Opening Doors Blog
Opening Doors Blog
Opening Doors is our blog featuring stories of congregations who are making steps towards becoming more fully accessible physically and in attitude, as well as stories of individuals and families affected by disabilities and mental illness.
To submit a story idea for consideration, contact us. Subscribe using the form on this page to get email notifications when we publish new stories.
Recent Stories
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Creating Inclusive Spaces
Often disability inclusion is simple. When we are attentive to the relationships with people in our congregation, we can make accommodations that do not require a committee nor a lot of money.
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Disability, Safeguarding, and Inclusion in Cambodia
Charles Conklin reflects on his time with MCC in Cambodia where he worked on safeguarding policies for people with disabilities.
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Built for Everybody
Camp Friedenswald, a Mennonite camp in southern Michigan, has worked hard to make their camp a place that is accessible and welcoming for people of all abilities.
Past Stories
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An Anxious Presence
Board member and field associate JE Misz shares advice for how churches can welcome people with anxiety.
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Opening Doors at Immanuel Mennonite Church
Chris Moore shares about the barrier free grant that Immanuel Mennonite Church in Harrisonburg, VA received.
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CPE that Supports People with Disabilities
Kathy Dickson shares about her experience in a community CPE placement that helps people with disabilities.
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Wild Church for All People
Sharon Brugger Norton shares about wild church and how it is accessible to neurodivergent people.
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Typical
In this poem, Kathryn Newswanger challenges the notion that people who are neurotypical decide what is normal.
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The Future is Unknown
A song by Ann Hamlin acknowledges her anxiety of a future after her caregivers pass away.
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Taftsville Chapel Mennonite Fellowship Dedicates Accessibility Ramp
Steve McCloskey, Pastor, shares the church’s theological journey that led to the installation of the accessibility ramp.
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Christmas Gifts
Ann Hamlin recenters us on what is truly important, God’s gift of love, in this Christmas-themed song.
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Disability Advocacy Across Cultures
How a Sunday School class for intellectually disabled adults in PA connected with a school for disabled children in Ukraine.
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Different is Beautiful
In this collaboration with Mennonite Women USA for Disability Pride Month, Sarah Werner redefines her disability as something to be proud of, not something to be ashamed of.
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Nurturing Accessible Family Ministry
Church volunteers who work in faith formation are called to help the gifts of all children, youth, and adults shine.
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Building Community with Neurodiverse Children
Jenn Svetlik shares tips and tricks for creating communities of support for people who are neurodivergent.
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God Hears Me
Read and Listen to Ann Hamlin’s newest song about talking with and hearing from God.
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Nurturing Accessible Family Ministry
Webinar with Bonnie & Lyle Miller on welcoming families impacted by disability and neurodiversity.
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Believing and Belonging
ADN field associates Bonnie Miller and Denise Reesor and executive director Jeanne Davies discuss exploring membership with people who have intellectual disabilities.
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A Different Trip to the Ocean
With a poignant reflection of the beauty and barriers of visiting a personally sacred place, Jill Keyser Speicher sheds light on the daily challenges faced by wheelchair users.
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Becoming the Baptized Body
Dr. Sarah Jean Barton and Jeanne Davies discuss baptism and church membership with particular attention to people with intellectual disabilities.
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Strides at Salford
Jennifer Svetlik recounts Salford Mennonite’s initiatives toward greater accessibility and inclusion.
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Creating a Playground for All
Plains Mennonite Church used a Barrier Free Grant to create a playground for all, a next step in supporting families with autistic children.
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Tiny, Little Awkward Steps
Pastor Nathanael Hofstetter Ressler offers tips for congregations beginning to accommodate for mental illness and support mental health.
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We Are Able 2023
Jonathan Shively reflects on the blessings and growth of the 2023 workcamp week.
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(Un)Loved: holding grace for myself in chronic illness
Jasmine Duckworth shares vulnerably about her struggle for self-acceptance after a chronic-illness diagnosis.
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Seeking Opportunities
Immanuel Mennonite Church’s experiences auditing their accessibility and addressing their congregation’s barriers to belonging.
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Fostering Spaces of Advocacy
Waterford Mennonite Church’s experience forming a disabilities committee and filling out the Congregational Accessibility Survey.
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Scripture Based Play
Ambler Mennonite uses Legos to engage with Scriptures across ages and abilities.
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Autism and Faith
Ann Hamlin relates her experience as an autistic adult in her church community.
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Litany of Dedication
New Creation Fellowship in Newton, KS, dedicates their new lift, which makes their sanctuary accessible to all.
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Lessons Learned
Shelly Kerchner shares her journey through addiction, illness, and disability.
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A Small World
ADN field associate and board member Jon-Erik Misz, MDiv, LCSW, speaks on trauma, resiliency, and hope for children who experienced difficult times.
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Loneliness: It Affects us All
M.Div. student Michelle Robichaud offers a few ways churches can support lonely youth who lack a feeling of connection.
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Epiphany: See Our Guide!
Brandon Grady draws a connection between navigating life as a blind man and searching for Jesus as a magi.
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The Kin-dom of Heaven
In this poem, Sarah Werner provides an eloquent imagining of what it feels like to be wholly welcomed into God’s Community.
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Wounded and Whole
Why does the Resurrected Jesus have wounds? Laura Stone muses in her sermon on disability and wholeness. Plus, a sneak peek of Laura and Peggy Gilbert’s performance poetry.
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Embodiment in Worship
Sarah Werner reflects on the church’s changing beliefs about physical disabilities and calls us to a more embodied approach to worship.
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A Seat at the Table
A story of moving from isolation to community with biblical hospitality by Heather Wolf
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Accessible Digital Communications
ADN field associate Katie Smith leads this workshop on creating print documents that everyone can read and access.
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Accessible Print Communications
ADN field associate Katie Smith leads this workshop on creating print documents that everyone can read and access.
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Friendship: a Two Way Street
Naomi Epp recounts the ways her friendship with Chantel has been a blessing for both of them.
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I’m Living with Dementia; are you?
Marie Harnish shares the way her mother’s dementia has impacted the life of her family.
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Seeking an Accessible Church Home
Jill Keyser Speicher writes about searching for a church as a wheelchair user.
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Dementia and Memory Loss
ADN field associate Heddie Sumner provides education on dementia: what it is, how to communicate with those affected, and how congregations can continue to minister to people affected and their caregivers.
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The “Me” You Don’t See
With a poem and essay, Chou Hallegra calls congregations and individuals to consider how to support people with mental illness.
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Estate Planning
Representatives from Everence, an Anabaptist financial agency, discuss estate planning for families with a dependent disabled family member.
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I am Here
A song of yearning and humor by Ann Hamlin asks people to witness her humanity as a nonspeaking young adult.
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Taking the Mystery out of Mental Health
Clinical social worker Jon-Erik Misz reflects on his experience with mental illness and therapy.
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Churchwide Change, Part 2
Janelle Bitikofer offers practical ways for congregations to engage in mutual care by reducing stigma and supporting people who experience mental illness.
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Choosing Life
Verne Sanford relies on his faith and support from his community while he lives and leads as a person with low vision.
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Accessibility Benefits Everyone
Bonnie Miller recounts the practical and emotional effects that a sanctuary ramp had on the congregation of Waterford Mennonite Church.
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Churchwide Change, Part 1
Janelle Bitikofer offers an introduction to mental illness: what it is, causes, symptoms, and ideas for providing mutual support to those affected in our communities.
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Making Spaces Welcome for All
Jeanne Davies calls congregations to greater belonging and inclusion.
