Jolene Philo

Disability and the Church

Church Leadership & Ministry

“In Disability and the Church, Lamar Hardwick combines his professional and personal experience to create a unique and necessary resource for pastors and church leaders. After being diagnosed with autism several years into his pastoral career, he became an advocate for including individuals with disabilities in the church. What he has to say about ministering with—rather than to or for—people and families affected by disability has the potential to transform the body of Christ. I am grateful to Lamar for his transparent, honest voice in Disability and the Church. I not only recommend the book wholeheartedly, I also plan to gift copies to leaders at my church.”

How to Build a Thriving Marriage as You Care for Children with Disabilities

Marriage, Family & Relationships

“At last! A marriage book written specifically for parents of children with disabilities and special needs. Todd and Kristin Evans offer hope born of personal and professional experience and show couples how to assess and strengthen different aspects of their marriage in simple and powerful ways. Had How to Build a Thriving Marriage as You Care for Children with Disabilities been written when my husband and I were raising our medically fragile child, it would have been on our bookshelf. I hope it will soon have a place on yours too.”

Special Grace

Bible Studies & Devotionals

“Special Grace paints a loving and honest picture of life with Elrena Evans's 'quirky' kids. As her story unfolds, she makes us privy to the daily delights and challenges caregiving families face. Even on Sundays. For families like Elrena's, especially on Sundays. With humor and grace, Evans describes obstacles that make worshiping as a family impossible much of the time. Rather than railing against God or blaming the church, she turns to prayer. In so doing, she demonstrates how to tell God how we feel and ask for what we need. She encourages us to lift up to him those situations unique to special needs and disability parents. Her prayers provide families with a road map back to hope, strength, and endurance through Christ. I love Special Grace and its prayers; I think you will too.”

The Other Side of Special

Marriage, Family & Relationships

“longed for when our newborn son’s life-threatening condition was diagnosed. Authors Amy J. Brown, Sara Clime, and Carrie M. Holt have filled their book with the wisdom they’ve gleaned while raising children with very different needs. They share their failures and victories, their sorrows and joys, their faith and their doubts with honesty and humor. The Other Side of Special belongs on the bookshelf of every family caring for a child with special needs and disabilities. I’m grateful to have it on mine.”

Unexpected Blessings

Marriage, Family & Relationships

“Sandra Peoples writes from the same vantage point as her readers. She’s a parent on an unexpected, challenging, and rewarding journey as she and her husband raise their child with special needs. From the first page to the last, she shares compassion and hope that equip parents to embrace their journey and help their families thrive.”

When I Go to Church, I Belong

Children & Youth

“Belonging is a fundamental need of every person. Belonging at church can meet that need in powerful and eternal ways. In When I Go to Church, I Belong, Elrena Evans assures children with disabilities of their place in their church family. In this picture book, children with special needs will find kids who look like them on its pages and hear their feelings given voice in the text. Caregiving parents will see their kids being welcomed, and the church body will discover new ways to follow Christ's command to bring all children into his loving presence. This book belongs on the shelf of every church library and every Sunday school classroom, so every child who enters the church will know they belong to Jesus.”