Author Archives: Dean G. Blevins

About Dean G. Blevins

Dr. Dean G. Blevins currently serves as Professor of Practical Theology and Christian Discipleship at Nazarene Theological Seminary as well as Director of Nurturing Care with Children through Worship and Prayer. An ordained elder, Dean has ministered in diverse settings and currently also serves at the USA Regional Education Coordinator for the Church of the Nazarene. A prolific author, Dr. Blevins recently co-wrote the textbook Discovering Discipleship and edits Didache: Faithful Teaching, a journal for Wesleyan Education.

DATC#2024 Sessions resume including Masterpiece Alliance

#DATC2024 breakout sessions continue including the story of Masterpiece Alliance, a local ministry which partners with Young Life’s Capernum ministry, designed to create community for disability ministry after age 18 so that no person with a disability or family of … Continue reading

Posted in Autism, Children, Clergy, Nurturing Care, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

You are God’s Treasure

#DATC2024 opens the second day with a sermon focused on “both” people with disability and those ministering in disability ministry by Ability Ministry Director Ryan Wolfe notes often we approach scripture thinking of Jesus as the treasure. However, what happens … Continue reading

Posted in Autism, Bible, Children, Clergy, disability, Preaching | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Flourishing Together

Final #DATC2024 presentation today comes from Dr. Erik Carter, Baylor Center for Developmental Disabilities, and collaborator with “With Ministries” addressing the topic Flourishing Together: moving from inclusion and embrace. Carter notes ministry has changed over the years from exclusion to … Continue reading

Posted in Autism, Children, Clergy, disability, Nurturing Care | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Creating Belonging

Cynthia Pounds presenting a #DATC2024 session on creative solutions to create belonging in the Church. Pounds notes that belonging rests around three key emphases: focusing on first impressions (will people feel valued as they enter?), Attitudes (what are we assuming … Continue reading

Posted in Autism, Children, disability, Nurturing Care | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Creating Inclusive Places for Play

#DATC2024 second breakout session on creating inclusive spaces for play with Donna McCrary and Beth Jones. The session opens noting that stories are what make up a child’s life. Their unique story begins with the story of their birth. Eventually, … Continue reading

Posted in Autism, Children, disability, Nurturing Care | Leave a comment

Neurodiversity

#DATC2024 first breakout sessions include full rooms. I am in the session on Reaching and Teaching Our Neurodiverse Kingdom with Aimée Stork, M.Ed. Sr. Manager of Online Education with Joni and Friends. Stork notes right away that many of us … Continue reading

Posted in Autism, Children, disability, Neuroscience, Nurturing Care | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Not Alone

“The ministry we are called to is often a lonely call because it is not often a recognized call” yet, like Elijah in 1 Kings 18,… we are not alone. #DATC2024

Posted in Autism, Children, disability, Nurturing Care | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment