Engaging Disability Director, Ashley Belknap, and Ministry Assistant, Cheryl Erb, will be part of this conference.
For information on attending, visit the conference website or register now.
Join Ashley as she presents the following workshops:
Developing a Special Needs Ministry that Works in Your Church Context. Each church has different families touched by disability, each with unique needs. Whether you have one family touched by disability or many, we want you to be confident in how to assess needs, how to understand your church context and its present barriers and challenges, and how to come alongside the entire family with steps that make an impact on the family’s ability to integrate and grow when at church. There is no one-size-fits-all disability ministry, so let’s discuss how to approach disability ministry so that every child is included and each child can grow in their knowledge of God as part of the church family.
All Together: Teaching the Bible to Children of All Abilities. We want all our children to learn God’s Word and grow in their understanding of who God is and what He has done for us through the gospel. Children with special needs often learn very differently than their peers. How can teachers simultaneously address a wide range of learning needs in the classroom? And without spending hours prepping? This workshop will focus on strategies to adapt and teach the Bible to students of all levels of ability without “dumbing down” content and compromising what our children need most: God’s Word.
A Gospel-Centered Approach to Discipleship for Children with Autism. Our goal in Children’s Ministry is the effective discipleship of all our children. How is discipleship in kids with autism different and the same as in other typically-developing kids and other children with disabilities? Some children on the autism spectrum often exhibit challenging behaviors. What part does disability play in their actions or does it? How can we understand their behaviors, and what do you do when you encounter these challenges in your classroom or children’s ministry program? In this workshop, we will examine behavior through the lens of the gospel and discuss methods of implementing positive behavior strategies and supports that enhance the discipleship of all our children.
If you are interested in a special needs ministry consultation on Friday before the main conference, Ashley will be available. Be sure to include that in your registration.
