Ministry Resources
Chronic Illness & Pain Caregivers
Christian Counseling Disability Drama Ministry
Grief & Loss Mental Health
Salvation Service
Teaching/Homeschooling
More To
Come...
Whether you are a parent, caregiver, friend, family member, or in full
time Christian ministry, these are some of the best ministry resources
I've found. I hope you find valuable information, encouragement and
inspiration in them. May God bless you abundantly as you minister
His love to others.
In
God's Love,
Angela Dobbins
Ministry
Is…
Listening, when
you'd rather fix the problem.
Searching for the joy, when it's easier to say "it's not fair."
Helping, when you feel like you're the one that needs the help.
Telling God, "use me," when you'd rather ask to be rescued.
Encouraging, even when you don't understand God's reasoning.
Hugging when it feels awkward.
Saying, "let's pray right now," instead of "I'll pray for
you."
Serving, when you doubt you have anything left to give.
Comforting, by being the flicker of light in others' dark caverns.
Author Unknown
"Do not
grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." Nehemiah 8:10
Chronic
Illness & Pain
Peace
in the Storm: Meditations on Chronic Pain & Illness
by Maureen
Pratt
When
God Weeps
by Joni Eareckson
Tada, Rev. Steve Estes
From
our perspective, suffering doesn't make sense, especially when we believe in a
loving and just God. After more than thirty years in a wheelchair, Joni
Eareckson Tada's intimate experience with suffering gives her a special
understanding of God's intentions for us in our pain.
"If
I had to
recommend
only ONE
book
to people with chronic illness" says Lisa Copen, founder of Rest
Ministries, 'WHEN GOD WEEPS
would
be IT!"
Heaven
Is Real- Lessons on Earthly Joy
by Don Piper &
Cecil Murphy
"Heaven is real...so how should we spend our time on
earth?"
After his miraculous and transforming 90
Minutes in Heaven (a true story of death and life), Don Piper shares
spiritual lessons he's learned throughout his own experience with pain,
recovery, disability and finding a "new normal". Through
his testimony and the testimonies of others, he shows us how to discover a
renewed purpose and to embrace God's grace in the here and now, before
we reach the hereafter. Very inspirational and uplifting! I
highly recommend this book to anyone who has experienced a devastating
loss or major, life-altering event. It certainly spoke to my
heart.
Beyond
Casseroles: 505 Ways to Encourage a Chronically Ill Friend
by Lisa Copen
We
all want to help people but we don't know where to start. We hear others who
want to reach out to us, or other chronically ill friends, but they make simple
offers that we never feel comfortable accepting. This book is a wonderful way to
give people ideas to be creative, approachable, and a great friend.
So
You Want to Start a Chronic Illness/Pain Ministry
by Lisa Copen
This
70-page manual will lead you through everything you need to know to have a more
effective outreach to people who live with chronic illness or pain. It's
designed with symbols and in an easy-to-read format; it also includes over 65
personal anecdotes from people in pain. . .
For
other helpful chronic illness, pain & disability resources,
visit
Rest
Ministries bookstore online at
http://www.chronicillnessbooks.com
Rest
Ministries was founded by Lisa Copen and is an awesome resource for
those affected by chronic illness, including friends, family members and
those who care for and minister to those with illness and
disability. Check it out!
Visit Illness-Disability-Healthcare-Caregiver Ministry Network
Caregivers
Someone
Cares Movie
Beautiful &
inspiring images & music!
"Do what
you can to show you care about other people,
and you will make
our world a better place." - Rosalynn Carter
The
Twenty-third Psalm for Caregivers
by Carmen Leal
"This book,
with its beautiful illustrations and heartwarming text, is a much needed
hug for caregivers everywhere." - Martha Bolton
Give
Us This Day- Daily Hope for Caregivers
by Martha Evans
Sparks
Devotionals are
arranged around the emotions and experiences of a caregiver and include
insights on comfort, encouragement, gratitude, hope, joy, love, patience,
wisdom, and strength.
When
Someone You Love Has Alzheimer's: Daily Encouragement
by Cecil Murphey
Visit Illness-Disability-Healthcare-Caregiver Ministry Network
More
To Come!
Counseling
The
Bible for Hope, NKJV
Caring
for People God's Way
Full-Color, Hardcover
The Bible for Hope is
a resource created to help Christian counselors lead others to healing and hope
in the midst of the challenges and difficulties of life. Suitable for
pastoral, professional and lay Christian counselors.
Handbook
on Counseling Youth
by Josh McDowell &
Bob Hostetler
"An
easy to use handbook to help parents, teachers, pastors and youth workers guide
today's young people through the minefields on the path to adulthood."
Disability
Founded by Joni
Eareckson Tada in 1979 to communicate the gospel and equip Christ-honoring
churches worldwide to evangelize and disciple people affected by disabilities.
Discover many great disability
resources here!
exchange
resources and ideas and support each other
A
great site run by Rudy Sims, a talented guy who courageously lives with
cerebral palsy. "Discuss disability issues and exchange
resources, ideas and support. Whether you have a disability, health
issue, or are just interested in disability issues, you are welcome to
join this social network."
Visit Illness-Disability-Healthcare-Caregiver Ministry Network
Same
Lake Different Boat
by Stephanie O. Hubach
The author includes
both scholarly discussion and heartwarming stories. This book presents a
Biblical view of disability, along with a call to churches to reform and become
an inclusive community for all people.
Heaven
Is Real- Lessons on Earthly Joy
by Don Piper &
Cecil Murphy
"Heaven is real...so how should we spend our time on
earth?"
After his miraculous and transforming 90
Minutes in Heaven (a true story of death and life), Don Piper shares
spiritual lessons he's learned throughout his own experience with pain,
recovery, disability and finding a "new normal". Through
his testimony and the testimonies of others, he shows us how to discover a
renewed purpose and to embrace God's grace in the here and now, before
we reach the hereafter. Very inspirational and uplifting! I
highly recommend this book to anyone who has experienced a devastating
loss or major, life-altering event. It certainly spoke to my
heart.
Drama
Ministry
dramashare
your
Christian drama resource center
"Royalty
free Christian drama scripts, skits, sketches, sermon starters, full length
drama, plus proven ministry organization and training support for your entire
ministry."
Grief
& Loss
Finding
Your Way after the Suicide of Someone You Love
by David B. Biebel,
Suzanne L. Foster
The
Art of Helping
by Lauren Littauer
Briggs
All of us have wanted to offer comfort and support to someone experiencing the
intense pain of loss, but we simply don't know what to say to someone facing
divorce, the death of a child, cancer, the loss of a job, infertility, and
estranged or rebellious child, a chronic illness, and the other tough issues of
life.
The Art of Helping is presented with those times in mind. Find out the
best way to express your feeling in a positive, uplifting manner that a hurting
person will understand and appreciate.
More
To Come!
Mental
Health
When
Someone You Love Suffers from Depression or Mental Illness
by Cecil Murphey
In
the Shadow of God's Wings
by Susan
Gregg-Schroeder
Susan Gregg-Schroeder
offers a bold statement about living with chronic depression and discovering
gifts of God in the midst of that depression. Taking readers on her own personal
journey into depression, Gregg-Schroeder describes what happened to her while
she served as a church pastor.
Creating
Caring Congregations DVD
by Mental Health
Ministries
Providing resources to
develop a mental health program in the local church is the important
first step in the inclusion and support of persons with mental illnesses and
their families into the life of the church community. The sharing of personal
stories and experiences provides a way to give voice to those who have suffered
in silence, and allows churches to begin the process of reaching out and
providing compassionate care to those affected by disorders of the brain.
Shadow
Voices- finding HOPE in mental illness
"An extension of the Shadow Voices documentary, this
website is especially helpful for those who:
- have a family member with a mental illness
- are pastors, social workers, police officers, or any others who
encounter people with mental illnesses in their work
- wish to be more aware of how to be a support to those with mental
illnesses, whether that is a neighbor or a member of your church
- are students doing research on mental illness
- are interested in reading incredible stories of courage as people do
the hard work of living with and recovering from mental illness"
More
To Come!
Salvation
Available in multiple languages, various English, printable
pdf, text and other versions
Flash
Movie
English
Web Version
All
Versions
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