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Keith Dow reviews Amy Fenton Lee’s book on leading special needs ministry, focusing on practical advice for welcoming children and supporting families. He highlights the book’s clear structure and useful tools for churches at any stage of inclusion. This resource helps foster belonging and mutual support in faith communities.
You may already be involved with special needs ministry at your church, or it might be something that you know is important but don’t have many supports in place. Regardless, we always question whether what we’re doing is the ‘best way’, and the challenges we encounter send us seeking affirmation that we are on the right path. In her book, “Leading A Special Needs Ministry: A Practical Guide to Including Children and Loving Families,” Amy Fenton Lee includes useful and encouraging material no matter where you and your church are on the journey of inclusive children’s ministry.
Overview of the book's structure
This is a beautiful book, well-designed with visual cues and formatting that make it easy to reference and engage with. It is not so long as to be overwhelming, but not too short to be incomplete. Recognizing that no successful children’s ministry operates separately from the families involved, this book is divided into two sections: “Loving Families” and “A Practical Guide to Including Children.” In the back are a number of helpful appendixes, from training outlines to Inclusion Tips and Behavior Management Strategies.
Where to find the book
For anyone looking for an up-to-date guide to special needs ministry that focuses on practical approaches and next steps, I highly recommend Amy Fenton Lee’s book. You can purchase copies directly from the publisher or on Amazon.com.
Additional resources by the author
Amy has also produced a volunteer training DVD called “Surviving to Thriving: Successfully Including the Child with Special Needs” and posts regularly at The Inclusive Church blog. You are welcome to follow The Inclusive Church on Twitter or like them on Facebook for further updates.
About the Author:
Keith Dow:
Keith Dow, PhD, is a theologian, writer, and credentialed pastor with BIC Canada, serving as Director of Culture and Mission Alignment with Karis Disability Services. His work explores disability theology, Christian caregiving, spiritual life, and the gifts of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. He is the author of Formed Together: Mystery, Narrative, and Virtue in Christian Caregiving (Baylor University Press, 2021) and the researcher behind Images of God. His latest peer-reviewed article is “Imaging God Together.” Keith recently completed a term as president of the AAIDD Religion & Spirituality Interest Network. Explore his writing and research at keithdow.com.
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Keith Dow reviews Amy Fenton Lee’s book on leading special needs ministry, focusing on practical advice for welcoming children and supporting families. He highlights the book’s clear structure and useful tools for churches at any stage of inclusion. This resource helps foster belonging and mutual support in faith communities.
You may already be involved with special needs ministry at your church, or it might be something that you know is important but don’t have many supports in place. Regardless, we always question whether what we’re doing is the ‘best way’, and the challenges we encounter send us seeking affirmation that we are on the right path. In her book, “Leading A Special Needs Ministry: A Practical Guide to Including Children and Loving Families,” Amy Fenton Lee includes useful and encouraging material no matter where you and your church are on the journey of inclusive children’s ministry.
Overview of the book's structure
This is a beautiful book, well-designed with visual cues and formatting that make it easy to reference and engage with. It is not so long as to be overwhelming, but not too short to be incomplete. Recognizing that no successful children’s ministry operates separately from the families involved, this book is divided into two sections: “Loving Families” and “A Practical Guide to Including Children.” In the back are a number of helpful appendixes, from training outlines to Inclusion Tips and Behavior Management Strategies.
Where to find the book
For anyone looking for an up-to-date guide to special needs ministry that focuses on practical approaches and next steps, I highly recommend Amy Fenton Lee’s book. You can purchase copies directly from the publisher or on Amazon.com.
Additional resources by the author
Amy has also produced a volunteer training DVD called “Surviving to Thriving: Successfully Including the Child with Special Needs” and posts regularly at The Inclusive Church blog. You are welcome to follow The Inclusive Church on Twitter or like them on Facebook for further updates.
