Pastor John and I had the chance to sit down over three weeks to talk about disability, the Bible, the church and the glory of God.
Please pray that God would use it to encourage struggling parents and embolden churches.
June 11, 2011 by John Knight
Pastor John and I had the chance to sit down over three weeks to talk about disability, the Bible, the church and the glory of God.
Please pray that God would use it to encourage struggling parents and embolden churches.
John,
Thank you for your honesty and sharing the hope we have. The Lord God truly is our hope and strength. This message of the interviews has implications for more than disability. It can applied to all suffering and difficulties. To all three interview postings, I say, “Amen; amen, amen.”
Hi,
I just wanted to say thanks for the posts that you write and for the videos you did with John Piper. Your story is encouraging and inspiring and i’m so grateful that you have the attitude you do and that God enabled you to see His good purposes in your situation. I’ve had quite severe epilepsy for over 6 years now, and have regular seizures – despite trying a lot of drugs, there appears to be nothing that can control them. Whilst i still pray and long for God to heal me, i’ve reached a place where i can trust God’s purposes and goodness and am prepared to wait for His timing and i pray that somehow He can still be glorified in my life now. Sometimes the attitudes of other people aren’t helpful though – especially those who confuse seizures with demonic activity, or presume you’re not healed due to sin issues – i’ve often found it quite harmful, so i’m really grateful that God has raised up people like you who have such a healthy and helpful perspective on disabilities. You bring God glory. Thank you.
Thank you….
I should stop there but I won’t. I’m new to disability ministry but not new to disability. I have 2 children, one deceased, with disabilities. I am in the process of beginning a regional ministry with those with disabilities. You have articulated so well your journey = with all the pain & suffering – and your path in the Word and with Jesus.
Thank you
John, your interviews with John Piper were powerful and good food for the souls of those who are losing hope. My husband and I have a daughter, Mary Addison, who is 19. She is mentally and physically challenged and has had numerous daily seizures since before she was born. Drop, cluster, tonic-clonic – she’s had them all, but God uses her mightily. Because of her my husband and I came to Christ.
We started a ministry for families and individuals touched by developmental disabilities 12 years ago. From that, we have been led to write and teach The Heart of the Caregiver – a small group curriculum for family caregivers. I have been teaching it to women for two years at Seacoast Church and the impact has been incredible.
We believe it is to be used in family and outreach ministry to minister to families touched by disability, chronic illness, depression and age related issues. It has also been blessed to open the door for true community to flourish in our churches – the kind of community described in 1 Corin. 12:21-26. We’d love to talk to you and your wife about getting The Heart of the Caregiver small groups started at your church. Visit http://www.theheartofthecaregiver.com to learn a little more and if you can relate – please get in touch with us.
Mary Tutterow – the.caregiver@comcast.net