Disability Ministry Isn't What Most Churches Think : Ryan Faulk

Disability Ministry Isn't What Most Churches Think : Ryan Faulk

What if the problem isn't that churches don't care… but that they don't know where to start? In this episode of Every Child Belongs, Kim Botto sits down with ministry leader Ryan Faulk to talk about what it really means to help neurodivergent and disabled kids belong in church communities. Ryan serves as Director of Children and Disability Ministry at Cornerstone Church in California and has spent years helping churches move beyond good intentions into meaningful discipleship. Ryan shares how he "accidentally" created a low-sensory youth ministry environment that drew neurodivergent students in, and how that experience completely changed the way he viewed church, inclusion, and discipleship. Together, Kim and Ryan discuss student ministry transitions, sensory environments, disability ministry silos, church fears around feeling "unequipped," and why every church must move from passive welcome to active belonging. This conversation is deeply practical for pastors, ministry leaders, volunteers, and parents alike. Ryan offers simple but powerful frameworks that help churches think differently about disability ministry, including one unforgettable analogy about goldfish transitions and another about gardening that may completely reshape how you think about supporting kids and families. "Boundless Hope for Every Child: Help for the Hurting, Compassion for the Misunderstood, Belonging for the Lonely" by Kim Botto https://amzn.to/3Utuw6V [https://amzn.to/3Utuw6V] (affiliate links) Every Child Belongs explores how we can create spaces where every child feels heard and valued, whether neurodivergent, differently abled, or they've experienced trauma. We'll hear from educators, parents, professionals, and more. Kim Botto is an adoptive mom, grandma, an advocate for kids and teens with disabilities, as well as a long-time leader of kids in student ministries.

When "Bad Behavior" Is Trauma & How to Respond Differently : Lori Crosby

What if the "misbehavior" you're seeing… isn't misbehavior at all? Lori Crosby, licensed marriage and family therapist and co-founder of the Reach Hurting Kids Institute, joins Kim to unpack how trauma impacts children and how we can better support them at home and in church. Drawing from her own story of loss and healing, Lori shares why behavior is always communication, and how small shifts in how we respond can make a lifelong difference for a child. This conversation is both deeply personal and incredibly practical, covering everything from play therapy to summer routines to creating safe, welcoming environments for kids who've experienced hard things. Lori Crosby is a licensed marriage and family therapist, registered play therapist, and co-founder of the Reach Hurting Kids Institute. She co-authored Trauma-Informed Children's Ministry and helps equip churches to better support kids and families navigating trauma. Resources & Links Reach Hurting Kids Institute https://reachhurtingkids.com/ [https://reachhurtingkids.com/] Trauma-Informed Children's Ministry (book) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1666715743 [https://www.amazon.com/dp/1666715743] "Boundless Hope for Every Child: Help for the Hurting, Compassion for the Misunderstood, Belonging for the Lonely" by Kim Botto https://amzn.to/3Utuw6V [https://amzn.to/3Utuw6V] (affiliate links) Every Child Belongs explores how we can create spaces where every child feels heard and valued, whether neurodivergent, differently abled, or they've experienced trauma. We'll hear from educators, parents, professionals, and more. Kim Botto is an adoptive mom, grandma, an advocate for kids and teens with disabilities, as well as a long-time leader of kids in student ministries.

When You Love Your Child But Don't Like Them : Lisa Qualls

What happens when you love your child… but being around them feels overwhelming? In this deeply honest conversation, Kim Botto sits down with adoptive mom, author, and TBRI practitioner Lisa Qualls to talk about something many parents feel—but few say out loud: blocked care. Lisa shares her personal story of adoption, trauma, and parenting through extremely hard seasons. From feeling confident as a mom… to experiencing dread, exhaustion, and emotional shutdown—this episode gives language to what so many parents silently carry. If you've ever felt like you're just surviving… or wondered why connection feels so hard… this conversation will help you understand what's really happening—and how healing begins. "Boundless Hope for Every Child: Help for the Hurting, Compassion for the Misunderstood, Belonging for the Lonely" by Kim Botto https://amzn.to/3Utuw6V [https://amzn.to/3Utuw6V] (affiliate links) Every Child Belongs explores how we can create spaces where every child feels heard and valued, whether neurodivergent, differently abled, or they've experienced trauma. We'll hear from educators, parents, professionals, and more. Kim Botto is an adoptive mom, grandma, an advocate for kids and teens with disabilities, as well as a long-time leader of kids in student ministries.

What Belonging Really Requires : Dr. Curt Thompson

What does it really take for someone to feel like they belong? In this episode of Every Child Belongs, Kim talks with psychiatrist, author, and speaker Dr. Curt Thompson about belonging, shame, suffering, rupture and repair, and the kind of community that helps people heal. Drawing from his work, his books, and his experience serving at Hope Heals Camp, Curt shares why belonging is never just a vague idea. It is something we experience in relationships, in being known, and in spaces where people are welcomed without shame. If you are a parent, caregiver, pastor, ministry leader, or someone longing for deeper community, this conversation will encourage and challenge you. In this episode, they discuss: -why belonging is built through relationships -why so many families feel isolated in church spaces -what makes church wounds feel especially painful -how shame affects the way we respond to others -why real healing happens in community -how to start creating spaces where every child and family can feel at home "Boundless Hope for Every Child: Help for the Hurting, Compassion for the Misunderstood, Belonging for the Lonely" by Kim Botto https://amzn.to/3Utuw6V [https://amzn.to/3Utuw6V] (affiliate links) Every Child Belongs explores how we can create spaces where every child feels heard and valued, whether neurodivergent, differently abled, or they've experienced trauma. We'll hear from educators, parents, professionals, and more. Kim Botto is an adoptive mom, grandma, an advocate for kids and teens with disabilities, as well as a long-time leader of kids in student ministries.

Trauma, Community, and Hope: Why We All Need Safe People : Meredith Shuman

In this episode of Every Child Belongs, Kim sits down with Meredith Shuman, founder of James Trail, trauma-informed trainer, therapist, adoptive mom, and passionate advocate for families impacted by trauma. Meredith brings nearly three decades of experience working with children, families, churches, and organizations across the U.S. and around the world. Together, Kim and Meredith explore why community and felt safety are essential for healing, especially for adoptive, foster, and kinship families navigating complex trauma. You'll hear Meredith unpack: -What trauma really is and why it affects far more families than we realize -Why many families struggle to find safety and belonging in church spaces -How reading the Bible through a trauma-informed lens changes how we see people like Moses and Gideon -What global churches understand about trauma that the U.S. often misses -Why nature is such a powerful tool for regulation, healing, and hope -Practical ways parents can advocate for kids in medical and high-stress environments -Why the holidays can be especially difficult for kids with trauma histories and how community helps carry the load This conversation is honest, hope-filled, and deeply practical for parents, caregivers, church leaders, and anyone who wants to help create environments where kids and families can truly belong. Connect with Meredith and James Trail: Website: https://www.jamestrail.org/ [https://www.jamestrail.org/] "Boundless Hope for Every Child: Help for the Hurting, Compassion for the Misunderstood, Belonging for the Lonely" by Kim Botto https://amzn.to/3Utuw6V [https://amzn.to/3Utuw6V] (affiliate links) Every Child Belongs explores how we can create spaces where every child feels heard and valued, whether neurodivergent, differently abled, or they've experienced trauma. We'll hear from educators, parents, professionals, and more. Kim Botto is an adoptive mom, grandma, an advocate for kids and teens with disabilities, as well as a long-time leader of kids in student ministries.