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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 MoreAre we, the Church, viewing people who have disabilities as image bearers to our Creator? Chris Hulshof writes about three common errors we see in the Church when ministering to individuals and families who have disabilities. In this blog, you’ll learn about the dangers to these conducts and how you can prevent them from taking place in the Church today.
Read MoreJust like one part of our physical body can significantly affect another, the same is true in our spiritual body, the Church. That’s why, when we have a disability ministry, we need to think of how the church can holistically minister to families with disabilities.
Read MorePeople with disabilities can and should serve in every area of the church from leadership on down. Let’s not limit people with disabilities by assuming they don’t want to serve. People with disabilities are an indispensable part of the body (1 Corinthians 12:22), and when they are visible in church ministry, God’s light shines through.
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 MoreEvery Christian parent longs for his or her child to be baptized, but for some families, that's not easy as it sounds, particularly for children impacted by disability. Learn about Kim Stillwell and her daughter Katie’s baptism story when they attended the second annual Every Child Belongs Camp last summer.
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 MoreJohn 5:1-15 recounts Jesus’ awareness of a paralyzed man who was surrounded by crowds of disabled people. In this encounter, Jesus shows us three qualities of disability awareness. Learn more about how we can image Jesus’ heart and awareness throughout this passage in the book of John.
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 MoreWhat do we mean when we ask for prayer for a healthy baby? How does this statement impact our view of disability? As a mother to an adult child with a disability, Glenda Durano unpacks how the church can process what God’s Word says about disability and apply it to our lives.
Read MoreAs a father to a child with a disability, CJ Matthews, Pastor of Bethany Church Columbia, challenges churches to ensure families affected by disability are welcome. This is article is based on the recent “Every Child Belongs” Conference hosted by The Banquet Network, the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware, Cresthill Church, and The Gathering Place.
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 MoreAre we, the Church, viewing people who have disabilities as image bearers to our Creator? Chris Hulshof writes about three common errors we see in the Church when ministering to individuals and families who have disabilities. In this blog, you’ll learn about the dangers to these conducts and how you can prevent them from taking place in the Church today.
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