ALL-ACCESS CHURCH CONFERENCE
Special Needs Ministry Training and Education
- Everyone is created in the image of God and deserving of His love and salvation
- Redemption is a gift to all; a gift that is not dependent on a certain level of ability
- The church is complete only when it includes ALL of God's children
Invite your pastors, staff and volunteers to our annual Special Needs Ministry training event. Presented by...
Does your church need help welcoming people affected by disabilities? We're here to assist you. Our Mission is rooted in the Gospels where we observe Jesus ministering primarily to the disadvantaged, and especially those with physical and cognitive challenges.
Whether your church is considering a special needs ministry or already has one, this Conference has something beneficial to offer everyone.
In Luke 14:23, Jesus instructs us to, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them (the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame - v.21) to come in, so that my house will be full.'
ALL-ACCESS CHURCH CONFERENCE
Our special needs ministry training seminars are designed to equip your church to welcome and serve families and individuals affected by disability so they may feel fully included in the life of the Church - because everyone deserves equal access to Jesus!
[Seating is limited to the first 75 people to register]
TOPICS AND SPEAKERS:
A – Addressing the Transitional Stages of Life: Child to Teen to Adult - Donnell Kenworthy
C – Community Outreach: Respite Nights and Other Events to Reach Your Community - Dan Adragna
C – Curriculum: Sharing Jesus with Students with Special Needs - Gisele Darden
E – Examples of the Beyond Suffering coursework: An Introduction for Leaders - Pastor Cliff Peppers
S – Self-Contained Classroom: Hosting a Special Needs Classroom - Alicia Griffith and Denise Taylor
S – Strategies for Positive Behavior Supports: Tips and Techniques - Stephanie Solomon
Saturday, Mar 2, 2019, 08:00 AM
Valley Springs Presbyterian Church, Olympus Drive, Roseville, CA, United States
AGENDA
8:00: Doors open
8:00: Continental Breakfast and Fellowship
8:30: Worship
8:45: Announcements and Preview
9:00: Opening General Session
9:45: Breakout Session One (choose from two topics)
10:45: Breakout Session Two (choose from two topics)
11:45: Buffet Lunch and Fellowship
12:45: Breakout Session Three (choose from two topics)
1:45: Closing General Session
2:30: This Is Us discussion panel
3:30: Conference Ends
Speaker Biographies
In alphabetical order
Alicia Griffith
Alicia is one of the Special Needs Ministry Coordinators at Lakeside Church in Folsom, CA. She grew up volunteering as an assistant in her mother's preschool class for children with various diagnoses and special needs. When Alicia was 12, her parents became foster caregivers and eventually adopted three boys with special needs. She also participated in a mission trip to Romania to work with children with special needs and later became a teacher for Head Start. Alicia and her husband, Zac, have five children ages 12, 10, 8, 2, and 1. Their 2-year-old daughter was born at 25 weeks and has special needs as a result of being on a ventilator for so long.
Cliff Peppers
Pastor Cliff serves at Gold Country Baptist Church in Shingle Springs. After a 34 year career in law enforcement, Cliff graduated from Western Seminary with an MA in Theological and Biblical Studies. He and his wife, Sue, serve together in church ministry, as well as with Wheels for the World in the Middle East. Their youngest of two sons was born with spina bifida, beginning their life of service in adaptive sports and disability ministry nearly four decades ago.
Dan Adragna
Dan has been serving with Joni and Friends for over 20 years and is currently the Program Coordinator for the Sacramento office. He founded and directed the Bayside Church Special Needs Ministry. Dan and his wife Melynda served there as volunteers and directors for 14 years. They live in Roseville, CA and have three children under age 12.
Denise Taylor
Denise is on staff at Lakeside Church in Folsom and works in their Special Needs Teen Program. She also has a son, 18, who is on the autism disorder spectrum. In her own words, “I’ve learned a tremendous amount from my son through the years. I enjoy working with teens with disabilities”.
Donnell Kenworthy
Donnell serves on the Yolo County SELPA CAC, on the State Council on Developmental Disabilities SRA Committee, and on the board of directors of WarmLine Family Resource Center. As a ministry leader alongside her husband, Reverend Darrell, at Real Life Church in Sacramento and director of Special Grace Ministries, Donnell understands the impact of disabilities on the family. Donnell and Darrell have five children, one of which is a special young man named DJ. They reside in West Sacramento, CA.
Gisele Darden
Gisele co-developed and led the Special Needs Ministry at New Beginnings Community Church in Redwood City, CA and a biblically-based after school program (Kids Club) at Brentwood Academy in Mountain View. She has served the special needs community for 9 years as a volunteer ministry leader, curriculum developer, educator, and consultant. She currently supports families and other educators through a customized curriculum, home and classroom teaching tools & strategies, and does personal coaching. She is a lifelong advocate, passionate about serving alongside the Church and community to develop an environment where individuals and families with special needs feel an authentic sense of belonging in the Body of Christ.
Jim Achilles (opening and closing keynote addresses)
Jim serves as worship leader at Valley Springs Church in Roseville and is a music teacher in the Wheatland School District. He and his wife Deanna were introduced to disability through their daughter Cathryn, age 26, born with Ataxia-Telangiectasia. Jim has extensive experience in ministry and a passion for applying the truths of God's Word to believers facing adversity.
Stephanie Solomon, M.Ed., BCBA
Stephanie is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Education Specialist who is passionate about serving children and their families affected by special needs. For the past 15 years, she has volunteered and worked in a variety of church, school, and clinical settings. She is currently a Kindergarten Teacher in the San Juan Unified School District in Sacramento. Stephanie lives in Roseville, CA.
Sue Peppers
Sue is the Program Manager for Joni and Friends Sacramento. Her professional background is in media and marketing, and she has served on boards for Easter Seals of Northern California and A Touch of Understanding (educating children about special needs), She and her husband Cliff are entering their 3rd year of working with Wheels for the World in Jordan. They especially enjoy working with married couples and families impacted by disability.
Please visit and Like our Facebook page to stay informed of future events and trainings:
Connection Points:
Office Phone: 916-953-7434
Text Message: 916-390-2900 - Dan Adragna
Street Address: 5280 Stirling St. #103, Granite Bay, CA 95746