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Rising Above Ministries is lifting up the special needs community through support, encouragement, inspiration, and community.
Episodes
Tuesday Apr 18, 2023
Tuesday Apr 18, 2023
About Julie
Julie is a wife and mother. When she and her husband had fertility issues and their next step was IVF, they discussed the possibility of adoption and the opportunity to adopt their daughter, Clara, fell into their laps. They were told Clara would have Down Syndrome before she was born. They said "yes!" by agreeing to parent her and be her voice.
Julie and her husband became involved in Down Syndrome Association of Middle TN (DSAMT) which supports 40 counties in Middle TN. DSAMT provides resources such as IEP help, education training, and advocacy. Additionally, their "first call" program helps them reach new parents providing a celebration bag for new families to celebrate their new addition and "sunshine bags" help by bringing a smile when families are dealing with serious ailments.
Favorite Quotes
"[The Bible says}, always be strong and courageous. And that's what I've always relied on." - Julie West
Tuesday Apr 11, 2023
Tuesday Apr 11, 2023
About Allie
Allie is a stay-at-home mom to almost four-year-old Hadley and two-year-old Camryn. She has also been the wife of six years to Brian, and they live in Woodstock, GA. Allie's daughter, Hadley, has a rare genetic disorder called Williams Syndrome, and is thriving thanks to the community around her, or what they call "Hadley's Hive." She loves sharing the raw and real life of being a special-needs parent in hopes of increasing understanding and awareness of Williams Syndrome.
Favorite Quotes
“The most painful part of your story may very well be the most life-giving part of someone else’s. - Allie
Related Links
instagram : @alliefinnegan
Tuesday Apr 04, 2023
Tuesday Apr 04, 2023
About Tonya
Tonya and her husband Jamie have two amazing sons who are autistic. She enjoys connecting with and encouraging parents of children with disabilities.
Favorite Quotes
"The things that you are experiencing now--it doesn't necessarily mean that it's always going to be that way. You have to encourage yourself in the Lord." -Tonya
"I think there is value in journalling and writing down things so that when you go back and you see how you are now, it gives you hope for tomorrow." -Tonya
Related Links
Anchored Family Downloads -April
Episode 69: Tonya's previous podcast episode
Tuesday Mar 28, 2023
Tuesday Mar 28, 2023
About Crystle
Crystle lives in southern California with her husband and 2 children. She homeschools both of her children and delights in finding the joy and laughter in her family’s every day occurrences. Crystle and her family love being outside, going on walks, spending time with their many animals, and going to the beach.
Favorite Quotes
"I think a lot of times we want purpose and peace, without the pain, but I think it's through that pain that you find that purpose for your life." -Crystle Carpenter
Related Links
About the Show
Rising Above with Becky Davidson is created & produced by Rising Above Ministries. To learn more about us and our resources for special-needs families, visit our website at www.risingaboveministries.org. If you’ve enjoyed listening and want to hear more, we’d love for you to subscribe to our podcast or share it to encourage a friend.
*Theme music and editing by Open Mic Studios.
https://openmicrecordingstudio.com/
Tuesday Mar 21, 2023
Tuesday Mar 21, 2023
About Connie
Connie is a homeschooling mom of two, wife to Josh, and a salesperson at Gibson Group IT Services and IT Consulting. She spends her free time playing with her children, taking a nature walk, or reading a good book.
Favorite Quote
"When you don't know what the next minute is going to look like, you learn to pray...a lot." -Connie
“Your attitude makes a difference.” -Connie
“You can be down and out about it or you can choose joy.” -Connie
About the Show
Rising Above with Becky Davidson is created & produced by Rising Above Ministries. To learn more about us and our resources for special-needs families, visit our website at www.risingaboveministries.org. If you’ve enjoyed listening and want to hear more, we’d love for you to subscribe to our podcast or share it to encourage a friend.
*Theme music and editing by Open Mic Studios.
Tuesday Mar 14, 2023
Tuesday Mar 14, 2023
About Jillian
Jillian Benfield is a former journalist and news anchor. She holds a broadcast journalism degree from the University of Georgia. As a freelance writer, her essays about living an unexpected life have appeared on sites such as TODAY, Good Morning America, Yahoo! News, and ABC News. Jillian regularly advocates for the full inclusion of people with disabilities in her writings, in her community, and as a part of the National Down Syndrome Congress’s National Down Syndrome Advocacy Coalition. Jillian and her husband, Andy, and their three children make their home on Florida’s Space Coast. Learn more at jillianbenfield.com.
Favorite Quotes
"I believe that pain and suffering in our unexpected circumstances is one of the greatest pathways to transformation, but we have to choose to really walk it." -Jillian
Related Links
Tuesday Mar 07, 2023
Tuesday Mar 07, 2023
About Ginny
Ginny Mooney founded 99 Balloons, an organization working with persons experiencing disability, alongside her husband Matt Mooney. 99 Balloons refers to what was released at the funeral of their first son, Eliot Mooney- each balloon representing a day he spent on this earth. Among the many gifts Eliot brought his parents was a passion to help persons with disabilities and their families. They desire to change the story of disability by proclaiming the worth and image-bearing beauty of each and every human being.
Ginny is currently the Executive Director of 99 Balloons. What began with starting a small respite night called rEcess in their community has grown into a global movement championing relationships and inclusion for persons with disabilities- with now over 45 rEcess sites across 3 countries. Their story and work have been featured on The Today Show, National Geographic and The Oprah Winfrey Show.
Ginny is the mother of Hazel (14), Anders (13) & Lena (16) & is currently serving as the Executive Director of 99 Balloons.
Favorite Quotes
"Me trusting Him doesn't mean I like it...I don't have to like it, to know that Jesus is good and He is at work, and He is near."
Related Links
Social Media Links:
@ginnymooney
@99balloonsorg
Tuesday Feb 28, 2023
Tuesday Feb 28, 2023
About Ryan
Ryan Wolfe the President of Ability Ministry has a wealth of knowledge and experience in the emerging field of Disability Ministry. 15 years of local church ministry at First Christian Church in Canton, OH where he was the full-time Disability Ministry Pastor. He spent time as a Church Consultant for Key Ministry before coming to Ability Ministry 7 years ago. He is an author and a featured speaker.
Favorite Quote
"We're more alike than we are different." -Ryan Wolfe
Related Links
Social Media: @AbilityMinistry
Disability is Beautiful Photo Database
The Tale of the Shrinking Toilet
Tuesday Feb 21, 2023
Tuesday Feb 21, 2023
About Laura
Laura Wifler is the cofounder of Risen Motherhood, the executive director and cohost of the podcast, and the coauthor of Risen Motherhood: Gospel Hope for Everyday Moments. Her latest book is Like Me: A Story About Disability and Discovering God’s Image in Every Person.
Favorite Quote
"What inclusion looks like is friendship." - Laura Wifler
"Disability really does give us a front row seat to wonderful aspects of God that we perhaps might not have without disability in our lives." - Laura Wifler
"God is using disability to sanctify us." -Laura Wifler
"God has used disability to sanctify me and make me more like Himself." -Laura Wifler
Related Links
Instagram: @laurawifler
Laura's book, Like Me
Tuesday Feb 14, 2023
Tuesday Feb 14, 2023
Today on the show, hear Becky share the story of her marriage to Jeff and their journey of commitment together.
Related Links
Free Marriage Resources on our Website for the month of February
About the Show
Rising Above with Becky Davidson is created & produced by Rising Above Ministries. To learn more about us and our resources for special-needs families, visit our website at www.risingaboveministries.org. If you’ve enjoyed listening and want to hear more, we’d love for you to subscribe to our podcast or share it to encourage a friend.
*Theme music and editing by Open Mic Studios.