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: Disability Doesn't Preclude Wellness
Ken, I thank God that you have come to be at peace with the journey that has been set before you. Not only that, I'm hearing you say that the distress that has come your way has deepened your relationship with God. It sounds like that was a long time in coming. With you, I praise God that he makes and keeps promises.
Posted in: Public Defenders and People With Disabilities
Bill, I'd like to see your statistics for this assertion. Disabilities I have in mind with regard to communication differences include intellectual disabilities, autism, and even (sometimes) fetal alcohol syndrome and schizophrenia. Rarely are these self-caused.
Posted in: Tensions in Church Over Vaccinations
Readers, as Joy knows, she and I had a discussion about some of these topics not long ago, in case anyone would like to read the ways I addressed some of the concerns Joy raises, in particular, the effectiveness of vaccines, the claim that vaccines are made using aborted fetuses, and the link suggested between vaccines and autism.
Posted in: Tensions in Church Over Vaccinations
I agree Shannon. Most parents make the decisions they make for their children because they believe they are doing what is best for their kids. But parents need to remember that these decisions can affect others, besides their own children, so we need to interact with one another in a gracious spirit.
Posted in: Mark Stephenson Recognized for Network Blogs
Thanks to everyone for the kudos! Special thanks to Jonathan Wilson for his excellent mentoring of me during his tenure with CRC Communications.
Posted in: Why Denominational Leaders Need to Address Clergy Mental Health Issues
Larry, thanks for this. We finally have done that. Christian Reformed and Reformed Church in America Disability Concerns, working with CRC Pastor Church Resources, chaplains, and pastors have produced a Guide for a Clergy Leave of Absence for Mental Health Reasons as well as supporting materials to present the guide to groups. Church leaders often have a good idea how to respond if pastor has a serious physical illness or accident, but they are much less sure what to do if pastor has a serious mental health crisis. We hope and pray that this guide will help churches and pastors navigate these difficult waters with grace.
Posted in: You Write the Caption!
I can't believe it! My parents are sitting in a different place this morning.
Posted in: You Write the Caption!
Remember to stay for the potluck after worship today. We are excited to tell you that there will be no brocolli.
Posted in: Letter Concerning the Supreme Court of Canada Decision on Assisted Suicide
Yes, this decision is frightening for everyone, and especially people who have disabilities, which is why we Christians need to respond. For more information, besides the excellent Cardus article, see Not Dead Yet, the ironically titled U.S. organization that opposes assisted suicide, and the Council of Canadians with Disabilities, which just produced two excellent articles in response to this decision by the Supreme Court of Canada.
Posted in: There's Still Hope for Your Marriage
Bill, indeed, many fetuses are spontaneously aborted, but to say that a soul enters a fetus when the fetus becomes viable outside the womb is arbitrary, and that point has been shifting downward as neonatal medicine has advanced. In fact, there will come a day when artificial wombs will be a reality, and fertilized eggs will be viable outside a human womb, though probably not in my lifetime.
The point of my article is to emphasize that couples need not give up hope about their child or their marriage if they have a child with a disability. People and marriages can flourish even when circumstances are very difficult!
Posted in: Not a Piece of Furniture
Robin, thanks for this! Here are three ideas to get people started on a road toward fully engaging kids with disabilities at their church:
Posted in: Talking about Robin Williams and Suicide
Michele, I appreciate your point that no one is immune to challenges and struggles. The difference between each of us is that the struggles we have are different. I hope that others will respond similarly by starting support groups in their own churches.
Thanks too for sharing a bit of your own journey. Your comment reminds me that readers may be interested in hearing from others who also have been affected by mental illness. Disability Concerns created Stories of Grace and Truth (www.crcna.org/graceandtruth) so that people could share prose, poetry, and visual art that arises out of their own journeys with mental illness.