Start With Hello: Conversations About Disability

Bart Jones officially joined the Ability Ministry staff in September of this year, which means it is WAY beyond time for an official introduction. We discuss how he first became involved with Ability Ministry, his time as a pastor, what it means to be the Executive Minister of Spiritual Development and Operations, and the legacy he wants to leave.

Ryan and Jason talk beyond just finding volunteers, but ways to engage with your team, keep them healthy, and methods to avoid burnout in ministry.

Ministry with adults seems such a basic concept you might be wondering why the need for an entire episode about it. Ryan and Jason talk through why an adult disability ministry is critical as well as resources and supports to continue these ministries and help them grow.

We thoroughly enjoyed this conversation with Linda, founder of Miracle 139 International. Her organization helps churches and schools create inclusive environments for children with disabilities, providing training and resources to empower leaders in embracing inclusion. We go in depth about the work that they are doing as well as talking about disability inclusion in general.

We talk through the details about one of our favorite resources, which is a comprehensive resource to take you from cover to cover of the bible, highlighting what it says about disability. Listen to the end to find out why Jason's movie preferences are far superior to Ryan's.

Ryan and Jason discuss all things baptism as it relates to disability ministry. What happens if someone cannot be submerged? How do we know they understand their decision? What happens after baptism? All of this is in addition to the resources available to help you and your ministry.

We pray you will find this discussion with Bronwyn Murphy every bit as insightful as we did as we talk about all things relating to buddy systems and supports. We ran into a slight audio issue with one of the microphones while recording this one, but those of you in ministry will understand that things don't always go our way, and we have to roll with it.

Ryan and Jason talk through some specific scenarios that have, or may, arise in Disability Minsitry as they relate to sex and sexuality. Visit our website for the official show notes and links to all of the resources mentioned.

Starting a 100% integrated model of disability ministry, where people with disabilities are fully included in all aspects of church life, requires intentionality and a shift in mindset compared to traditional programming that sometimes creates separation. We talk through details of why this should be the model and how to make it happen at your church.

The Tale of the Shrinking Toilets is not, contrary to what some may believe, an excuse to talk about toilets. It is a powerful story used to help raise awareness for the need of universal sized changing tables. There is more than meets the eye behind how the book came about and how sales are used to help other churches.

We dive into the types of proms and events you can host, how to get help planning and resources, and what to do after a prom. All of the links mentioned are available on our website .

It is vitally important for men to step up and play a role in disability ministry. In this episode, Ryan and Jason talk through why we need men to participate, ways to get them more engaged in ministry, and how leadership can support these efforts.

It can be overwhelming deciding where to begin with disability ministry curriculum. What series do I start with? Should I plan it out for an entire year or is there a better way? What happens during holidays? We discuss our recommendations on how to get started and longer-term planning for your curriculum.

Does God really love everyone? That’s the simple question this short, heartwarming tale asks as it introduces the beauty of diversity. Gary's book has been in development for many years and was recently published. We chat with Gary about what inspired him to write the book, why it is important, and how churches can use it. Details and where to buy the book can be found here .

One of our most popular episodes to date has been equipping volunteers for disability ministry. In this episode, we take that a step further and dive into some specific scenarios that volunteers will surely encounter while providing what resources can assist.

We all understand how important mission teams can be. In this episode, Gary Spangler and Jason Morrison talk specifics about the critical role that mission teams play at Riverwood Christian Community and what we hope those who come serve can take back with them to their own communities. Visit the blog for all of the links mentioned in this episode.

We have an open and candid discussion about sex and disability ministry. Do churches shy away from this subject? Is it better taught in a class or one-on-one? How do you even start talking about this with your group? We also talk through three real-world scenarios based on incidents Ryan experienced during his time as a disability ministry pastor.

Read over Psalms 139: 14-16 (NIV) and ask yourself: Do you truly believe that? We do. In fact, we believe that disability is beautiful and belongs to everyone. In this episode, Ryan and Jason discuss the origins of DisabilityIsBeautiful.com and why it is one of our favorite resources. For all of the links mentioned in this episode, visit abilityministry.com/blog

In this episode, we discuss all things volunteers. Specifically, how do you train and prepare volunteers for disability ministry, what tools and resources are available to make sure they are biblically grounded, how to prevent burnout, as well as Ryan's top picks for the free resources you should start with. Visit abilityministry.com for quick links to all resources mentioned in this episode.

“We don’t have a disability ministry at our church because there aren’t any people here with a disability.” Have you ever heard that as a reason why a church has no disability ministry? Perhaps you have said that yourself. Ryan Wolfe, president and executive director of Ability Ministry joins the conversation today to talk through this misconception and what to do when you encounter it. All links...

Psalm 139:13-16 NLT speaks of being made wonderfully complex with marvelous workmanship. It is easy to read that scripture and agree. But is it as easy to apply that? In this episode, we talk about an instance where this marvelous workmanship could have been overlooked and some ways to help recognize them quicker. Resources: Voice Aloud Reader app Disability Etiquette resource Wrong Assumptions ab...

In this episode of Start With Hello: Conversations About Disability, Jason discusses a fun way to review lessons in your classroom and ways to modify the activity based on your group. Resources in this episode: Article: Tic-Tac-Toe: Fun Game to Add to Your Class Article: Puzzles and Fruit of the Spirit Article: Sometimes It's OK to Throw Things at Church 4:8 Men Podcast VOUS Church Amazon: Gia...

Some stats about men being involved in ministry along with creative ways to get men to step up and become more involved with disability ministry. Resources mentioned in this episode: Trivia Night: Getting Men Involved in Disability Ministry Getting Men Involved in Disability Ministry Rise Fitness Free disability ministry consultation Helpful articles and statistics: “Why Religion Matters: The Impa...

“We believe God has given each of us unique abilities and talents for His glory and our good.” As leaders and volunteers, do we really believe that? Do we live that out in our classes? In March, Jason Morrison spoke to a group of volunteers with the Shine Ministry at Southeast Christian Church about some ways to engage in a classroom. This episode covers tips on engagement, a different way to view...

The seed for what would eventually become Ability Ministry was originally planted back in 1981. Gary and Jason discuss the beginnings of Ability Ministry, residential ministry at Riverwood Christian and New Hope Christian, and the future of residential services. Resources mentioned in this episode: Our Story Riverwood Christian Community Riverwood's Facebook page New Hope Christian Community R...