Here's a BONUS EPISODE of the Love First Podcast. We recorded 3 bonus episodes to further dive into the lived experiences of people with disabilities and families of people with disabilities.

On this episode, we have Tina Seward, Charlene Evans, Kelly Woo, and Joe Stryker.

Here's a BONUS EPISODE of the Love First Podcast. We recorded 3 bonus episodes to further dive into the lived experiences of people with disabilities and families of people with disabilities. Tonight, we will play the first one. After that, all three episodes will be available on Apple Podcasts and wherever else you listen to your podcasts.

Tonight, we have Millie Brabham, Jennifer Giesemann Williams, Brandon Gibbs, Connie Bates, and Donna Jordan as special guests!

Special guest Dr. Jerry Taylor takes us on a personal and theological journey with the gospel, race, and justice. Dr. Taylor is a nationally respected and trusted voice in non-violence and social action rooted in the spiritual disciplines. He is the founding director of the Carl Spain Center on Race Studies and Spiritual Action at Abilene Christian University.

Love First Podcast: Looking for Jesus in All the Right Faces—Diversity, Equity, and Disabilities Pt 3

Called the most “invisible people in the world,” the one billion people living with disabilities are often invisible to the church. This is the most unchurched part of our U.S. population, but not for a lack of desire. We are calling the church to see Jesus in the faces of those who live with disabilities and to love first! Tonight we have an amazing conversation with Philip Woody and Jo Dooley Ekstedt about how to advocate for those with disabilities and practical steps on navigating resources and services.

Resources:

• Watch Phil and Evan Advocate in front of the Georgia Senate Subcomittee on Health and Human Services: https://livestream.com/accounts/26021522/events/8730585/videos/207193309

• Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities: https://dbhdd.georgia.gov/available-services?fbclid=IwAR1LtWO-wAFrIj_hXQq4Zz1II6qEqS-HbS99z0L-wCi1N7taOCRIAhrT9T4

• Information about NOW/COMP Waivers: https://www.incommunityga.org/faq-2?fbclid=IwAR3ztATPAKfOi5yiMRt-eLXT_RoewUpBrXyx_xkyz0HgtFjoqZsiioB2Fwc

Join Don McLaughlin as we continue our conversation about disabilities and justice in the midst of national and international protests.

Protest and disability justice have a long, complex history in America. So what should Christians and churches do? Should we protest injustice? Should we stay out of the protests? Tonight we unpack this question and provide practical guidance from the example of Jesus.

Then, we turn to a conversation between Nolan Huber-Rhoades and Ryan Lee—a writer and advocate for the fair treatment of people with Autism.

Some of Ryan Lee's articles include:

https://www.autismspeaks.org/life-spectrum/young-man-autism-calls-acceptance-during-world-autism-month

https://www.autismspeaks.org/life-spectrum/how-i-learned-accept-my-autism-and-love-myself?fbclid=IwAR2pX5ThJ9bQ5DRAGsH3exJtX1WxXGuGer0xXU1g_FzG4jTGzPEkWnRW35U

https://www.autismspeaks.org/blog/what-watching-good-doctor-made-me-realize-young-man-spectrum?fbclid=IwAR24KjXZXp5x1vI7BosulhCIDvgxuCsmmNhQxm5zE9mLE1dZAKFzGqzR1e0

https://www.autismspeaks.org/life-spectrum/just-because-you-cant-see-our-autism-doesnt-mean-we-dont-have-challenges?fbclid=IwAR2cdj1T340p_MNBG3-OeoFIwxBrweCjvs46LwjzqyLCCeUr8gHRb3Vg-sE

Do you know a person with disabilities or special needs? Are they in your family, your classroom, your community? Are you comfortable, confident, and at ease, or are you nervous, afraid, or anxious? Tonight we begin a conversation around Diversity, Equity, and Disability: How is God calling the church to love, include, and engage people with disabilities and their families?

Is White Privilege just a hoax? What can I do to make a difference?

In this week’s podcast, Don McLaughlin asks the question, Is ‘White Privilege’ just a hoax? Tonight, we discuss the truth about race, housing, money, and how a simple Google search can open our eyes.

In this week's podcast, Don McLaughlin helps us understand why we can't look away from injustice and oppression. As we continue to mourn the deaths of #AhmaudArbery & #BreonnaTaylor, we look at another instance of racist aggression outside of Wilmington, North Carolina, and the history that laid the foundation for the aggression to take place.

“What does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.”

Twenty-seven centuries have passed since God asked and then answered his own question. But what does this look like in our times and specifically in response to the killing of Ahmaud Arbery?

Join us for this conversation on the Love First Podcast

As the pandemic started, there was a lot of energy about unity and togetherness. While there is certainly still a lot of that, some of that energy has retreated into cynicism and polarization. It leads many of us to ask, "Why can't we be unified?" This week, Don McLaughlin will help us think through this important question.