Disability Concerns Highlights Upcoming Events

The Christian Reformed Church in North America’s Disability Concerns office is helping to sponsor two upcoming, annual conferences in Canada — the first in Manitoba and the other in Ontario.

Both focus on including persons with disabilities into the faith life of communities, says Mark Stephenson, director of Disability Concerns.

Coming up on April 25-26 in Winnipeg will be the IN Conference.

Emily Colson, author of Dancing With Max, will be a keynote speaker. Her book tells the story of how as a single mother she has overcome challenges to raise her son, Max, a young man who struggles to speak.

The conference, now in its second year, will also feature recording artist Ken Medema.

Disability Concerns is one of several sponsors joining with Hope Centre Ministries in Winnipeg to offer the IN Conference.

“It's a great name for a conference. IN is for ‘include, invite, inform, inspire,’ and that captures the basic idea that the conference is intended to inspire and inform people in churches to become advocates for the full inclusion of people who have disabilities in all aspects of church life, as anyone who is interested and wants to better understand inclusion and disabilities will benefit by participating,” says Stephenson.

On May 3, Disability Concerns Canada is sponsoring its 19th annual spring conference for church leaders, disability advocates, persons with disabilities and others at the Perkins Centre in Hamilton, Ontario.

Titled “Turning Care Upside Down – Strategies for Cultivating Deep Welcome,” the annual conference features Emmanuel College professor, jazz pianist and author Tom Reynolds.

Reynolds will talk about how churches need to move beyond the most basic level of physical accessibility to true caring and deep welcome for all people, and especially people with disabilities, says Stephenson.

“I'm really excited about this conference because we always have a good showing of disability advocates who enjoy the time for learning, networking, and improving their skills,” he says.

In the past few years, he says, his office has had two additional sponsors for this conference, Anchor Homes of the Canadian Reformed Church and the Disability Concerns Ministry of the Reformed Church in America.

The conference cost of $25 includes lunch. For more information and to register visit disability concerns.