Mark Stephenson
After receiving an M.Div. degree, I served as pastor of two Christian Reformed churches for a total of 17 years. From 2006 through 2021, I was the Director of Disability Concerns for the Christian Reformed Church, and relish the close working relationship CRC Disability Concerns has with the Reformed Church in America Disability Concerns ministry. I have served as interim Director of the CRC's Offices of Race Relations and Social Justice since Feb 2020. My wife Bev and I have five living children, two daughters-in-law, and three grandchildren. Our oldest child, Nicole, was born extremely prematurely in the late 1980’s and lives joyfully with severe, multiple impairments. That label does not define her. She loves magazines, loves interacting with people, loves roller-coasters and wild amusement park rides, and she loves to worship and to pray with God’s people. In any group, she shares her own unique gifts.
Posted in: Who Are We Excluding From Worship?
Tom, thanks for your comment. The way most services are structured, and the way most sanctuaries are constructed, we send the message that "worship" is what happens up front, even though that's not a Reformed perspective of worship as a dialog between God and his people. As a result, any "inappropriate" sounds by people in the "audience" are "disruptions". I hope that we who are connected to disability in various ways can help all of God's people recognize and celebrate that worship is EVERYONE participating, not just the people up front.
Posted in: A Battle With Anxiety: Jarett's Story (Part I)
Annika, thanks for posting this. Looking forward to part 2!
Posted in: A Battle With Anxiety: Jarett's Story (Part II)
Hats off to Jarrett, Josh, Annika, and the whole group for making this work for Jarrett! I wonder how this experience will linger with everyone in the days, weeks, and years to come. I have a guess about one thing: Jarrett's openness about the challenges he was facing may have helped everyone to become a bit more open and vulnerable about their own struggles.
Posted in: Continuing the Mental Health Conversation
Ron, thanks for this. Another book I highly recommend is Ministry with Persons with Mental Illness and Their Families. Mark
Posted in: Continuing the Mental Health Conversation
Here's the article on the network that Michele is talking about: On Chronically Normal People.
Posted in: My Father’s I Corinthians 13
Doug, Yes, and though it's not said in this paraphrase, Mark's and Betty's love for each other springs from the love both of them know in Jesus Christ.
Posted in: Oh, That Will Be Glory
Del, Thanks for offering these reflections. We had some discussion about this on the Network a few years ago, and the discussion was even more extensive on Think Christian. I encourage you to check out the comments on both pages.
Posted in: PLEASE Don’t DIS My ABILITIES
Patricia, thanks so much for sharing this part of your story!
Posted in: Why Lego’s Wheelchair Minifigure Is Fearfully and Wonderfully Made
Not only toy makers but also clothing makers are expanding their line to include kids with disabilities. Here's a story about Tommy Hilfiger's work.
Posted in: Excellence vs. Community?
John, thanks for these thoughts. I've asked these same questions myself. Bill Vanden Bosch, a retired CRC pastor who did well at engaging people of various cultures and people with disabilities in the life of the congregation, once told me, "The best worship comes from the heart, reaches the heart of God, and the hearts of all the worshipers touch each other." I love the communal focus of that statement. Excellence in worship is not about achieving certain technical standards, it's about people connecting with God and with each other through the power of the Holy Spirit. Given that as a standard, a stammering reader or a clumsy dancer may lead the congregation in worship better than well-trained actors or dancers.
Posted in: The Joy of the Lord Was Paul’s Strength
Thanks Michele. Yes, this is an especially hard time of year to mourn the passing of a loved on. There will be an empty chair at the Buursma Christmas feast this year. I pray God will give them comfort, peace, strength, and they they will be comforted with the certain hope that they will indeed see Paul again.
Posted in: Disability Doesn't Preclude Wellness
Angela, thanks for sharing. For those of us who do not yet live with disability, it's hard to imagine ever coming to the point of being able to say with you, " . . . accepting I have MS and embracing all God has for me now, I'm happier and have greater wellness then I did when I was fine and working." Considering that so many of us baby boomers will be acquiring disability in the coming 20 years, the next big thing for ministry is for people, like you, who have learned to be well and live with a disability to teach people who have newly acquired disability to do the same. Doesn't that sound like an exciting new arena for ministry?