Part 1: An inteview about Inclusion Fusion ... what it is, why it matters, and how YOU can benefit
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I've never met Dr. Steve Grcevich. I haven't talked to him on the phone before, and I don't even know how to pronounce his last name, though I have finally learned to spell it. I do know, though, that he and his team, along with Jeremy Collins at PajamaConference.com, are on to something. How can you equip a wide range of ministry leaders, including those who can't afford traditional conferences (travel + hotel + conference fees + food ... it adds up!) and those who wouldn't typically prioritize a disability ministry conference?
Bring the conference to THEM via the beauty of technology.
Today I'm be posting part one of an interview I did with Steve about Inclusion Fusion, and tomorrow you'll get part two! Hopefully, it will answer any lingering questions you have. (And, yes, I'll be among the speakers!) To put a face with the name, that's Steve in the picture to the left, standing between the beautiful Katie Wetherbee and the respected Chuck Swindoll. Swindoll is the keynote speaker for the Inclusion Fusion websummit - he's another reason you should consider joining us!
Steve, what is Inclusion Fusion anyway?
Inclusion Fusion is a FREE, worldwide web conference to equip churches to more effectively minister to children and adults with special needs and their families. We wanted to create an opportunity for senior pastors, church staff members, volunteers and family members to come together to share ideas and resources and advance the movement among Christ-honoring churches to serve, welcome and include families touched by both visible and hidden disabilities.
Wow, that's different. Has anything like this ever been done before?
Several years ago, I was attending a meeting for leaders at a major ministry conference and observed lots of venting about the lack of interest among churches for disability ministry initiatives. It seemed to me that part of our problem was the absence of anyone in the meeting outside of special needs ministry. We’ll never overcome the obstacles to full inclusion of children and adults with disabilities in the local church until we seek to understand the challenges by church leaders and provide them resources to effectively serve families in their immediate communities.
Our team felt led to create an opportunity for folks with different roles in the church…senior pastors, church staff members, highly committed volunteers and families…to come together, learn from one another and form relationships in service of a common passion to build meaningful connections between families impacted by disabilities and local churches.
Inclusion Fusion seeks to overcome two previously insurmountable barriers to mutual understanding and collaboration. One is time…Ministry leaders and families face lots of competing demands on their time. Traveling to another city to attend a conference, packing, arranging child care…all impact other priorities. The other barrier is money…neither churches nor families touched by disability
have it.
We partnered with Jeremy Collins and his team at Pajama Conference to create an experience where anyone can see any presenter speak on any topic at any time during Inclusion Fusion. A pastor, ministry leader or volunteer can literally be part of our conference while in their pajamas. [Confession from Shannon: I filmed my sessions while in pajama pants. I was only filming from the waist up, so you won't see that in the videos, but now you know!] We also established that the conference will be offered free of charge, as is the case for any Key Ministry service or event. We don’t want money to be an obstacle to any church or person who wants to join us.
Come back tomorrow to hear more from Steve about what Key Ministry is all about, what his day job is, who should join us for Inclusion Fusion, and how to sign up!
Bring the conference to THEM via the beauty of technology.
Today I'm be posting part one of an interview I did with Steve about Inclusion Fusion, and tomorrow you'll get part two! Hopefully, it will answer any lingering questions you have. (And, yes, I'll be among the speakers!) To put a face with the name, that's Steve in the picture to the left, standing between the beautiful Katie Wetherbee and the respected Chuck Swindoll. Swindoll is the keynote speaker for the Inclusion Fusion websummit - he's another reason you should consider joining us!Steve, what is Inclusion Fusion anyway?
Inclusion Fusion is a FREE, worldwide web conference to equip churches to more effectively minister to children and adults with special needs and their families. We wanted to create an opportunity for senior pastors, church staff members, volunteers and family members to come together to share ideas and resources and advance the movement among Christ-honoring churches to serve, welcome and include families touched by both visible and hidden disabilities.
Wow, that's different. Has anything like this ever been done before?
Several years ago, I was attending a meeting for leaders at a major ministry conference and observed lots of venting about the lack of interest among churches for disability ministry initiatives. It seemed to me that part of our problem was the absence of anyone in the meeting outside of special needs ministry. We’ll never overcome the obstacles to full inclusion of children and adults with disabilities in the local church until we seek to understand the challenges by church leaders and provide them resources to effectively serve families in their immediate communities.
Our team felt led to create an opportunity for folks with different roles in the church…senior pastors, church staff members, highly committed volunteers and families…to come together, learn from one another and form relationships in service of a common passion to build meaningful connections between families impacted by disabilities and local churches.
Inclusion Fusion seeks to overcome two previously insurmountable barriers to mutual understanding and collaboration. One is time…Ministry leaders and families face lots of competing demands on their time. Traveling to another city to attend a conference, packing, arranging child care…all impact other priorities. The other barrier is money…neither churches nor families touched by disability
have it.
We partnered with Jeremy Collins and his team at Pajama Conference to create an experience where anyone can see any presenter speak on any topic at any time during Inclusion Fusion. A pastor, ministry leader or volunteer can literally be part of our conference while in their pajamas. [Confession from Shannon: I filmed my sessions while in pajama pants. I was only filming from the waist up, so you won't see that in the videos, but now you know!] We also established that the conference will be offered free of charge, as is the case for any Key Ministry service or event. We don’t want money to be an obstacle to any church or person who wants to join us.
Come back tomorrow to hear more from Steve about what Key Ministry is all about, what his day job is, who should join us for Inclusion Fusion, and how to sign up!