September 17, 2018
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Enriched by Differences
CRC and RCA Disability Week 2018 reminds churches that delightful benefits come to groups when participants differ from each other in significant ways.
Guide
Mark Stephenson
Website:
About Me:
Welcome to Disability Concerns. My name is Mark Stephenson. I’m here to help you find the best ways for your church to become an accessible, warm, hospitable, and loving place for people with disabilities. At Disability Concerns we like to say, “Everybody belongs. Everybody serves.”
After receiving an M.Div. degree, I served as pastor of two Christian Reformed churches for a total of 17 years, and I have served as the Director of Disability Concerns for the Christian Reformed Church since July 2006. My wife Bev and I have four living children, including our oldest child, Nicole, who was born extremely prematurely in the late 1980’s and lives 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.
God used Nicole to lead me into a variety of involvements with people with disabilities and their families including these:
- Chairing the board of Special Education Ministry of Holland (a Friendship group)
- Serving with working groups for various ministries with people with disabilities
- Directing the Disability Concerns ministry of my denomination.
I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to speak to groups across North America about church and inclusion, and welcome such opportunities. Likewise, I welcome this opportunity to assist you and your congregation. If you cannot find a resource that you would find helpful, or if I can assist you in some way, please be in touch.
Interests:
August 21, 2018
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Reflections on Taking a Unit of Clinical Pastoral Education
I had the privilege of taking a unit of Clinical Pastoral Education at Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services. At the conclusion of our time together, each of us students wrote a "final evaluation". Here are some excerpts from mine.
August 3, 2018
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Shifting to Indirect Success
Crabtree argues that denominational and regional association leaders must derive success through others.
July 2, 2018
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I Want to Be an Adjective When I Grow Up
Seong Won asked me whether CPE has changed since I took my last unit 32 years ago. I told her that the structure of CPE hasn’t changed much, but I’ve changed a great deal. Naturally, she followed up with, “How have you changed?”
June 18, 2018
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The Drawing of Jesus Hides a Big Stain
I’m more comfortable with answers than questions, authority than weakness, and qualification by academic degree than qualification by suffering. But I’m learning that effectiveness in chaplaincy requires me to walk into the circle of my discomfort.
February 25, 2018
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Murder, Not Mercy Killing
A person with a disability is murdered by their parent or guardian about once a week. At least 219 such murders happened in the United States from 2011 to 2015.
January 16, 2018
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Advice on Doing a Webinar?
CRC and RCA Disability Concerns ministries would like to put on a webinar. For those of you who have done webinars, do you have a how-to and best practice list that you'd be willing to share?
November 20, 2017
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Hiring People With Disabilities Makes Cents and Sense
An article I read about churches hiring people with disabilities contained helpful information but their approach emphasized that hiring anyone with a disability is fraught with "landmines." Ouch!
October 9, 2017
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Something We Can Do About Rampage Killings
Every time a rampage killing happens, like the recent horror in Las Vegas, people ask “Why?” For an answer, we need to look at ourselves and the kind of society we have created.
September 7, 2017
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An Honor, Not a Job
Children both amaze and inspire me to be a better person. As I see Christ in them, I know God has placed them in my ministry not only to learn as students, but to teach as well.
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Michele, thanks for your comment. Yes, David writes from within an American context, but we're hoping much of his advice will apply in Canadian contexts too. And Mental Health First Aid, QPR, and...
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Greg and Willemiena, Yes! Sometimes when I've spoken to groups, I challenge the common use of the word "normal", as a contrast to "disability" or "mental illness." I like to quote Whoopi Goldberg...
posted on: On Pinning Blame and Human Nature -
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...
posted on: Disability Doesn't Preclude Wellness -
Hi Harold, I have appreciated all your work in disability advocacy over the years. It's hard work and slow-going. I hear your frustration. People can quickly grasp why an elevator or ramp may be...
posted on: Disability Concerns. What's That About? -
Joe, yes, this pastor's communication shows a wonderful sensitivity to this man, and shows a desire to teach the congregation how better to understand and interact with him both with the...
posted on: Who Are You Encouraging? -
Joe, thanks so much for posting your reflections on looking for a new church with your friend. I'm learning so much by reading what the two of you are experiencing. It's challenging for anyone to...
posted on: Who Are You Encouraging? -
Joe, it must be very frustrating for you and your friend to visit different churches and not find the kind of welcome that all of us long for. When Martin Luther King Jr. was jailed in Birmingham...
posted on: Who Are You Encouraging? -
Joe, thanks for digging back through the archives to find this blog. The tide of public neglect and fear toward people who have autism and other disabilities is turning, but it takes a long, long...
posted on: Who Are You Encouraging? -
Sarah, I'm sorry to hear about this. How painful for your daughter, you, and your whole family. When our children hurt, we parents hurt all the more. You may have some recourse. If this camp is in...
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Dan and Doug, I understand justice to be an aspect of love. So yes, love and justice must go together because justice is one of the ways that God's love is manifested. For example, these verses...
posted on: How Do You Define "Justice"?