Faith Alive Resources for ministry with people with disabilities
Walk with Me, a popular Sunday school curriculum for children, as well as other resources for children, youth adults and are available in braille by contacting Faith Alive Christian Resources at 800.333.8300 or 616.224.0728.
For a summary of all disability ministry resources available from Faith Alive, click here. Some highlights are below:
Learning Disabilities and the Church: Including All God’s Kids in Your Education and Worship
By Cynthia Holder Rich and Martha Ross-Mockaitis | $12.95 | Available from Faith Alive Christian Resources.
Most churches are set up for a “one size fits all” approach to ministry and worship. But one size does not fit all. Learning Disabilities and the Church: Including All God’s Kids in Your Education and Worship is a manual that helps churches better serve the needs of children and youth with learning disabilities by describing practical ideas and strategies for accommodating learning challenges, discussion questions, helpful websites, and more. Read a sample chapter at www.FaithAliveResources.org.
Expressing Faith in Jesus (revised edition)
By Ronald C. Vredeveld | Book: $8.95 | Resource Kit: $5.95 | Available from Faith Alive Christian Resources.
This newly revised edition and brand new resource kit guides Friendship leaders/mentors, elders, pastors, and families as they help persons with cognitive impairments prepare to express their faith and become full members of a faith community.
The book covers topics including "welcoming and including people with cognitive impairments," "walking alongside those desiring to express faith in Jesus,"and "journeying together as a community of believers," along with reproducible resources. The resource kit includes a mentor guide based on Friendship Bible Studies, a study guide to help friends prepare for the interview with the church council, and a keepsake certificate to commemorate the occasion.
Helping Kids Include Kids with Disabilities
By Barbara Newman | $27.95 | Available from Faith Alive Christian Resources.
This how-to manual equips teachers, church activity leaders, and kids with the information they need to practice inclusive education in community. The book includes:
- information for understanding children with special needs
- guidelines for churches
- information about specific and general areas of impairment
- lesson plans
- letters to families
- devotions for families
Autism and Your Church: Nurturing the Spiritual Growth of People with Autism Spectrum Disorders
By Barbara Newman | $27.95 | Available from Faith Alive Christian Resources.
Autism and Your Church is a unique resource that will help your church embrace people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) into the full life of your congregation. New from Friendship Ministries, published by Faith Alive Christian Resources, this book outlines specific and tried techniques that will equip leaders to meet the special needs of those with ASD and develop an action plan for ongoing ministry.
That All May Worship: An Interfaith Welcome to People with Disabilities
Edited by Ginny Thornburg | $15.00 | Available from Disability Concerns.
Brief and pithy, this resource guide is a standard work for congregations who seek to promote and expand the participation of all people in the worship and program offerings of the church.
Directory of Christian Service Providers
A directory of agencies in the U.S. and Canada that provide services to persons with developmental disabilities. | Contact us to order.
This directory gives data on some nonprofit agencies that are based on Christian principles and serve people who have mental retardation or developmental disabilities. Examples of the services they provide are housing, education, work opportunities, etc. These agencies have unofficial relationships to the Christian Reformed Church in that they have Christian Reformed members in residence or on their staff or board, or have roots in the CRC and draw significant financial support from the denomination.
The Banner online and on tape
Published monthly by the Christian Reformed Church in North America, The Banner magazine shows how the Christian faith in its Reformed expression makes sense for today's world. It is available online at www.thebanner.org or on tape by calling 800.333.8300 or 616.224.0728.
Toward Full Compliance with the Provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act in the Christian Reformed Church in North America
The 1993 report adopted by the Christian Reformed Church synod. | 30 pages | Contact us to order.
Toward Full Compliance . . . is the report of a Christian Reformed synodical agency study committee. It recommends that the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act be adopted as the denominational policy on access for people with disabilities. The recommendations of this report were adopted by the 1993 Synod of the Christian Reformed Church in North America. This report contains the historical, biblical and theological foundations for its recommendation, an extensive analysis of the ADA itself, and detailed guidelines for applying its provisions to denominational life.
Links
www.friendship.org Friendship Ministries is an interdenominational ministry whose mission is to share God's love with people who have cognitive impairments and to enable them to become an active part of God's family.
www.friendshipgroupscanada.org Friendship Groups Canada provides resources, training, and support to Friendship groups across Canada and to churches and organizations that are interested in the spiritual development of individuals with intellectual disabilities.
www.ministerioamistad.org Ministerio Amistad is the Spanish-language ministry of Friendship Ministries, with sixty plus groups in fifteen countries, primarily in North and South America.
www.joniandfriends.org Founded by Joni Eareckson Tada, Joni and Friends exists to communicate the gospel and equip Christ-honoring churches worldwide to evangelize and disciple people affected by disability.
www.pathways2promise.org Pathways to Promise is an interfaith technical assistance and resource center which offers liturgical and educational materials, program models, and networking information to promote a caring ministry with people with mental illness and their families.
www.ncccusa.org/nmu/mce/dis Recognizing that persons with disabilities bring unique gifts to the life and ministry of the church, The National Council of Churches' Committee on Disabilities seeks wholeness in Christ's church by promoting the full inclusion, participation and contribution of all persons.
www.nod.org The mission of the National Organization on Disability is to expand the participation and contribution of America's 54 million men, women and children with disabilities in all aspects of life.
Disability Concerns encourages you to evaluate the resources listed on our website yourself. We can assume no liability in the recommendation of any product, service, or organization. Please note that not all Internet resources listed are Christian.
Contact Us
We would love to hear from you! Please feel free to call Mark Stephenson at 616.224.0801, toll free at 888.463.0272, or e-mail disabilityconcerns@crcna.org.
