A Review of Beyond Suffering: A Christian View on Disability Ministering

Below is the first of what we hope will be many reviews from Don Healy. If you have an item that you would like Don to review, please read this page on how to contact Don.

Designed as a comprehensive, evangelical Christian approach to the area of disability ministry, this impressive array of course materials is remarkable in the breadth, depth, and quality of resources being made available for those wishing to develop or refine their skills. Course completion options include both certification as well as either undergraduate or graduate level college credit. A leader’s guide, student study guide, extensive outside readings, biblical references, Powerpoint presentations, video introductions and video case studies are well integrated into the four modules of the course: An Overview of Disability Ministry; The Theology of Suffering and Disability; The Church and Disability Ministry; and An Introduction to Bioethics. The underlying educational strategies, resources, and activities employed to guide course leaders and students through the 16 lessons are of consistently high quality. Many print-ready forms are provided.

For information, go to Beyond Suffering: A Christian View on Disability Ministry.

Below is the first of what we hope will be many reviews from Don Healy. If you have an item that you would like Don to review, please read this page on how to contact Don.

Designed as a comprehensive, evangelical Christian approach to the area of disability ministry, this impressive array of course materials is remarkable in the breadth, depth, and quality of resources being made available for those wishing to develop or refine their skills. Course completion options include both certification as well as either undergraduate or graduate level college credit. A leader’s guide, student study guide, extensive outside readings, biblical references, Powerpoint presentations, video introductions and video case studies are well integrated into the four modules of the course: An Overview of Disability Ministry; The Theology of Suffering and Disability; The Church and Disability Ministry; and An Introduction to Bioethics. The underlying educational strategies, resources, and activities employed to guide course leaders and students through the 16 lessons are of consistently high quality. Many print-ready forms are provided.

For information, go to Beyond Suffering: A Christian View on Disability Ministry.

My caveat would be that Lesson 4, as well as one of the outside readings, A Global Call to Reach People with Disabilities, employ a somewhat dismissive tone describing the perspectives of faith traditions other than Christianity concerning disabilities. This tone regarding them, as well as other perspectives along the spectrum of Christianity, was occasionally echoed in other lessons and other readings as well but to a lesser extent. Assigning additional, more inclusive supplemental readings of the disability theology contributions of other faith traditions such as those found in the Journal of Religion, Disability, and Health and/or inviting guest speakers from other faith traditions regarding this issue may be an appropriate option for course leaders to consider.