Most of the time, kids with disabilities are expected to fit into the world’s model and expectations. rEcess respite nights allow them to be freed from those expectations and to fully be themselves. Offering respite at your church not only serves the kids in this way, but also shows Christ's love to siblings, parents, and the community around them.

Bio:

Rebecca has been in the disability space since 2012 when she started and led rEcess, a respite ministry, and a siblings support group ministry in Dallas. Rebecca is the the Programs Director at 99 Balloons, a non-profit ministry out of Fayetteville, Arkansas, where she seeks to educate, equip, and train churches on 99 Balloons' ministry models for respite, teens, and adults. She desires to see the church embrace, include, and celebrate each and every person made in the image of Christ.

Contact:

[email protected] | 99balloons.org

Journeying to experience the blessing of the Luke 14 banquet with people of all abilities. Who are you inviting to come along with you?

Bio:

Amberle developed her passion for disability and the church after her own experience of vision loss at the age of 21. She knows life in the church both with and without disability and seeks to use her own experiences to inspire, equip, and resource the whole body of Christ. Amberle longs to see people with disabilities invited into the mission of God's people.

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The 5 Stages - Changing Attitudes

Related Resources: http://bit.ly/2BN7vV0

Graphic (Non-Accessible): http://bit.ly/2QutuZk

Finding unity in the Gospel amidst a church with people of varying abilities, cultures, and languages requires embracing discomfort and celebrating differences.

Bio:

Danny Hinton began his career as a licensed professional American Sign Language Interpreter and it was through his work that God revealed his plans for Danny to be a minister amongst marginalized communities. He is the father of three, husband to Tennille, and the founding pastor at Gospel Community Church in Owensboro, Kentucky.

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Reshaping the idea of success amongst physicians to address the profound disparity of care for people with disabilities in healthcare.

Bio:

Abby Fahnestock currently lives in Baltimore, MD where she is a medical student at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She graduated from Baylor University, with a degree as a "University Scholar," studying Great Texts of the Western World, Spanish, and Medical Humanities. In her free time Abby enjoys running, playing musical instruments, and doing anything and everything outside.

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How keeping families at the center of your ministry allows the Gospel to go forth.

Bio:

Katie is the parent of a child with special needs, an educator in the public school system, and the director of a special needs children’s ministry called Bethany Blessings in Columbia, Maryland. She is passionate about bringing the gospel to families of individuals with special needs and seeks to train other church members on how to minister to these families.

Contact:

[email protected] | bethanycolumbia.org

How misrepresentation is stunting faith and causing people with disabilities to feel less than human.

Bio:

Matt Curcio is a self-described Speaker, Writer and Advocate. He has been involved with disability advocacy in some form for over 15 years. Matt not only runs his own nonprofit, Break The Roof, to empower people with disabilities and create a more accessible world, but he recently began a venture as a Travel Agent to help families affected by disability to vacation safely and without obstacles.

Contact:

[email protected] | breaktheroof.org

On discipling people with disabilities within the Church to reach the local and global community as God has gifted them.

Bio:

Alisha Williams is a wife and mother first. Her and her husband, Rev. Frank Williams Jr., have four wonderful children Sheila, Steven, Joshua and Josiah. She loves serving the Lord in every area of her life. She’s a Contracting Officer’s Representative and Budget Analyst for the Center of Medicare and Medicaid Services. She serves in Sunday school, the choir, Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU), Drama Ministry, Hands of Glory Deaf Ministry, Ebenezer International Ministries and the Inspire Special Needs Ministry at Colonial Baptist Church. She is also a veteran who served twelve years in the Maryland Army National Guard. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, presents your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus”. Philippians 4:6-7

Contact:

[email protected] | http://www.colonialbaptistch.org

When a neuro-typical teen graduates from high school, we say "this is the beginning of your future” or “you can be anything you want to be.” When a teen with special needs that is unable to attend college or hold a job graduates, what is left for them? Lainie Browning partnered with her church to assess the needs of these young adults and worked to fill the gap.

Hunter Brown shares how experiencing the Salvation of Jesus manifests itself in ministry at the margins.

Bio:

Hunter is a board member at The Banquet Network and spouse to our co-founder, Amberle. He’s currently studying Theology at St. Mary’s Ecumenical Institute in Baltimore and is the men’s and women’s golf coach at Goucher College.

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There are five common fears church leaders face when considering disability inclusion. Pastor Mike Crawford shepherds us through these fears and helps us debunk them as we do with myths.

Bio:

Having pastored for 10 years in California, Michael wrestled with the call of God on his life to plant a new church in a major U.S. city with a significantly African American population. In 2008, God made it clear his calling was in Baltimore. He is a co-founder of The Banquet Network and chief mobilizer for the church to reach the disability population.

Contact:

[email protected] | freedomchurchbaltimore.org