensure that your church is inclusive and your reply will be the same as Philip’s: “Come and see,”…John 1:46 NIV
CCFH Ministries offers resources both for training disability ministry workers and strengthening the biblical knowledge and everyday life of those with cognitive challenges.
Use the publication linked to this post to supplement study groups. Go to our site www.ccfh.org and visit the Online Store for other beneficial publications. Preview Exceptional Teaching Online for the ultimate experience in disability ministry education.
Click the title to access Caring For Our Temple - Addressing Health and Wellness as a Spiritual Component for Adults with Cognitive Disabilities.
Shaun Best recently wrote to CCFH: “If my material at www.lapublishing.com/blog/2009/brain-injury-words-people/ can be used for encouragement, support, reinforcement of hope, etc., then this is the purpose I can serve for our God.”
Also read more about Shaun on his site at http://www.headtohead.org/?art=255.
Shaun, thank you for sharing.
We introduce “The Servant”, a new publication from CCFH Ministries. This newsletter replaces our Connections and PDP communications.
Let us tell you about our business office’s move to Riverwood Christian Community on September 1, 2009. The move was facilitated by the Jack Ballard Church Builders who gave their time to “build-out” our offices at no expense to CCFH.
Read our new publication. Make copies for others in your church, send to family, friends and acquaintances.
Help spread the word about CCFH Ministries and it resources that promote the inclusion of people of all abilities.
Please click this link to access: The Servant Fall 2009 Edition