56.2K
Downloads
252
Episodes
Rising Above Ministries is lifting up the special needs community through support, encouragement, inspiration, and community.
Episodes
Tuesday Oct 27, 2020
Tuesday Oct 27, 2020
Our friends, Dawn and Lori, join us once again to have a conversation about the transition to adulthood. There is so much to consider, and they give some great advice and starting points to help you think through decisions that are best for your child and family during this pivotal life stage!
Tuesday Oct 20, 2020
Tuesday Oct 20, 2020
About Chris
Chris has been on staff for several years as the Director of Community and Outreach and her husband, Rob, also works for us part time as the Men’s Ministry Assistant. Rob and Chris Pierce have been married for 30 years and have 4 children, 2 daughters-in-law, and a new baby granddaughter! Together, they adopted two daughters from foster care, and that is when Chris became a special needs mom as one of their two adopted daughters is deaf.
Favorite Quote
“God doesn’t call us to adopt for our pleasure, He calls us to adopt to be sure that these girls had Him in their life.” - Chris
Related Links
Tuesday Oct 13, 2020
Tuesday Oct 13, 2020
About Betty
Betty Maamari is a proud Christian woman from Lebanon. She has 3 wonderful kids and her eldest is Kurt who is on the autism spectrum. Betty has been a grateful disciple of Jesus for 10 years and her husband came to faith 4 years ago, because of the miracles they saw at home with their beloved son, Kurt. Betty is an advocate for exceptional families in the Middle East and is currently leading the Parent 2 Parent Support Group in Lebanon with the SKILD Center. She is an active person who likes to spread the Good News through social media and fun activities to show the world that Church is anything but boring.
Tuesday Oct 06, 2020
Tuesday Oct 06, 2020
About Gregg
First elected to Congress in 2009, Gregg served five terms representing Mississippi’s 3rd Congressional District. During his time in Congress, he served as a member of the influential House Committee on Energy and Commerce which has jurisdiction over a broad swath of the economy including healthcare, energy, transportation, and telecommunications. On the Energy and Commerce Committee, Gregg served as Chairman of the Oversight and Investigations subcommittee and Vice Chairman of the Digital Commerce and Consumer Protection subcommittee. In addition, Gregg was selected by Speaker Paul Ryan to serve as the Chairman of the Committee on House Administration for the 115th Congress where he was instrumental in reforming the ways that Congress handles sexual harassment allegations. He was also the Chairman of the Joint Committee on the Library of Congress and served two terms on the Committee on Ethics.Prior to being elected to Congress, Gregg practiced law for twenty-seven years, including serving as the prosecuting attorney for the cities of Brandon and Richland, Mississippi. He served on the Mississippi Oil and Gas Board, remained active in his community as a member of both the Pearl and Rankin County Chambers of Commerce, and served as the board attorney for the Mississippi Baptist Children’s Village.Gregg is currently a member of the law firm of Watkins & Eager in Jackson, Mississippi, where he focuses on government relations on the local, state and federal levels. He currently resides in Pearl, Mississippi with his wife of forty years, Sidney. They have a son, Livingston, a daughter and son in law, Maggie and Brett Bailey, and a grandson, Lee.
Favorite Quotes
“If you want to know how to worship God…this young man knows how to worship.” - Gregg Harper
“I think you can always judge somebody’s character by how they treat someone with special needs.” -Gregg Harper
“Let your child do those things that they want to try to do.” -Gregg Harper
“Stop worrying about what they can’t do and focus on the strengths and the things that they can do.” -Gregg Harper
Related Links
"Common Man, Extraordinary Call"
Tuesday Sep 29, 2020
Tuesday Sep 29, 2020
About Lee & Sandra
Sandra Peoples is a special needs mom and sibling. She's the author of Unexpected Blessings: The Joys and Possibilities of Life in a Special-Needs Family. Her husband, Lee, is a pastor and and she serves as the special needs ministry director at their church outside of Houston, TX. We know you will enjoy hearing from their real-life experience as they have walked through the special needs journey. They have so much wisdom to share about raising both a child with special needs and a typical child as well. You will be blessed!
Tuesday Sep 22, 2020
Tuesday Sep 22, 2020
About Dawn & Lori
Dawn & Lori are long-time friends of Rising Above Ministries. As special needs parents, they “get it” and love having community with other moms. If you’ve attended By the Brook for the past few years, you will probably remember them as the entertainment! As good friends of Becky’s, these two will become regulars around here as they discuss different topics and challenges that special needs moms face. We’d love to hear from you about some of the topics you’d like them to discuss. Message us on Facebook or send an email to dhammond@risingaboveministries.org to suggest topics!
Related Links
Tuesday Sep 15, 2020
Tuesday Sep 15, 2020
About LJ & Jessica
LJ & Jessica are the father and mother of 2 amazing children, Nadia Elizabeth (16) and Zion Alexander Coates (14). LJ is an intensive care nurse and Jessica is the Chief Executive Officer for a trade Association. They've been married for almost 17 years, and their son Zion has profound special needs. They are both natives of Alabama but currently live in Columbia, Maryland.
Favorite Quotes
“I sent help, you just didn’t recognize it.” -Jessica
“I have to learn to recognize the support where people are.” - Jessica
“Zion has blessed my life. I feel chosen.” -Jessica
“I know I am a better person, because of my son’s life.” -Jessica
Related Links
Tuesday Sep 08, 2020
Tuesday Sep 08, 2020
About Jarell
Drawing from life and giving others the opportunity to learn with us, is a core attribute of J.Roach Presentations. Jarell says, "our service must require restoring the honor & dignity to humanity. By applying our minds within the purpose of everyday life, we believe that we can be partakers of an emerging culture of thinkers & doers that truly desire to see the best in others without any strings attached."
He serves as Campus Life Director with the Youth For Christ movement, overseeing multiple ministry sites in his home town. He also represents the organization as one of its national camp speakers (www.goyfc.org). For nearly two decades he and his family have served as members of the Nebraska Air Force Reserve, completing two tours of duty.
A natural-born comedian and speaker, J.Roach is using his gift to encourage, elevate, and entertain others everywhere he goes.
Favorite Quotes
"God has changed my life." -Jarell
“What hope does, is it allows us by God’s love and grace to look beyond the person and see the potential of Jesus.” -Jarell
“We speak life in order to give life to others.” -Jarell
Related Links
Extraordinary Legacy : A Virtual Event for Special Needs Dads
Tuesday Sep 01, 2020
Tuesday Sep 01, 2020
Jess Ronne, who you might know as “Jess Plus the Mess,” has such a story to tell on her life of being a mom and caregiver of 8 children, one of whom has profound special needs. Her testimony and message will challenge and encourage you to be honest about the realities about caregiving and how to accept and ask for help.
About Jess
Jess Ronne is an author, speaker, podcast host, documentary producer,and caregiver advocate. She is founder and executive director of The Lucas Project—a non-profit dedicated to providing recognition, resources, and respite for special needs families. She and her husband Ryan live in Tennessee with their 8 children, including their son Lucas who has profound special needs. Her story of beauty from ashes has been shared on The Today Show, Daily Mail and Huffington Post and is detailed in her memoir Sunlight Burning at Midnight. To follow the ongoing saga she can be found at www.jessplusthemess.com or www.thelucasproject.org
Favorite Quotes
“You have a choice. You can wallow in the despair and in the muck or you can rise up and start taking one step after another and move toward something in your life.” - Jess Ronne
”Recognize what your true need is and don’t hide behind this, ‘I’m fine, everything’s fine.’ Start to tell the truth.” - Jess Ronne
Related Links
https://www.jessplusthemess.com
Tuesday Aug 25, 2020
Tuesday Aug 25, 2020
About Mattea:
Mattea describes herself as an average young adult with a physical disability. She is a brand new college student and a lover of all things Disney! Recently, she created a blog to spread awareness for the physically disabled community. She has always had a passion to talk; her parents tell her she came out of the womb having a conversation. Enjoy hearing Mattea share how both of her parents have encouraged her to use her passion to spread awareness about her situation to help others and the many ways she has put that into action.
Favorite Quotes:
“They’ve always said, ‘If you’re going to do something, you have to find a way to do it.’" -Mattea quoting her parents
“'You can’t make an excuse about being in a wheelchair…It’s a blessing…and it’s a gift. Use your gift.'” -Mattea quoting her parents
“It’s ok to be different and be proud that you’re different.” -Mattea
“I’m ok with how I am and I want to better the world and make it a better place for other people that have disabilities.” -Mattea
Related Links: