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EQUIPPING THE CHURCH
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I have spent so much of my time living with a disability trying to avoid “being a burden” to others. I have answered, “I’m fine” when my soul was screaming, “I’m not sure I can make it another moment;” I have tried to manage my own accessibility concerns instead of inconveniencing others; and I have been ashamed when I haven’t been able to achieve that all-important 21st century ideal of independence.
Read MoreIn 2018, I walked through the hardest year of my life. My son, Kaiden, received an autism diagnosis. Six months later, my husband, Matt, boarded a plane to go halfway around the world to serve our country for a year. So, there I was, trying to navigate the uncharted waters of all things therapy for my son while helping my daughter survive second grade. I felt like it was more than I could handle. But that is when we learn to lean on God’s everlasting arms.
Read MoreLife flourishes when we move to the kitchen, where relationships deepen and communion occurs. I don’t only mean the Lord’s supper, even though that’s a fundamental part of being the Body of Christ. What I mean by communion is a level of intimacy beneath the surface and pure closeness that is only made accessible through the Holy Spirit…
Read MoreThe Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines an advocate as "one who defends or maintains a cause." However, as Christians we have access to the single greatest advocate that stands in on our behalf.
Read More'The most wonderful time of the year’ isn’t wonderful for everyone. Many schools take a brief intermission to celebrate the season and welcome the new year. And for our children who thrive on regularity and routine, Christmas break can feel more like a Christmas breakdown. If you want to have a big impact on your community this Christmas, utilize these five tips to make your Christmas Eve service both inclusive and accessible for individuals and families impacted by disability.
Read MoreOn Independence Day, we get to celebrate the freedoms God has granted us. As a country that highly esteems independence, individualism and self-sufficiency, we oftentimes forget the equally beneficial, scripturally-mandated privilege of being in-dependence on God and relying on others within the Body of Christ. Glenda Durano encourages readers to live as a Biblical community, rejoice in our diversity, and support one another as we discover the beauty of in-dependence from our families with disabilities.
Read MoreWe believe the Church is disabled when it doesn’t include people with disabilities, including the disabilities that we cannot see. Katie Matthews, Executive Director of The Banquet Network, was selected to give a QuickTake at Key Ministry’s Inclusion Fusion Live Conference. Learn about Matthew’s discussion on, “Opening our Eyes to Invisible Disabilities.”
Read MoreExecutive Director of The Banquet Network vulnerably unfolds her feelings of defeat as a mom to a child who is affected by disability. Learn about some of the raw emotions mothers of children who have disabilities feel and how the church can offer support.
Read MoreIt’s ok to do something small. But everyone needs to do something. At the “Every Child Belongs” special needs conference, Allie McCarty, Communications/Operations Manager at The Banquet Network, led a discussion on equipping children’s ministry leaders to include children affected by disability. Learn a few tips on how you can include children who have disabilities in your church.
Read MoreTom Stolle, CFO at the Baptist Convention of Maryland / Delaware (BCM/D), and avid supporter of The Banquet Network (TBN), recently met with the Baptist Press through the Southern Baptist Convention. This article discusses what Stolle has been doing through the BCM/D and TBN to equip churches to care for individuals and families affected by disabilities.
Read MoreLife is full of obstacles and road blocks, and unfortunately, individuals and families affected by disability face many barriers when it comes to the Church. Chris Hulshof talks about three barriers we see when considering the accessibility of our churches. In this blog, you’ll learn about the theological, body-life, and leadership barriers individuals whose lives are affected by disability experience in the Church.
Read MoreThe Banquet Network’s (TBN) work in the Dominican Republic (DR) was recently highlighted in an article by the BCMD. Learn about TBN’s new partnerships in the DR through the perspective of a dedicated volunteer, Alisha Williams, and our Executive Director, Katie Matthews.
Read MoreThe Banquet Network participated in a Night to Shine event through the Tim Tebow Foundation in the Dominican Republic from February 9th-13th! Learn all about our trip here!
Read MorePaul’s letter to the Galatians provides essential insights to the history of the Reformers. Learn about how disability played a pivotal role in Paul's relationship with the church of Galatia and the Reformation era.
Read MoreChris Hulshof writes about how churches can reach individuals and families affected by special needs because for disability ministry to be effective it needs to be shaped by a verbal, visual, and vulnerable witness.
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