Woman in a blue shirt speaking into a microphone at a community event, with two seated panelists in the background

Disability Ministry Church Training Workshop – Florida (Bristol)

July 18, 2026 @ 5:00 pm - July 19, 2026 @ 7:30 pm

Joni and Friends Florida and the Florida Baptist Convention invite you to a two-part, interactive church training session specifically designed for pastors and church leadership teams who want to develop a clear plan for how to evangelize or disciple individuals and families living with disability.

The training takes place from 5:00 PM-7:30 PM on July 18th and 19th.

Please plan for your team to attend both sessions. Dinner will be provided both evenings.

Churches should send a team that ideally includes pastoral staff, deacons, and volunteers who have personal insight into disability; leaders who shape and guide life in the church, and those who will be responsible for carrying out your plans.

In Calhoun and Liberty counties, 1 in 4 people live with a disability (24.6% from census data). When you include family members and caregivers, this directly impacts 40% of the people in the community. Individuals and families living with disability are already present; they just may not yet be meaningfully seen, equipped, or included.

During this training, your team will be guided through a simple, structured process to help you move forward with clarity. Across the two sessions, your team will:

  • Assess your church’s current culture and readiness
  • Build a strong biblical foundation for disability ministry
  • Identify key barriers and opportunities in your context
  • Begin shaping a plan that fits your church’s mission and people

By the end of the training, your team will have a biblically guided plan that fits who you are as a church and helps you intentionally reach and equip people with disabilities and their families in both your congregation and your community.

  • Each person attending must RSVP using the button on this page
  • For more information, contact Randy Schwartz, (407) 219-1486; [email protected]

Joni and Friends was founded by Joni Eareckson Tada, whose own experience with disability has shaped more than four decades of ministry, equipping churches and serving families across the country, including here in Florida.