1) The document summarizes Dr. Stephen Grcevich's experience growing up Catholic and becoming involved in ministry for families with children with disabilities through his church. 2) It describes how a series of events led him to found Key Ministry, a nonprofit providing resources and support to help churches serve families of children with disabilities. 3) The document encourages readers to consider ways they have been uniquely positioned by God for ministry work and provides suggestions for discerning and pursuing a potential ministry calling.

1. Does God Have a Plan For Your
Circumstances?
Stephen Grcevich, MD
President and Founder, Family Center by the Falls
Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Northeast Ohio Medical University
Chairman, Board of Directors, Key Ministry
Chagrin Valley Men’s Fellowship
Chagrin Falls, OH
February 25, 2013

2. My Story…
The Grcevich family (1969)
 Grew up in Catholic family
 Father became “born-again”
in 1975
 I explored other Christian
traditions after leaving home
 Became connected to Bay
Presbyterian Church during
residency at Cleveland Clinic
 Remained involved with BPC
after moving east, marriage

3. God’s hand in the circumstances?
1997-2002…an interesting
time?
 Why don’t you do it?
 Elected to BPC Elder Board
 Struggles of BPC families
following Eastern European
adoption with kids experiencing
“hidden disabilities”
 Opportunities to teach…and
share the need for ministry to
families of kids with emotional,
behavioral, developmental
disorders

4. A series of coincidences?
 One of the few actively Christian physicians
specializing in child and adolescent psychiatry…
 Is actively involved in leadership at a church 37
miles one way from his home?
 That recognizes a need for ministry to families with
emotional/behavioral/neurologic disabilities?
 Is given the opportunity to travel the U.S. and share
the work his home church is doing with other child-
serving professionals?
 Is in a church with a reputation for supporting
“entrepreneurs in Christ?”

5. Are you an “entrepreneur for Christ?”
People who have seen Christ at work first-hand
within the church’s walls and who have
responded in faith by initiating their own
ministries both inside and outside BPC, often
with the active support of the church itself.
Bay Presbyterian Church Website (2011)

6. What does Key Ministry do?
YouTube: http://youtu.be/k84nRn_ei8U

7. Provides FREE training,
consultation, resources and
support to help churches serve,
welcome and include families of
kids with disabilities

8. What Key Ministry offers…
 Free training, consultation to
churches (JAM Sessions)
 Relationship along with
resources (Key Holders)
 Free Respite training, software
 Website containing over 200
downloadable resources, video
training library
 Hosts Inclusion
Fusion…worldwide, Special
Needs Ministry Web Summit

9. Key Ministry…
In 2012… And beyond?
 Live training to hundreds of  “Boots on the ground” in
pastors, volunteers in ten major metropolitan areas
states across U.S.
 Invited to present at seven  Regional respite networks
major ministry conferences  Training through seminaries?
 Blogs, website accessed from  Online training platform
139 countries (325K+ page
 Online church
views)
 Revamped website, training
library

10. Three additional “burdens” for me…
 The online church for families impacted by
disabilities…
 Wanting to see the Chagrin Valley transformed
by strong families taking responsibility for
passing along their faith to the next generation
 Wanting other mature Christians to have the
opportunity I had…help in pursuing the “God
thing” I’d been positioned for

11. My hypotheses…
 Preparation for highly specific ministry callings through
life experience is common
 Most Christians fail to respond to their “nudge” from God
because of…Not knowing how to take the next step
Churches/traditions discourage personal ministry
Fear
Competing priorities

12. What has God uniquely positioned you to do?
 Upbringing/education
 Geography…where you live and work
 Vocation
 Relationships
 Life experiences
 Natural talents and abilities
 Spiritual gifts
 Passions/interests

13. Are you “called?”
 Do you sense a “persistent pull” to a specific
Kingdom work
 Does it fit with your giftedness?
 Are doors opening to support the work?
 Is it validated by other mature believers?
 Does your spouse affirm it?

14. Recommended Scripture passages:
 Esther 4:14
 1 Corinthians 12:7-11
 1 Timothy 3:1-7
 1 Peter 4:10

15. Discussion Questions..
 What would you do to advance the Kingdom if
God allowed you to choose any type of ministry
you desired?
 How has God unmistakably orchestrated your
circumstances in the past to position you to
minister to others?
 Is there a specific ministry need that God
repeatedly brings to your attention? If you
haven’t responded, what’s getting in the way?

16. Action Items…
1. If you’re discerning whether God might be
nudging you toward a specific ministry calling,
share it with the guys on the email invitation list
for tonight, so others can pray for you…and
2. Seek out at least one other man who might
help you to discern/pursue God’s direction
3. If you’re not sensing a “nudge” from God, offer
to meet with one guy who does to lend support

17. How can you help Key Ministry?
 Pray for our team!
 Spread the word through social media with churches and
families
 Volunteer your time and talent
 Contribute financially…
(scan QR code at right)

18. Stay in Touch!
Key Ministry Website: http://www.keyministry.org
Church4EveryChild…Steve’s Key Ministry Blog: http://drgrcevich.wordpress.com
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/stephen-grcevich-md/5/239/42b
http://www.facebook.com/drgrcevich
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Key-Ministry/116940088329098
http://twitter.com/#!/drgrcevich
http://twitter.com/#!/KeyMinistry