Rising Above with Becky Davidson

About Tonya

Tonya and her husband Jamie have two amazing sons who are autistic. She enjoys connecting with and encouraging parents of children with disabilities.

Favorite Quotes

"The things that you are experiencing now--it doesn't necessarily mean that it's always going to be that way. You have to encourage yourself in the Lord." -Tonya 

"I think there is value in journalling and writing down things so that when you go back and you see how you are now, it gives you hope for tomorrow." -Tonya

Related Links

Anchored Family Downloads -April

Episode 69: Tonya's previous podcast episode

Autismfaithnetwork.com

Autism Faith Network Facebook 

Autism Faith Network Instagram Instagram

Autism Faith Network Twitter

About Crystle

Crystle lives in southern California with her husband and 2 children.  She homeschools both of her children and delights in finding the joy and laughter in her family’s every day occurrences.  Crystle and her family love being outside, going on walks, spending time with their many animals, and going to the beach.

Favorite Quotes

"I think a lot of times we want purpose and peace, without the pain, but I think it's through that pain that you find that purpose for your life." -Crystle Carpenter

Related Links

Join a Community Group!

About the Show

Rising Above with Becky Davidson is created & produced by Rising Above Ministries. To learn more about us and our resources for special-needs families, visit our website at www.risingaboveministries.org. If you’ve enjoyed listening and want to hear more, we’d love for you to subscribe to our podcast or share it to encourage a friend. 

*Theme music and editing by Open Mic Studios.

https://openmicrecordingstudio.com/

About Connie

Connie is a homeschooling mom of two, wife to Josh, and a salesperson at Gibson Group IT Services and IT Consulting. She spends her free time playing with her children, taking a nature walk, or reading a good book.

Favorite Quote

"When you don't know what the next minute is going to look like, you learn to pray...a lot." -Connie

“Your attitude makes a difference.” -Connie

“You can be down and out about it or you can choose joy.” -Connie

About the Show

Rising Above with Becky Davidson is created & produced by Rising Above Ministries. To learn more about us and our resources for special-needs families, visit our website at www.risingaboveministries.org. If you’ve enjoyed listening and want to hear more, we’d love for you to subscribe to our podcast or share it to encourage a friend. 

*Theme music and editing by Open Mic Studios.

https://openmicrecordingstudio.com/

About Jillian

Jillian Benfield is a former journalist and news anchor. She holds a broadcast journalism degree from the University of Georgia. As a freelance writer, her essays about living an unexpected life have appeared on sites such as TODAY, Good Morning America, Yahoo! News, and ABC News. Jillian regularly advocates for the full inclusion of people with disabilities in her writings, in her community, and as a part of the National Down Syndrome Congress’s National Down Syndrome Advocacy Coalition. Jillian and her husband, Andy, and their three children make their home on Florida’s Space Coast. Learn more at jillianbenfield.com.

Favorite Quotes

"I believe that pain and suffering in our unexpected circumstances is one of the greatest pathways to transformation, but we have to choose to really walk it." -Jillian

Related Links

The Gift of the Unexpected

jillianbenfield.com

About Ginny

Ginny Mooney founded 99 Balloons, an organization working with persons experiencing disability, alongside her husband Matt Mooney. 99 Balloons refers to what was released at the funeral of their first son, Eliot Mooney- each balloon representing a day he spent on this earth. Among the many gifts Eliot brought his parents was a passion to help persons with disabilities and their families. They desire to change the story of disability by proclaiming the worth and image-bearing beauty of each and every human being.

Ginny is currently the Executive Director of 99 Balloons. What began with starting a small respite night called rEcess in their community has grown into a global movement championing relationships and inclusion for persons with disabilities- with now over 45 rEcess sites across 3 countries. Their story and work have been featured on The Today Show, National Geographic and The Oprah Winfrey Show.

Ginny is the mother of Hazel (14), Anders (13) & Lena (16) & is currently serving as the Executive Director of 99 Balloons.

Favorite Quotes

"Me trusting Him doesn't mean I like it...I don't have to like it, to know that Jesus is good and He is at work, and He is near."

Related Links

March Family Downloads

99 Balloons

Social Media Links:

@ginnymooney

@99balloonsorg

About Ryan

Ryan Wolfe the President of Ability Ministry has a wealth of knowledge and experience in the emerging field of Disability Ministry. 15 years of local church ministry at First Christian Church in Canton, OH where he was the full-time Disability Ministry Pastor. He spent time as a Church Consultant for Key Ministry before coming to Ability Ministry 7 years ago. He is an author and a featured speaker.

Favorite Quote

"We're more alike than we are different." -Ryan Wolfe

Related Links

Ability Ministry Website

Social Media: @AbilityMinistry

Disability is Beautiful Photo Database

The Tale of the Shrinking Toilet

About Laura

Laura Wifler is the cofounder of Risen Motherhood, the executive director and cohost of the podcast, and the coauthor of Risen Motherhood: Gospel Hope for Everyday Moments. Her latest book is Like Me: A Story About Disability and Discovering God’s Image in Every Person.  

Favorite Quote

"What inclusion looks like is friendship." - Laura Wifler

"Disability really does give us a front row seat to wonderful aspects of God that we perhaps might not have without disability in our lives." - Laura Wifler

"God is using disability to sanctify us." -Laura Wifler

"God has used disability to sanctify me and make me more like Himself." -Laura Wifler

Related Links

Instagram: @laurawifler

laurawifler.com 

Laura's book, Like Me

Risen Motherhood 

Risen Motherhood podcast

Today on the show, hear Becky share the story of her marriage to Jeff and their journey of commitment together.

Related Links

Free Marriage Resources on our Website for the month of February

About the Show

Rising Above with Becky Davidson is created & produced by Rising Above Ministries. To learn more about us and our resources for special-needs families, visit our website at www.risingaboveministries.org. If you’ve enjoyed listening and want to hear more, we’d love for you to subscribe to our podcast or share it to encourage a friend. 

*Theme music and editing by Open Mic Studios.

https://openmicrecordingstudio.com/

About Sarah

Sarah is the CEO/Founder of Love that Surpasses Ministries and Pediatric Research Nurse Practitioner.

Favorite Quote

"Really what God was trying to show me is that worth is not defined by intelligence or careers. That's not identity." -Sarah Lowry

Related Links

Join a Community Group!

February Downloads

www.lovethatsurpasses.org

Instagram: @lovethatsurpassesministries

Love that Surpasses Podcast 

About Raissa

Raissa Chandler is resilient and resourceful. She has been a community builder for autism and disability for over 10 years. She believes that each individual has gifts and abilities that, when shared, encourage a diverse and strong community. She has a passion and a drive to ensure that families of children with disabilities know they are not alone in their journey and tirelessly works to connect families to each other, to their schools, and to their communities. Raissa is a mother to twins with autism whose gifts include creativity and cup stacking, wife to a husband who excels at knowledge acquisition, and a part-time project manager to a marketing Guru. In her spare time, she sleeps.

Related Links

Join a Community Group!

Organize Autism

Southside Support

Facebook group:  "Southside Support for Special Needs Families"