Collaborative Partners Blog Series: Ability Ministry
In April and May we are going to introduce several of our very experienced collaborative partners in our community who have come alongside us, our friends, their families and churches to train toward excellent inclusion of our friends and their families. You as Young Life staff and volunteers being aware of these key co-laborers is quite critical for excellence in transition. Historically, as you will read in these blogs, our community "partners” have been the link not just for our Capernaum friends but also for their family members.
We often lead with I Corinthians 12:4-11 as a call toward inclusion of our friends into the body of Christ. What if we read I Corinthians 12:4-11 through the lens of being inclusive of excellent community co-laborers to move us all toward the fullness of the body of Christ? What kind of vision could this give your area? Imagine organizations working together and our friends thriving.
We invite you to introduce yourself to the staff of these ministries if they have a location in your area, and begin to set up potential ways to collaborate as you continue to develop your transition plan with your friends. Have questions? Contact your Capernaum Divisional Coordinator for additional information.
Ability Ministry
Contributor: Ryan Wolfe
While an emerging ministry the field of Disability Ministry is still in its infancy. We at Ability Ministry are proud to say that we have been actively reaching out to the disability community for over 30 years. Ability Ministry is no rookie in this area of ministry. Our non-profit roots reach back all the way to 1981 when one man saw a need and decided to do something to meet that need. To this day we are working diligently to continue to meet needs both here in America and beyond.
The mission of Ability Ministry is to “equip and empower disability ministry for churches, families, and individuals affected by disabilities helping them to become who God has created them to be.”
One of the ways we equip and empower is through free consultation. That’s right, I said FREE. Each case is customized to the unique makeup of the church, or organization, and community because no two places are the same. Listen to what Mike Napier from Choateville Christian Church in Kentucky had to say about his consultation experience.
“I didn’t have a clue what I was doing… or how to go about it… I just knew something had to be done… That’s why I am so thankful for what you and the rest of your team are doing in this area of ministry!!!”
Beyond consultation, we work hard at resourcing people with the tools they need to be successful. Equipping and empowering is the centerpiece of our website. Listen to what Meagan Clark had to say about the resources provided on our website.
“I can’t thank you enough for the work you do to help people with disabilities and to build much needed community and support. The resources I found here are fantastic. As a librarian, I’ve staked my career in helping empower people with stories and knowledge, and I’m so grateful to find others who share that vision.”
What kind of resources will you find on our website? Sermons, blogs, videos, training videos, recommended reading, helpful links, free downloadable documents, curriculum, and original books to name a few!
Brad Mowry, Eastern Division Capernaum Coordinator, and Ryan Wolfe, Program Development Director at Ability Ministry, have been working together for some time now. Ryan has enjoyed getting to know Brad and many of the groups and churches that Brad is connected to.
We at Ability Ministry would love to deepen our relationship with Young Life leaders everywhere. One way to do this may simply be by sharing resources and training materials. Another way may be by taking things a step further by doing consultation or by holding a regional training event. We pray that God would use our like-minded organizations to have an eternal impact on the world.
It is Ryan's passion to equip and empower churches, organizations, and individuals to reach their disability communities for Jesus. Ryan comes to Ability Ministry with 15+ years of ministry experience. He previously worked at First Christian Church in Canton, Ohio as their full-time Disability Pastor. He also worked as a Church Consultant for Key Ministry. Ryan is an ordained Pastor. Micah 6:8 and Proverbs 31:8 best describe Ryan's commitment to life and ministry. He is available for speaking, training, and consultation.
Ryan Wolfe
Program Development Director
(330) 806-9420
www.abilityministry.com
We invite you to introduce yourself to the staff of these ministries if they have a location in your area, and begin to set up potential ways to collaborate as you continue to develop your transition plan with your friends. Have questions? Contact your Capernaum Divisional Coordinator for additional information.
Contributor: Ryan WolfeWhile an emerging ministry the field of Disability Ministry is still in its infancy. We at Ability Ministry are proud to say that we have been actively reaching out to the disability community for over 30 years. Ability Ministry is no rookie in this area of ministry. Our non-profit roots reach back all the way to 1981 when one man saw a need and decided to do something to meet that need. To this day we are working diligently to continue to meet needs both here in America and beyond.
The mission of Ability Ministry is to “equip and empower disability ministry for churches, families, and individuals affected by disabilities helping them to become who God has created them to be.”
One of the ways we equip and empower is through free consultation. That’s right, I said FREE. Each case is customized to the unique makeup of the church, or organization, and community because no two places are the same. Listen to what Mike Napier from Choateville Christian Church in Kentucky had to say about his consultation experience.
“I didn’t have a clue what I was doing… or how to go about it… I just knew something had to be done… That’s why I am so thankful for what you and the rest of your team are doing in this area of ministry!!!”
Beyond consultation, we work hard at resourcing people with the tools they need to be successful. Equipping and empowering is the centerpiece of our website. Listen to what Meagan Clark had to say about the resources provided on our website.
“I can’t thank you enough for the work you do to help people with disabilities and to build much needed community and support. The resources I found here are fantastic. As a librarian, I’ve staked my career in helping empower people with stories and knowledge, and I’m so grateful to find others who share that vision.”
What kind of resources will you find on our website? Sermons, blogs, videos, training videos, recommended reading, helpful links, free downloadable documents, curriculum, and original books to name a few!
Brad Mowry, Eastern Division Capernaum Coordinator, and Ryan Wolfe, Program Development Director at Ability Ministry, have been working together for some time now. Ryan has enjoyed getting to know Brad and many of the groups and churches that Brad is connected to.
We at Ability Ministry would love to deepen our relationship with Young Life leaders everywhere. One way to do this may simply be by sharing resources and training materials. Another way may be by taking things a step further by doing consultation or by holding a regional training event. We pray that God would use our like-minded organizations to have an eternal impact on the world.
It is Ryan's passion to equip and empower churches, organizations, and individuals to reach their disability communities for Jesus. Ryan comes to Ability Ministry with 15+ years of ministry experience. He previously worked at First Christian Church in Canton, Ohio as their full-time Disability Pastor. He also worked as a Church Consultant for Key Ministry. Ryan is an ordained Pastor. Micah 6:8 and Proverbs 31:8 best describe Ryan's commitment to life and ministry. He is available for speaking, training, and consultation.
Ryan Wolfe
Program Development Director
(330) 806-9420
www.abilityministry.com
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