Weekly round-up {7/4/11}
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First, happy Independence Day (for my readers in the USA, that is)! I hope you enjoy your celebrations.
This sermon from John Piper, one of my favorite preachers and writers, isn't about disabilities. It's about interracial marriage. But think these words of his in light of either, and you'll understand why I'm including it in this week's round-up:
In a church or in a neighborhood, it hurts to be faced with harsh words (or even just thoughtless ones) and lack of understanding about what life with special needs is like.
At churches around the country, I've seen new pieces this week about churches hosting or serving at a basketball league for kids with autism and a biking camp for kids with Down syndrome or autism. Doesn't it warm your heart to see options for such a typical summer activity - camp! - made available through churches to kids with special needs?!? And, on those lines, here's an article about a new special needs playground in Huntsville, Alabama, which is the hometown of one of my best friends; I'll be checking it out the next time I'm there!
And this piece by my friend Jared at Sojourn Kids highlights my church's curriculum, Treasuring Christ, and how it can be used for kids with special needs: Advantages of a unified curriculum for children with special needs
I liked seeing that this special needs resource company understands that churches might need resources too. I have no doubts that they could be using this as a way to sell more products, but it's a promising sign of church engagement with the special needs community if companies are viewing us as a potential market.
I generally find good stuff at The Thinking Person's Guide to Autism. This article is no exception to that: Unfriendly Consequences: What Competition for Limited Resources Does to the Autism Community and Autism Families
And grab your tissues before you mosey over to this post by Jessica at four plus an angel. It's called No Words, and it's about the child with autism who was ministered to finding ways to minister to another. And it's precious.
And, finally, if you haven't seen this featured issue of the Today webzine, with a focus on special needs ministry, by the Evangelical Free Church in America, check it out. It's so good, and it includes pieces from Connie Hutchinson, who is the Director of Disabilities Ministry at First Evangelical Free Church of Fullerton, California and who I heard speak at the Accessibility Summit this past spring, and her daughter, who eloquently expresses her desire - as a woman with Down syndrome - to be included in ministry.
This sermon from John Piper, one of my favorite preachers and writers, isn't about disabilities. It's about interracial marriage. But think these words of his in light of either, and you'll understand why I'm including it in this week's round-up:
Christians are people who move toward need and truth and justice, not toward comfort and security. Life is hard. But God is good. And Christ is strong to help.
In a church or in a neighborhood, it hurts to be faced with harsh words (or even just thoughtless ones) and lack of understanding about what life with special needs is like.
At churches around the country, I've seen new pieces this week about churches hosting or serving at a basketball league for kids with autism and a biking camp for kids with Down syndrome or autism. Doesn't it warm your heart to see options for such a typical summer activity - camp! - made available through churches to kids with special needs?!? And, on those lines, here's an article about a new special needs playground in Huntsville, Alabama, which is the hometown of one of my best friends; I'll be checking it out the next time I'm there!
And this piece by my friend Jared at Sojourn Kids highlights my church's curriculum, Treasuring Christ, and how it can be used for kids with special needs: Advantages of a unified curriculum for children with special needs
I liked seeing that this special needs resource company understands that churches might need resources too. I have no doubts that they could be using this as a way to sell more products, but it's a promising sign of church engagement with the special needs community if companies are viewing us as a potential market.
I generally find good stuff at The Thinking Person's Guide to Autism. This article is no exception to that: Unfriendly Consequences: What Competition for Limited Resources Does to the Autism Community and Autism Families
And grab your tissues before you mosey over to this post by Jessica at four plus an angel. It's called No Words, and it's about the child with autism who was ministered to finding ways to minister to another. And it's precious.
And, finally, if you haven't seen this featured issue of the Today webzine, with a focus on special needs ministry, by the Evangelical Free Church in America, check it out. It's so good, and it includes pieces from Connie Hutchinson, who is the Director of Disabilities Ministry at First Evangelical Free Church of Fullerton, California and who I heard speak at the Accessibility Summit this past spring, and her daughter, who eloquently expresses her desire - as a woman with Down syndrome - to be included in ministry.