"When we see someone behaving in a way that we don't understand, how often do we ask ourselves - 'what's wrong with them?' And what question should we be asking instead?"

Join us today as we talk to Jolene Philo, author of the book, "Does My Child Have PTSD", and find out why learning more about trauma can make all the difference for children at home and at church. Also, discover what implicit memories are and why they matter, what we should learn from "Danny Kay" and "Elizabeth Taylor", and what the church should know about being a safe place for people who have experienced trauma. If you are someone who has been through some tough stuff, or you love someone who has (so that means everybody), then you won't want to miss this illuminating conversation about how we all can work together to help.

Jolene Philo grew up in a caregiving family and raised a son with medical special needs. As a teacher, she created an inclusive classroom for children with disabilities for 25 years. She has written several non-fiction books, including Does My Child Have PTSD? and Sharing Love Abundantly with Special Needs Families: The 5 Love Languages® for Parents Raising Children with Disabilities. She hosts the award-winning blog, www.DifferentDream.com and speaks nationally about disabilities and special needs. She blogs about writing fiction and daily life at www.jolenephilo.com. Her West River Mysteries, which feature characters with disabilities, are available on Amazon. See Jane Dig!, the fourth book in the series will be released in October of 2024.

A quick note on disability terms:

Before you listen I wanted to talk to you about something important about our podcast, and that is how we will be referring to disability during our discussions. We want you to know that at Wonderful Works Ministry, we know that words matter. We will strive to use preferred language regarding disability. But we also understand that preferred terms change over time and also can be subjective and vary from person to person, even among those with a shared diagnosis. With this in mind, we ask that you understand that we, here at Wonderful Works, and our guests may use a variety of terms on this show and in our resources. Please know that we will always approach language with inclusion, dignity and respect, and we hope you will too. Thank for listening!

One more quick note:

The views and opinions expressed in our show are those of our guests and do not necessarily reflect those of Wonderful Works Ministry. Wonderful Works Ministry does not provide medical, legal, or therapeutic advice or services. Rather, we provide general information regarding disability ministry. The information provided in our content does not replace the advice of medical, legal, or educational professionals. Wonderful Works Ministry is not responsible for any information or services provided by third parties. It is recommended that you use independent judgement when considering any resource associated with serving those who have been impacted by disability. Thank you.

"When it comes to supporting families affected by disability, how often do we start by investing in marriages?" Well, today, we are going to talk to authors, Todd and Kristin Evans, from disabilityparenting.com about why investing in the marriages of couples who are parenting children with disabilities matters for everyone. Find out what churches should know, how couples can build a marriage that thrives, even when life feels hard, and why knowing how many positive or negative interactions you have with your spouse might be more important than you realize. This is good stuff for everyone, so listen and share!

To learn more from Todd and Kristin, please visit disabilityparenting.com. And don't forget to order your copy of their new book -How to Build a Thriving Marriage as you Care for Your Children with Disabilities. Available on Amazon and other retailers.  

A quick note on disability terms:

Before you listen I wanted to talk to you about something important about our podcast, and that is how we will be referring to disability during our discussions. We want you to know that at Wonderful Works Ministry, we know that words matter. We will strive to use preferred language regarding disability. But we also understand that preferred terms change over time and also can be subjective and vary from person to person, even among those with a shared diagnosis. With this in mind, we ask that you understand that we, here at Wonderful Works, and our guests may use a variety of terms on this show and in our resources. Please know that we will always approach language with inclusion, dignity and respect, and we hope you will too. Thank for listening!

One more quick note:

The views and opinions expressed in our show are those of our guests and do not necessarily reflect those of Wonderful Works Ministry. Wonderful Works Ministry does not provide medical, legal, or therapeutic advice or services. Rather, we provide general information regarding disability ministry. The information provided in our content does not replace the advice of medical, legal, or educational professionals. Wonderful Works Ministry is not responsible for any information or services provided by third parties. It is recommended that you use independent judgement when considering any resource associated with serving those who have been impacted by disability. Thank you.

“If you knew you could not fail, what is the one thing you would want to do for your mission?” Today, we are talking all about taking a leap of faith and what we have learned through our own experience starting Wonderful Works Ministry. So join, Leah Whicker and me, as we share what is "audience of one" and why it matters so much, why God isn't interested in perfection, and what you may want to consider if you are thinking about taking a leap of faith of your own!

Barb Stanley is the President and Founder of Wonderful Works Ministry. Leah Whicker is the Special Education Consultant for Wonderful Works Ministry. Wonderful Works Ministry is a 501c(3) organization that specializes in creating free online disability ministry resources for churches and families. To learn more visit wonderfulworks.net

And to hear more about what it really feels like to take a leap of faith (before you know where you might land), check out our blog - "The Best Cup of Coffee of My Life."

If you like our podcast, please follow and share!

A quick note on disability terms:

Before you listen I wanted to talk to you about something important about our podcast, and that is how we will be referring to disability during our discussions. We want you to know that at Wonderful Works Ministry, we know that words matter. We will strive to use preferred language regarding disability. But we also understand that preferred terms change over time and also can be subjective and vary from person to person, even among those with a shared diagnosis. With this in mind, we ask that you understand that we, here at Wonderful Works, and our guests may use a variety of terms on this show and in our resources. Please know that we will always approach language with inclusion, dignity and respect, and we hope you will too. Thank for listening!

One more quick note:

The views and opinions expressed in our show are those of our guests and do not necessarily reflect those of Wonderful Works Ministry. Wonderful Works Ministry does not provide medical, legal, or therapeutic advice or services. Rather, we provide general information regarding disability ministry. The information provided in our content does not replace the advice of medical, legal, or educational professionals. Wonderful Works Ministry is not responsible for any information or services provided by third parties. It is recommended that you use independent judgement when considering any resource associated with serving those who have been impacted by disability. Thank you.

“What if every kid who came to church felt welcome there? What would that look like?” Today, we are going to be talking about that and more with author and special needs parent advocate, Elrena Evans. Learn what you should ALWAYS do when you see a parent struggling with a child's behavior, why people who are not impacted by disability need to read Elena's books, and discover the power of holding hope when others can't.

Elrena is the author of Special Grace: Prayers and Reflections for Families with Special Needs, and When I Go To Church, I Belong, a book all about making EVERY child who walks through the church door feel welcome and loved. To learn more about Elrena, please visit her website at https://elrenaevans.com/

A quick note on disability terms:

Before you listen I wanted to talk to you about something important about our podcast, and that is how we will be referring to disability during our discussions. We want you to know that at Wonderful Works Ministry, we know that words matter. We will strive to use preferred language regarding disability. But we also understand that preferred terms change over time and also can be subjective and vary from person to person, even among those with a shared diagnosis. With this in mind, we ask that you understand that we, here at Wonderful Works, and our guests may use a variety of terms on this show and in our resources. Please know that we will always approach language with inclusion, dignity and respect, and we hope you will too. Thank for listening!

One more quick note:

The views and opinions expressed in our show are those of our guests and do not necessarily reflect those of Wonderful Works Ministry. Wonderful Works Ministry does not provide medical, legal, or therapeutic advice or services. Rather, we provide general information regarding disability ministry. The information provided in our content does not replace the advice of medical, legal, or educational professionals. Wonderful Works Ministry is not responsible for any information or services provided by third parties. It is recommended that you use independent judgement when considering any resource associated with serving those who have been impacted by disability. Thank you.

"It has been said that we get more of whatever it is that we focus on. Do you think that is true when it comes to working with kids? "

Well, today we are going to talk to the founder of Kidology.org, Karl Bastian, and hear why where we choose to put our focus makes all the difference when teaching kids the Gospel. Plus, we'll learn tips for classroom engagement that can make behaviors disappear, the importance of five-minute encounters, and how Karl's mother's encouragement changed everything. One more thing, don't stop listening before the end, because Karl's last two stories might just blow your mind and fill your heart.

To learn more great stuff from Karl, please visit kidology.org. To learn more about Wonderful Works Ministry, please visit ⁠⁠wonderfulworks.net⁠⁠ and subscribe to us on ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠.

A quick note on disability terms:

Before you listen I wanted to talk to you about something important about our podcast, and that is how we will be referring to disability during our discussions. We want you to know that at Wonderful Works Ministry, we know that words matter. We will strive to use preferred language regarding disability. But we also understand that preferred terms change over time and also can be subjective and vary from person to person, even among those with a shared diagnosis. With this in mind, we ask that you understand that we, here at Wonderful Works, and our guests may use a variety of terms on this show and in our resources. Please know that we will always approach language with inclusion, dignity and respect, and we hope you will too. Thank for listening!

One more quick note:

The views and opinions expressed in our show are those of our guests and do not necessarily reflect those of Wonderful Works Ministry. Wonderful Works Ministry does not provide medical, legal, or therapeutic advice or services. Rather, we provide general information regarding disability ministry. The information provided in our content does not replace the advice of medical, legal, or educational professionals. Wonderful Works Ministry is not responsible for any information or services provided by third parties. It is recommended that you use independent judgement when considering any resource associated with serving those who have been impacted by disability. Thank you.

"How would the world be different if we gave grace to everyone, even if we didn't know their back story?"  Well, today we are going to talk to author and podcast host, Amy J. Brown, about what it feels like to be a parent of children with attachment disorder, whose behaviors are visible even when their disability is hidden. Learn what's more important than solving problems, what parents of children with hidden disabilities really want from church, and why it's important to not miss the bid for connection - even when it's awkward. 

To learn more about Amy, please visit ⁠amyjbrown.com⁠ and listen to the ⁠Take Heart Special Moms Podcast⁠. And, don’t forget to order your copy of ⁠The Other Side of Special⁠: Navigating the Messy, Emotional, Joy-Filled Life of a Special Needs Mom today. To learn more about Wonderful Works Ministry, please visit ⁠wonderfulworks.net⁠ and subscribe to us on ⁠YouTube⁠.

A quick note on disability terms:

Before you listen I wanted to talk to you about something important about our podcast, and that is how we will be referring to disability during our discussions. We want you to know that at Wonderful Works Ministry, we know that words matter. We will strive to use preferred language regarding disability. But we also understand that preferred terms change over time and also can be subjective and vary from person to person, even among those with a shared diagnosis. With this in mind, we ask that you understand that we, here at Wonderful Works, and our guests may use a variety of terms on this show and in our resources. Please know that we will always approach language with inclusion, dignity and respect, and we hope you will too. Thank for listening!

One more quick note:

The views and opinions expressed in our show are those of our guests and do not necessarily reflect those of Wonderful Works Ministry. Wonderful Works Ministry does not provide medical, legal, or therapeutic advice or services. Rather, we provide general information regarding disability ministry. The information provided in our content does not replace the advice of medical, legal, or educational professionals. Wonderful Works Ministry is not responsible for any information or services provided by third parties. It is recommended that you use independent judgement when considering any resource associated with serving those who have been impacted by disability. Thank you.

"How would your church be different, if you always had enough volunteers?" Well, today we are going to find out how to get there. Join us as we talk to Ministry Boost co-founder and author of The Volunteer Playbook, Nick Blevins. Learn why you should take people on Volun-Tours, what is the one question that changed everything for Nick, and why the story of The Little Red Hen can teach you more about ministry recruiting than you might believe.

To learn more about Nick, please visit ministryboost.org and don't forget to order your copy of The Volunteer Playbook today. To learn more about Wonderful Works Ministry, please visit wonderfulworks.net and subscribe to us on YouTube.

A quick note on disability terms:

Before you listen I wanted to talk to you about something important about our podcast, and that is how we will be referring to disability during our discussions. We want you to know that at Wonderful Works Ministry, we know that words matter. We will strive to use preferred language regarding disability. But we also understand that preferred terms change over time and also can be subjective and vary from person to person, even among those with a shared diagnosis. With this in mind, we ask that you understand that we, here at Wonderful Works, and our guests may use a variety of terms on this show and in our resources. Please know that we will always approach language with inclusion, dignity and respect, and we hope you will too. Thank for listening!

Our new podcast - Wonderful Works Talks is coming soon!

A quick note on disability terms:

Before you listen I wanted to talk to you about something important about our podcast, and that is how we will be referring to disability during our discussions. We want you to know that at Wonderful Works Ministry, we know that words matter. We will strive to use preferred language regarding disability. But we also understand that preferred terms change over time and also can be subjective and vary from person to person, even among those with a shared diagnosis. With this in mind, we ask that you understand that we, here at Wonderful Works, and our guests may use a variety of terms on this show and in our resources. Please know that we will always approach language with inclusion, dignity and respect, and we hope you will too. Thank for listening!