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Looking for God at Work in Your Circumstances

Stephen Grcevich, MD

President and Founder

Key Ministry

DATC Cleveland Tour Stop

Bay Presbyterian Church

Bay Village, OH

August 7, 2026

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And when he saw THEIR faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” Luke 5:20 (ESV)

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And when the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?’ In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight. And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them.

Luke 7:20-22 (ESV)

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What we’re encouraged by…

1/3 of churches with weekly attendance of 300+ have identifiable disability ministries.
Rapidly expanding training opportunities in seminaries, Christian universities
Denominations as disability ministry champions (SBC)
Welcoming kids with “big emotions and behaviors”
Disability inclusion in Christian schools
Collaborations, unity of spirit throughout our movement

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The disability community in general, and specifically families impacted by mental illness may represent one of the most underserved populations by the North American church. This study, published by Andrew Whitehead examined the relationship between the presence of a child in the home with a medical, mental health and developmental disability and family church attendance, using data from over 250,000 interviews conducted in three successive waves of the National Children’s Health Survey.

To no one’s surprise in disability ministry, the presence in the home of a child with autism decreases the likelihood of that child’s family setting foot in a church in any given year by 84%. But the presence of a child with depression is associated with a 73% decrease. Disruptive behavior disorders - Oppositional Defiant Disorder or Conduct Disorder results in a 55% decrease. Anxiety disorders - the most common mental health condition seen in adolescents - produces a 45% decrease. The presence of a child with ADD or ADHD decreases the likelihood of a family attending church at least once a year by nearly 20%. The 84% figure reported for families of kids with autism is a product of the comorbid mental health conditions most kids with autism experience.

20% of school-age kids in the U.S are identified with one or more significant mental health conditions. But this phenomenon of mental health issues and family church attendance impacts more than 20% of the school-age and adolescent populations. These kids with mental health concerns have parents, siblings and caregivers who don’t get to hear the Bible teaching, fellowship, and support that comes from being part of a caring church community, and their absence deprives us of their God-given gifts and talents intended to strengthen the body of Christ during a challenging time.

My breakout later in the morning will examine the obstacles that interfere with church attendance and assimilation and present the framework for an outreach and inclusion strategy for youth with mental health issues and their families, but I’ll briefly introduce our model here.

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Why is church attendance so difficult??�

Traits associated with common mental health conditions often clash with “church culture” – they struggle to “fit in” to our expectations for how people should act, interact when we gather for worship, fellowship, Christian education!

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Social Ramps in Disability, Mental Health Inclusion

Outlined by Jeff McNair – Institute on Theology and Disability
Applying universal design for persons excluded for difficulties meeting social expectations.
Three steps in construction (owned by church staff, key volunteers):

Preparing the environment
Educating the environment
Coaching the environment

McNair J, McKinney K. Journal of the Christian Institute on Disability (JCID) Vol. 4, No. 1, Spring/Winter 2015

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Coaching the Environment

Kim Botto – Boundless Hope

“We envisioned kids who were not welcome at other churches being welcomed with open arms in our atrium.”

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The “elephant in the living room”

Unspoken assumption: Common mental health conditions aren’t true disabilities – many persons with these conditions function quite well in day-to-day life. Why would they need extra support?
Unique to evangelical churches:

These aren’t true medical conditions.
They have a sin problem.
If they prayed enough, God would take their _______ away.
If their parents cared, they would employ proper discipline!

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Mental Health Outreach and Inclusion Planning Tool

Companion to Mental Health and the Church - free download
Tool for staff, volunteers to identify potential barriers in the ministry areas they’re responsible for
Application questions for senior leadership, children’s/student ministry, family ministry, adult ministry, worship team, communications team, care and support team, facilities team, missional outreach
Provides a planning grid to guide your process, establish a mindset in staff, volunteers

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Building mental health “on ramps”

Personal invitations to church, possibly accompanied by a meal?

Mental Health Sunday?

Mental health education events promoted to the community.
Peer-led, Biblically-based mental health support groups.
Outwardly-focused care, support

Respite, advocacy, pastoral care, counseling

A welcoming ministry for kids with “oversized” emotions, behaviors, adults who struggle to “fit in.”

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Emerging ministry challenges

Doing ministry with generations overwhelmed by the prospect of social interaction.
Doing discipleship with generations depleted of the neurocognitive capacities necessary to grow in faith.

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Some questions to ponder…

What social ramps do you sense God is calling you to build to introduce children, adults and families to Jesus, and ultimately, facilitate their ability to experience connection, purpose and belonging in His body, the Church?

Who will you meet today and in the coming weeks with gifts, talents and experiences to help you construct those ramps?

Who might be here because they need the gifts, talents and experiences God has given you help them build the ramps God positioned them to build?