New on the Disability Concerns Network

Disability Concerns

Everybody Belongs.
Everybody Serves.

Disability Concerns helps churches become healthier communities that intentionally seek
• To end the isolation and disconnectedness of persons with disabilities and their families;
• To nurture the spiritual lives of people with disabilities so that they become professing and active members of their churches; and
• To encourage the gifts of people with disabilities so that they can serve God fully in their churches. (more about Disability Concerns)

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News

  • Stories of Grace and Truth Personal stories, poems, and visual art can communicate grace and truth about mental illness. Walk a few steps in other peoples' shoes through their stories.
  • Parent to Parent Support: This forum on the Network gives opportunity for interaction and support among Christian parents of children (including adult children) who have disabilities.
  • Inclusion Handbook: Everybody Belongs Everybody Serves. This handbook emphasizes the importance of developing relationships and encouraging everyone in your congregation to use their gifts for God’s glory, and gives church leadership the tools to do that. Download free or order print copies from Faith Alive Christian Resources. 
  • Getting ready: The January 1, 2012, deadline approaches for Ontario churches to comply with the regulations of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Christian Horizons has assembled a number of resources to help your church.

Where do we start?

The Disability Concerns ministries of the Christian Reformed Church and the Reformed Church in America have just produced our newest resource for churches: Inclusion Handbook: Everybody Belongs Everybody Serves. This handbook emphasizes the importance of developing relationships and encouraging everyone in your congregation to use their gifts for God’s glory, and gives church leadership the tools to do that. Download free or order print copies from Faith Alive Christian Resources. Feel free to print it yourself, or to include sections of it in your church newsletter. 

Disability Ministry Training Opportunities

Healthy churches train their members in warmly welcoming people and encouraging them to use their gifts. Disability Concerns encourages you to consider the following training opportunities:

  • Finding Value in My Day “How can we support people to have purpose and value in their day?” 
    February 9, 2012 8:30-12:00pm Mountain time, Parkdale United Church 2919 – 8 Ave NW Calgary, AB. This practical workshop, recently presented by Cara of M-Powered Planning at the ACDS Conference in Calgary, will begin by learning about the power of creating valued roles for children or adults with disabilities.  Cost? $70.00+ GST Pre-Registration Required: Please contact Cara Milne to register at: mpoweredplanning@shaw.ca or 403-764-1365 Maximum 25 participants so register early!
  • Disability Concerns Ontario Spring Conference. April 28, 2012, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM Eastern time, Community CRC, Kitchener, Ontario. Keynote speaker: Dr. Anthony Diekema, retired president of Calvin College, will spend the day with us. Diekema has addressed groups all over the world on Christian leadership, and has two grown children who live with disabilities. He will interact with us about the leadership we exercise in our churches by advocating for accessibility of facilities and programs and inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of ministry. Mark your calendars now for this day of inspiration and practical ideas.
  • Walking Beside Someone with Mental Illness Workshop. Do you care? Of course you do! But sometimes our care can miss the mark when our understanding is lacking. For CRC churches in Alberta, Disability Concerns is willing to bring an evening of mental health learning and discussion to your church. Please contact Heather DeBoer at disabilityconcerns@crcna.ca or 1-800-730-4390 ex 279 to plan your church's "Being Community: Walking Beside Someone with Mental Illness" workshop.