A Little Extra Love

A Dad’s Roadmap After Diagnosis: Presence, Provision, and a New Story (with Joe Butler) | Episode 16

In this episode of A Little Extra Love, Kyle Vermeulen sits down with Joe Butler—husband of 29 years, father of three, dad to Micah, and co-founder of Ability Tree—for an honest, hope-filled conversation about fatherhood under pressure and the faith it takes to keep showing up when life doesn’t go according to plan. Joe takes us back to the moment disability entered their story: a seizure on a Wednesday night at church, a hospital ride filled with fear, and a diagnosis that brought more uncertainty than answers. From there, he shares what the early years really looked like—therapy schedules, exhaustion, navigating marriage and sibling needs, and the isolation that so many disability families quietly carry. But woven through every part of Joe’s story is a steady thread of God’s faithfulness: the way the Lord met him in the questions, reshaped his understanding of suffering, and used Micah’s life to open doors for deeper ministry, deeper community, and deeper surrender. This episode is for dads, parents, and church leaders who want something real—something grounded in Scripture, lived experience, and a practical vision of what it looks like to do ministry with families impacted by disability. WHAT YOU’LL HEAR IN THIS CONVERSATION 1. Joe’s origin story: when disability first changed everything for their family 2. The “first decade blur”: therapies, school battles, exhaustion, and learning how to keep going 3. The difference between trying to “fix” the situation and learning how to embrace the child God has given 4. How Ability Tree was born out of a gap—and why families are treated like family, not clients 5. What dads need most after diagnosis (and what Joe wishes every father could hear) 6. Why the Church doesn’t need to start “something flashy” to be faithful—just a changed posture and willingness to learn 7. How disability reshapes the way we understand suffering, community, and the glory of God 8. A powerful closing prayer over dads, marriages, families, and church leaders SCRIPTURES REFERENCED 1. Psalm 127:3 — Children are a gift from the Lord 2. Psalm 139 — Fearfully and wonderfully made; God sees what we can’t 3. Matthew 11:28 — Come to Me and I will give you rest 4. 1 Corinthians 12 — Every member is indispensable; gifts for the common good 5. John 15 — Abide in the Vine; stay connected to the life source RESOURCES 1. Learn more about Ability Tree - https://www.abilitytree.org/ [https://www.abilitytree.org/] 2. Life with Micah (Joe & Jen’s book) - https://www.amazon.com/Life-Micah-Joe-Butler/dp/B0C5G4CCZN [https://www.amazon.com/Life-Micah-Joe-Butler/dp/B0C5G4CCZN] 3. Follow Joe on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joe_n_butler/ [https://www.instagram.com/joe_n_butler/] 4. Follow Ability Tree on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abilitytree/ [https://www.instagram.com/abilitytree/] 5. Follow Ability Tree on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abilitytree [https://www.facebook.com/abilitytree]

From Welcoming to Withness: The Church Families Need (with Rebecca Wall) | Episode 15

What if the biggest barrier to disability inclusion isn’t budget, space, or staffing… but posture? In this episode of A Little Extra Love, Rachael sits down with Rebecca Wall, Executive Director of With Ministries, for a thoughtful and deeply pastoral conversation about what it actually costs to move from welcoming to belonging. Rebecca shares how her disability journey began with a first-grade friendship, why inclusion so often fades after childhood, and the “withness” Jesus models—slow, present, returning again and again. We talk about the pain families carry, the quiet reasons churches keep missing adults with disabilities, and the hopeful truth: the first steps toward belonging are often free… but they require humility, repentance, and proximity. If you’re a parent who’s been hurt by the church, a leader who feels overwhelmed, or a church trying to do this faithfully—this one will meet you in the tension and give you a next right step. IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT 1. How Rebecca’s journey into disability ministry began at age six through friendship 2. Why inclusion becomes harder as individuals with disabilities age 3. The hidden gap between children’s ministry and lifelong discipleship 4. The difference between welcome and true belonging 5. Why posture — not programming — is the most important factor in accessibility 6. The heartbreaking reality: 1 in 2 families leave churches after disability diagnosis 7. How pastors can begin today without new resources or staff 8. What disability friendships teach us about dependence, delight, and the Kingdom of God 9. Why belonging is formed through presence, not perfection RESOURCES: Website: https://withministries.org/ [https://withministries.org/] Equip: https://withministries.org/equip/ [https://withministries.org/equip/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/withministriesorg/ [https://www.instagram.com/withministriesorg/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/withministriesorg [https://www.facebook.com/withministriesorg]

Flipping Tables with Love: Disability, Obedience, and the Accessible Gospel (with Abby Howard) | Episode 14

What happens when suffering becomes the doorway to calling? In this powerful in-person episode of A Little Extra Love, Rachael Vermeulen sits down with disability ministry coordinator and advocate Abby Howard, whose life changed overnight after a rare spinal cord stroke left her paralyzed from the chest down. What followed wasn’t just physical recovery — it was a radical redefinition of mission, obedience, and the Church’s responsibility to the disability community. Abby shares how God used her story to reveal one of the most overlooked realities in modern Christianity: the disability community is one of the largest unreached people groups, often not by rejection of the gospel, but by inaccessibility to it. Together, they explore suffering, dependence, advocacy, holy disruption, and what it means to “flip tables with love” so that no one is left outside the Body of Christ. This conversation is a call to church leaders, families, and believers everywhere: the gospel was never meant to be inaccessible. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE 1. How disability reshaped Abby’s understanding of calling and mission 2. Why the disability community is an unreached people group 3. The difference between awareness and true belonging in churches 4. What biblical advocacy actually looks like 5. Why obedience often requires discomfort 6. How weakness becomes the starting place of God’s power 7. Practical encouragement for churches unsure where to begin To connect with Abby and her resources through The Accessible Gospel you can find them here: Resources: https://stan.store/theaccessiblegospel [https://stan.store/theaccessiblegospel] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theaccessiblegospel/ [https://www.instagram.com/theaccessiblegospel/] Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@abbynothannah [https://www.tiktok.com/@abbynothannah] disability ministry podcast, accessible church, disability and the gospel, Christian disability advocacy, inclusive church leadership, disability theology, testimony, Great Commission disability ministry, church accessibility ministry

From Desperation to Assignment: Building Safe Place Bedding for Families on Empty (With Jon & Amara Smith) | Episode 13

What happens when your child can’t sleep and neither can you? Kyle Vermeulen sits down with Jon and Amara Smith, parents of a son with Angelman syndrome and founders of Safe Place Bedding, to talk about the holy trenches of caregiving: chronic sleep deprivation, marriage strain, and the moment God turned an exhausted idea into a life-changing mission. This conversation isn’t just about a product—it’s about obedience born out of desperation, dreams reimagined, and the way God meets families who are running on empty. If you’re a parent who hasn’t slept through the night in years, this episode is for you. IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT: 1. Jon & Amara’s early years of marriage + becoming new believers while navigating diagnosis 2. The grief of “dreams crashing down” and learning to dream new dreams 3. The hidden cost of sleep deprivation on marriage, parenting, and spiritual life 4. The breakthrough moment: realizing enclosed sleep helped—and travel made everything unravel again 5. How Safe Place Bedding was born from a Florida hotel room at 3am 6. Why safe sleep is not “convenience,” but dignity, safety, and sustainability for the whole family 7. Practical encouragement for exhausted couples: asking for help, protecting date night, and staying anchored in Christ KEY SCRIPTURES REFERENCED 1. Psalm 34:19 2. Psalm 34:18 3. Matthew 25:40 4. Romans 8:37 CONNECT WITH JON & AMARA / SAFE PLACE BEDDING 1. Website: Safe Place Bedding - https://safeplacebedding.com/ [https://safeplacebedding.com/] 2. If you’re overwhelmed or unsure where to start: reach out to their team—they’ll help you navigate options like insurance, grants, and next steps.

Love That Surpasses: Rethinking Disability, Holiness, and Belonging in the Church (With Sarah Lowry) | Episode 12

What if disability isn’t a detour from God’s plan but an invitation deeper into His heart? In this episode of A Little Extra Love host, Rachael Vermeulen sits down with Sarah Lowry, CEO of Love That Surpasses, for a deeply honest conversation about grief, redemption, and the transformative theology born through disability parenting. Sarah shares her family’s journey raising two children with disabilities, autism and Down syndrome, and how God gently reframed her understanding of motherhood, worth, and calling. Together, they explore the powerful framework behind The Leah Inheritance, a redemptive way of understanding disability through Scripture, and why the ministry of disability is not a side ministry but central to the Church’s spiritual formation. This conversation speaks directly to parents navigating diagnosis, church leaders longing to serve families well, and believers seeking a deeper understanding of holiness, dependence, and the love of Christ that truly surpasses understanding. If you’ve ever wondered where God is in grief, exhaustion, or unanswered expectations — this episode will remind you that His presence meets us there first. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE 1. Why disability parenting often begins with grief — and ends in transformation 2. The lie of “normal motherhood” and how God reframes identity 3. Why the Church’s narrative around disability often falls short 4. The biblical meaning behind The Leah Inheritance 5. How disability ministry reveals dependence on the Holy Spirit 6. Why disability families carry unique spiritual insight for the Church 7. How churches can move from accommodation → invitation → partnership To connect with Love That Surpasses Ministries and Sarah follow the links below: Love That Surpasses – https://www.lovethatsurpasses.org/ [https://www.lovethatsurpasses.org/] The Leah Narrative Bible Study - https://www.lovethatsurpasses.org/leah [https://www.lovethatsurpasses.org/leah] The Leah Kids Resources - https://www.lovethatsurpasses.org/leahskids [https://www.lovethatsurpasses.org/leahskids] Instagram- Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/lovethatsurpasses/ [https://www.instagram.com/lovethatsurpasses/] Ministry: https://www.instagram.com/lovethatsurpassesministries/ [https://www.instagram.com/lovethatsurpassesministries/]