What I’d Like to Tell The Pastor About Living with Illness

tell-pastor-about-illness

If you had the opportunity to sit down and really share about your pain, what would you tell the pastor of your church about your chronic illness and daily pain? Lisa Copen Living with chronic illness is lonely. Everyone around us seems to be enjoying health, happiness, and the ability to at least pursue their dreams. But many of us feel lonely, scared, and disappointed. We are faced with so many insecurities and we are living with an illness that we have not been able to pray away, cry away, or confess away. So we turn to our church for guidance, for acceptance, for unconditional support during the most difficult time in our life. But churches are made up of people—all of us imperfect. And our church does not always give us … [Read more...]

Wheelchair Donations Needed for Haiti

Joni & Friends is a Christian ministry that Rest Ministries is honored to be an affiliate of.  This year they celebrate their 30th anniversary of ministry outreach to people with disabilities & their families across the US & around the world. We invite you to browse their website as they have a wealth of information, resources, & encouragement to help their (& your?) global outreach to the disability community! Joni recently wrote on her website a very personal letter regarding the need for wheelchairs in Haiti due to the devastating earthquake: In that devastating natural disaster, thous&s of victims of the earthquake have become permanently or temporarily disabled. Every day the need for wheelchairs, walkers, canes & crutches … [Read more...]

Joni & Friends Offers New Certificate Program for Disability Ministry

In the past, national survey data has shown that more than one-fourth (26%) of U.S. adults who seek pastoral care have disabilities, but very few U.S. seminaries provide such training to the men & women whom they are preparing for the ministry (1998 National Health Interview Survey) Now the Joni & Friends International Disability Center has established the Christian Institute on Disability to "aggressively promote a Christ-centered, biblical approach that protects human dignity & the sanctity of all human life, no matter what the disabling condition." According to the Joni & Friends International Disability Center The Public Policy Center will address disability related issues & sensitive policy matters that arise in the public … [Read more...]