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Rising Above Ministries is lifting up the special needs community through support, encouragement, inspiration, and community.
Episodes
Tuesday Apr 02, 2024
Tuesday Apr 02, 2024
You may remember Mikayla from a previous podcast episode a couple years ago. Today, she joins us again to share her struggles and victories over the last couple years, and how she trains herself to let go of 'mom guilt' and embrace letting others help her on her journey as a special-needs mom. Mikayla shares from her heart, and you will be so blessed by her!
Moms- we want you to join us for By the Brook, virtually or in person in Cookeville, Tennessee.
Tuesday Mar 26, 2024
Tuesday Mar 26, 2024
Tracey Martin, mom of quadruplets (some of whom have special needs) joins us on the podcast today to discuss the unexpected emotions that come with a diagnosis and in the years that follow.
Related Links:
Tuesday Mar 19, 2024
Tuesday Mar 19, 2024
We're excited to launch this new podcast series called "The Unexpected." We pray each the topics discussed would encourage you in this common emotions and obstacles that a diagnosis brings to a family.
Today, Susan Lomax joins us to discuss grief for the special-needs parent.
Tuesday Mar 12, 2024
Tuesday Mar 12, 2024
About the Bortons
JERRY - Jerry Borton has traveled around the country leading seminars on disability awareness, theology of suffering, leadership, and fundraising—all from his power wheelchair. Born with Cerebral Palsy, his mother said he came from the womb with a suitcase in his hand, ready to take on the world. Jerry now devotes his time to help people with disabilities discover their gifts and talents and equip them to use them in their local community. He is passionate to help Christian community leaders embrace hiring people with disabilities to make a positive impact on their world. Jerry has an M.S. in Organizational Leadership and is an ordained minister. Jerry admits to a mild obsession with baseball. He likes watching every form of the game—from two kids slapping at a ball with a stick to his beloved Detroit Tigers winning an American League pennant. Jerry and his wife, Joan, have been married for over 28 years and enjoy games, traveling and spoiling their nieces and nephews. Jerry and Joan make their home in central Florida.
JOAN - “Easy” is rarely a word that is used in relation to disability ministry. But long-time disability advocate, Joan Borton, loves to show people how easy it is to start a friendship with someone with a disability. Disability ministry has taken Joan to Ghana, West Africa, and all around the U.S, where she has taught on topics ranging from disability awareness to soul care to managing change to marriage and disability. Joan has been joyfully married to Jerry since 1995. She is passionate about strengthening marriages affected by disability and frequently blogs and writes on this topic. Joan recently published her first book, MarriageAbility: Embracing the Richness of a Marriage Affected by Disability. There is little Joan enjoys more than encouraging a caregiver and listening to them share their life. Joan and Jerry are committed to hospitality—whether that means entertaining guests at their Florida home, providing respite care for kids and teens, or being a home away from home for family and friends. When faced with a little down time you will likely find her reading or working on a jigsaw puzzle.
TOGETHER - Jerry and Joan Borton have spent most of their lives befriending, working with and supporting people affected by disability. For Jerry it began at birth when he was born with Cerebral Palsy. Joan grew up with friends who had disabilities and found it a natural fit for her. It was little surprise to anyone, except themselves, when God brought them together in marriage and ministry in 1995. Together they have a broad history of engagement with people with physical, developmental and mental health disabilities. They have ministered in residential, camping, recreational, church and educational programs. Jerry and Joan understand from personal experience that disability affects the entire family. In 2019 Jerry and Joan co-founded Luke 14 Exchange, Inc . Today you will find them mentoring people with disabilities, writing and speaking on topics of family support, discovering your giftedness as a person with a disability, and the influence of the disability movement and the Church.
Related Links
Tuesday Mar 05, 2024
Tuesday Mar 05, 2024
About Christa
Christa Smith is a follower of Jesus Christ. Her husband, Ron, is the Lead Pastor at First Baptist Church of Palatka, Florida. They have been married for 32 years and have two sons, Ryan and Landon. Landon’s bride, Abbie, joined their family three years ago. They have a sweet fur puppy named Phoebe.
Prior to joining The Tim Tebow Foundation, she served as Community Connections Coordinator at First Baptist Church of Palatka. Christa is fluent in American Sign Language and continues to serve as one of the ASL Interpreters for Lifeway Women's Events all over the United States. Christa's journey in learning ASL began as a necessity when her oldest son, Ryan, was diagnosed as profoundly Deaf at 18 months old (CHARGE Syndrome). What began as a desire to communicate with her son grew into a love for the Deaf and a desire to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ in their heart language.
In 2005, after meeting with parents and school administrators, God led Christa and her husband to develop an after-school program for Deaf and hard of hearing children at our church. This amazing program connected these children and their families to the local church and became a safe haven of learning about Jesus and His deep love for them. Because of her experience, she has witnessed first hand the profound impact the church can have on those living with disabilities and their families. That’s why she is passionate about the mission of TTF Shine On and continuing to elevate the hard work and resources of disability organizations to equip local churches in ministering to those often overlooked.
Related Links
Instagram: @christamooresmith
TTF Shine On: shineon.org
Tuesday Feb 27, 2024
Tuesday Feb 27, 2024
About Deb
Deb Petermann is a sibling to a man (now deceased at age 50) with severe developmental disabilities. She always says about her brother Rodney, “He never spoke a word in his life but his life still speaks volumes.”
Deb has been married 38 years and is the mother of two, one is whom is deceased, and is a sibling advocate (60+ years). She began disability ministry as a volunteer at Vineyard Columbus Church 28 years ago. Additionally, she volunteered for 5 years with Joni and Friends Ohio, an International Disability Ministry, after which she was employed for 15 years as the Ohio Church Relations Manager with Joni and Friends. Through this ministry, she mentored and trained many churches to be more inclusive in Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Indiana. Deb participated in disability missions to Honduras and El Salvador and is currently a Disability Transition Coordinator/Community Connector with the Center for Disability Empowerment, a non-residential independent living center.
Related Links
Last week for the By the Brook Early Bird Rate! Sign up for By the Brook 2024
Ohio Charting the LifeCourse Ambassador (www.lifecoursetools.com)
The Power of the Powerless: A Brother's Legacy of Love by sibling Christopher de Vinck
Tuesday Feb 20, 2024
Tuesday Feb 20, 2024
About Dawn
Dawn is a graduate of Cookeville High School and received her undergraduate degree from Tennessee Tech University. She graduated from the Nashville School of Law in 1999 and has been practicing law in the Upper Cumberland since 2000, specializing in Adoption Law, Special Education Law and Conservatorships.
She currently serves as the Vice-Chairman of the Putnam County Board of Education,Chairman of Rising Above Ministries and Chairman of Exceptional Bean Board. She has been appointed by the Governor to the Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities and the Governor’s Advisory Council for Students with Disabilities. Dawn was an Adjunct Professor of Business Law at Tennessee Tech University for more than ten years. Dawn has been married to Shawn Fry for more than 30 years and has twins, Sydney and Austin.
Related Links
Sign up for By the Brook 2024!
Tuesday Feb 13, 2024
Tuesday Feb 13, 2024
A Note from Missy
Hi, my name is Missy. I am the Special Needs Director at Cumberland Fellowship in Crossville, TN. This was not a job I ever imagined having, but God had other plans. My husband, Jason, and I have been married for 26 years and we have 3 children. Jacob (17) has autism, is non-verbal and deaf, and has a list of medical issues, but has also given us more than joy than we ever thought possible. Braden (15) is your typical sports kid and an awesome big 'younger' brother as he has always called it. Our youngest is Addi (11). She is our sweet, sensitive, artsy child.
All three children keep us on our toes and love being a part of this ministry. Jacob attends all our events and classes, while Braden and Addi love volunteering. This is definitely a family affair. We started the ministry in Oct 2021 with just the children's ministry side and now we have an adult Monday night service plus an adult Tuesday day program. Our goal is to minister to each individual at their level of understanding. The motto that my volunteers love the most is "see the able not the label." We try to live this everyday with each person we come in contact within this ministry.
Related Links
Common Man, Extraordinary Call
Tuesday Feb 06, 2024
Tuesday Feb 06, 2024
About Amanda
Amanda is wife to Jason, mom to Kinsley, and friend and neighbor to Becky. She is also Jon Alex's beloved chiropractor.
Favorite Quote
"Rising above your circumstances is a very hard thing to do...You don't find joy. You choose joy. Choose well, and choose joy."
Related Links
Join us for By the Brook!
Tuesday Jan 30, 2024
Tuesday Jan 30, 2024