Stories of Inclusivity
Circles of Love Banquet 2017

Denise Reesor

Many thanks to the many participants and volunteers who made ADN’s annual Circles of Love Banquet a success!

Special thanks to....

Rex Brake, Sheila S. Yoder, Peter and Mary Graber, Milt Stoltzfus, and Frances Ringenberg for sharing your stories, educating and inspiring us to foster greater inclusivity.

Thanks to Prairie Street Mennonite Church of Elkhart for hosting the event, and to the North Goshen and East Goshen Mennonite youth groups and sponsors for serving and cleaning up after the meal!

Pastor Rex Brake shares about the thriving Deaf Christian Fellowship at

College Mennonite Church in Goshen (ASL interpretation was provided).

Peter and Mary Graber describe how they worked with Sunnyside Mennonite Church of Elkhart

to design a 'Ceremony of Joining' for their daughter Emily who was born with an intellectual disability.

Guests at the banquet enjoyed a homemade meal and time for fellowship.

In this issue

Let the Children Come to Me!
Jesus admonished those who hindered children from coming to him saying, “the Kingdom of Heaven be-longs to such as these!” This edition of Connections features stories of youth with disabilities being embranced by faith communities.
Teen Suicide: 4 Ways Youth Pastors can be a Lifeline
Speaking from their experiences, Tiara Coleman and Ross Erb share their reflections on how church leaders can intervene and support youth struggling with mental illness and suicide.
Welcome Rachel!
Portland Mennonite Church in Portland, OR, supports Rachel Joy to work three hours a month for ADN with editing. ADN is thrilled with this partnership. Welcome, Rachel!
Inclusion as Mission
Vince Stange describes how his work for Mennonite Central Committee in Cambodia includes advocacy for the inclusion of children with disabilities in the schools.
Becoming more Accessible Fall 2017
Congregations desire to better incorporate youth with Autism into their youth groups. ADN Executive Director Kathy Nofziger Yeakey reflects on the collaboration and sharing that happened on this topic at MCUSA Convention in Orlando last summer.