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Rising Above Ministries is lifting up the special needs community through support, encouragement, inspiration, and community.
Episodes
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
Tuesday Jan 23, 2024
Tuesday Jan 23, 2024
About Samantha
Samantha is pursuing her BS in Christian Leadership and Management with a Minor in Special Education from Liberty University to attain an MA in Christian Leadership from Dallas Theological Seminary. She holds certifications in Christian Counseling from Light College and Temperament Coaching from Cornerstone Ministries. Samantha and her husband, David, have been madly in love since 2005 and have a blended family with three children, Courtney, Vanessa, and Drake, and two grandchildren, Carson and Oliver. In her spare time, she enjoys home improvement projects and exploring the world with her husband David. Grateful for every experience in her life, Samantha is excited to do good in every opportunity God brings her way and to see His handiwork in every situation.
Related Links
Tuesday Jan 16, 2024
Tuesday Jan 16, 2024
Today we're celebrating our 200th episode of the podcast! THANKS to all who listen and share the podcast.
About Johnna
Johnna (pronounced John-NUH, named after her grandfather, John) is an author, {sporadic} blogger, speaker and all-time coordinator of chaos. She’s a wife, a mother of six, a homeschooler and a fourth generation Texan. She is passionate about sharing the eternal hope she found in Jesus when her life took an unexpected twist in 2007, following the birth of her firstborn son with a neural tube defect. It’s now her passion to encourage women to stop living timid lives of distraction and to bravely say yes to what God calls them to. Through her use of sarcasm and sentences, Johnna paints a picture of hope for eternity as well as offers an honest perspective of life’s challenges through her blog (JohnnaHensley.com) and in her latest book, Reckless Yes.
Related Links
Tuesday Jan 09, 2024
Tuesday Jan 09, 2024
About Jeanetta
Jeanetta Bryant is a dynamic and compassionate leader in the special needs community. With over 10 years of experience in the industry and 4 years with Abilities Workshop, Inc. Her journey into this field began when her daughter was diagnosed with a medical condition. Over the last decade, Jeanetta has witnessed her child defy the odds and overcome their diagnoses, inspiring her to become an advocate, author, and speaker. She has written books, developed learning apps, and founded a non-profit organization to provide resources and support to families in need. She is known for her honesty, thoughtfulness, compassion, quick decision-making abilities, and her willingness to constantly learn and adapt to different audiences. At Abilities Workshop, Inc, Jeanetta works with parents, pastors, and teachers to help children with special needs reach their full potential. She is committed to working together with others to provide support, resources, and hope to those who need it most.
Related Links
Tuesday Jan 02, 2024
Tuesday Jan 02, 2024
Join the Rising Above staff as they reflect on 2023 and look forward to 2024!
Tuesday Dec 19, 2023
Tuesday Dec 19, 2023
About Amy
Amy and her husband, Brad, have been married for 24 years and have 4 children. Their youngest child, Grant, who is now 16, has tuberous sclerosis, a rare genetic condition that affects the major organs of the body. They have “tubers” growing on or in them, which often causes significant issues for the person. These “tubers” are benign tumors. Grant was diagnosed at 13 months old after he went through tests and scans due to seizures beginning at 12 months old. He has significant developmental delays due to the type of seizures he had as a baby. However, he is not physically delayed, and loves to play adaptive sports and enjoys music and singing. Her husband, Brad, is a full-time pastor, and they love ministering to others in our church and community. They have been at their current church for 19 years. She is a nurse and began that career later in life. Grant is a joy to their family, and they are grateful to be chosen to be his parents. They are thankful for all the ways the Lord has used this journey to teach them so many truths about Himself, and their verse for Grant has been Ephesians 3:20-21. God has done and continues to do, so much more than they could ask or imagine through throughout this special-needs journey.
Related Links
Instagram: @a.w.parker6
Email: bradandamyparker@bellsouth.net
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