Disability Ministry Consulting

Why Do Disability Ministry?

- 20% of the US population (1 in 5 families) lives with lifelong disability, including approximately 15% of kids under age 18. Yet 90% of special-needs families are unable to attend church, because only 10-15% of churches are equipped to receive them

- In a world that idolizes appearances, excellence, and achievement, who hungers more for the Good News that their children are “wonderfully and fearfully made”? (Psalm 139:14) When faith comes by hearing, how can they believe in whom they have not heard? (Rom. 10:14-17)

- Struggling families are a hidden mission field, living sight unseen and underserved in our own communities.

- 75% of Jesus’ miracles were unto the disabled. We already know, “What Would Jesus Do?”

- “To reach people no one is reaching, we have to do things that no one is doing.” ~ Craig Groeschel

Biblical Mandate

- Luke 14:21, ““The servant told his master what happened, and the master became so angry he said, “Go as fast as you can to every street and alley in town! Bring in everyone who is poor or paralyzed or blind or lame.”

- 1 Cor. 12:22-26, “…those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.”

- God invented –and mandated– the inclusion of special-needs families in the church. He honors the faith of passionate friends who are committed to bringing their disabled loved ones to Christ (Luke 5:18-20)

How Can Diane Help?

Since 2008, Diane has developed and led disability ministries at churches ranging from 100+ to several thousands; established churches to new church plants. A national conference speaker, she has served on the Joni and Friends’ Equipping Team to train local congregations how to:

- - - - Communicate and partner effectively with families; Obtain and manage sensitive (necessary) information.
        Educate and engage congregations; Recruit, train, motivate and disciple volunteer teams.
        Adapt teaching curriculum and materials; Modify activities/events to be inclusive.
        Apply practical strategies and programming for the inclusion of special-needs families into the life of the church (e.g. mens/womens’ ministries, Bible Studies, fellowship, etc.)
        Facilitate special needs parent support groups; Create and plan “doable” family-oriented fellowship activities.
        Access Diane’s curated list of helpful resources: books, websites, articles, training conferences, videos and educational materials.
        Implement best practices for safety, risk management, and scalability (because kids with special needs eventually age out of KidMin, and become teens and adults with special needs.)
        Leverage and network with other local special needs ministries. Minimize “reinventing the wheel.”
        Mobilize Disability Ministry as a catalyst to increase your congregation’s engagement, discipleship, community and “compassion quotient.”

Initial Consultation

Contact Diane for a FREE, 30-minute consult to discuss your ministry needs, readiness — and identify and deploy the unique assets already in your organization.