May 4, 2023 • 26 mins
Author/Minister Ethel Gainer stopped by the Hope-in-Christ w/Denise Podcast to share how she is spreading hope to others through her disability ministry. She also shares her book Stroke Forward: Life Beyond Disability.
Ethel Gainer's interview will help you remember that God has a purpose and plan for your life no matter what you have experienced. All you have to do is get up and move forward in His strength. Click to listen.
Ethel Gainer's interview will help you remember that God has a purpose and plan for your life no matter what you have experienced. All you have to do is get up and move forward in His strength. Click to listen.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Come on, let's lift up thename of Jesus Christ. There is none
other in heaven or on earth.Welcome to another episode of Hope in Christ
with Denise here on Kingdom Influencers Broadcast, where we place our hope and the
only hope there is Christ, OurLord. All right, Welcome, Welcome,
(00:29):
Welcome, Welcome back to Hoping Christwith Denise here on Kingdom and Florenceers
Broadcast. I am your host,Minister Denise, and I welcome you back.
Today we have another phenomenal author thatis going to be sharing what God
has given her hands to do.And before I bring her on, I'm
(00:49):
going to open us up with aword of prayer, Father God, in
the name of Jesus, what wethank you, Oh God, for this
opportunity once again to share, toshare the works of your hands that you're
doing in our lives. God.We pray O God and missus Ethel the
message that she has those that arelistening, those were here, the replay
(01:14):
that they would be prompted to beginto moving your purpose and do your will.
God Lord, We thank you aGod for what you are going to
say and what you are already doingin our lives and what you're yet to
do. In Jesus name, wethank you, Amen, Amen and amen.
So again, thank you, thankyou, thank you for tuning in
(01:36):
to Hoping Christ with Denise here ourteendom influences broadcast. And again I'm your
host's minister, Denisa, and hereat Hoping Christ. We are healthy,
we are overcomers, we have purpose, and we maintain an eternal perspective because
Christ Jesus is our Lord. Sowe're going to jump right Inanna, and
(01:56):
we have a phenomenal Christian author who'sgoing to share with us today, and
she's gonna share with us about herbook and and all the other things that
God has her doing. And withoutfurther ado, we're gonna have miss Ethel
Ghanna introduced herself and tell us alittle bit more about herself. Good evening,
and thank you, minister to Nisefor allowing me this opportunity to be
(02:22):
on hope in Christ, to honorand a privilege. And I'm very thankful.
God bless you, and God blessyou, and God bless your ministry
what you were doing providing this opportunity. My name is Ethel Paris Skater and
the name of my book is Strokesforward life beyond disability. And I am
(02:46):
a native of Pitts for Pennsylvania.However, my family and I relocated to
Richard, Virginia in two thousand andseven. We felt hoped to continue our
ministry work. My husband is theministry as well past the present canner at
UM a church here in Richmond,and so we felt called him in Richmond.
(03:07):
I had gotten a job at achurch here in Richmond, Virginia,
and twenty one days after being here, on April twenty first, I had
a stroke. And so I amtruly thankful to be alive today, and
you know, just to be here, Um, it was a life shattering
and you know, um, youtalk about hope and destiny, and so
(03:32):
the spirture that really had to Ihad to keep in my heart was Jeremiah
twenty eleven. UM. And knowthat God had plans for me. I
know that the plans I have foryou declares the Lord plans for you to
prosper, not to harm you,plans to give you helpe in a future.
(03:52):
And all that seems so far away, and the hallward was gonna recover
and even continue in ministry after thishappened. But we know that God is
faithful and if he calls you todo something, he is going to make
a way for you to do it. And so, you know, I
worked for a while and as Istarted to try to understand how I could
(04:17):
continue in ministry, and you know, I fell into despair. You know,
I thought it. I didn't wantto do anything. You know,
the stroke did affect the right kidof my body and so I had to
do therapy to learn how to walkand to even go back to work.
(04:38):
But magica bad to work and youknow, continue to wonder, you know,
how am I supposed to continue inministry after surviving this stroke. And
one that I was playing watching umPursuing television and a woman came on who
was in a wheelchair, Jeremy EricSintana, araplegic, who who who?
(05:05):
She had a divney accident and thisis how she ended up in the wheel
chair. And she was on theshow interviewing and another young man who was
had a disability. He was bornwith no arms emblade. So Joanie Ersontado
was interviewing a gentleman by the nameof vic Nick Vochek, and they were
(05:27):
talking about all the ministry things thatthey were doing. Sending wheelchairs for Africa.
He was going around the world talkingto young people about bullying and just
being encouragement. She was doing workshopsin California, and I had the opportunity
to eventually go to one of herworkshops in California. But she was talking
(05:51):
about the thing that was on myheart, disability ministry. And so after
seeing those two people on television talkabout ministry, one in the world chairs,
one who hit no legs and letme the use of his arms.
I think he had no arms andno use of to places. I feel
(06:11):
like, God, you know,let me not follow this pit of despair.
And I got myself up and decidedto continue in ministry, to do
what God has called me to do. Hey man and and um, So
one of the questions that came tohim, and I'm not sure is um
you answered it, but tell usabout the length of time and maybe some
(06:40):
of your emotions that you fell forthe people that are you know, that
are listening. That's an excellent question, because um it was not an overnight
process. I had to stroke himtwo thousand and seven. So the first
thing I had to do was tobe even get back in the car and
(07:00):
drive and my highschool thank him somuch because he said, up, well,
you're gonna have to get in thecar and you're gonna have to drive
because we're here in Richmond alone ifwe don't have family here, and I
didn't think I would be able todrive, but took Bab these steps for
me to drive during the research.I just so after after after a year,
(07:24):
the job that I came here for, they made me off and so
yeah, I felt too, alittle bit of depression and question glad again.
But I decided, well, Icame here to go back from school.
I wanted to receive my doctorate,and I did go back from school,
got accepted to Virginia Union send towhat Practice School of Theology, and
(07:44):
I received my doctorate degree in ministryin two thousand and sixteen. But during
that time I had the opportunity totravel to California to visit Jenny Tanna Erickson's
a minute in California. Beautiful thingsthat she's doing out there, and she's
teaching people how to do disagoliting ministryand say that was the focus of my
(08:09):
dissertation on educating because I've sell theneeds for churches, the need for churches
to be educated on how to beinclusive and to utilize people with disabolities.
If you don't see it, ifchurches are don't have a sensibility, if
they're not reaching out because people withdisagolities. There are fifty four million people
(08:31):
in the United States with a disaboliand that is, like I said in
my dissertation and in myself, thatthat is a nation of people. That
is a lot of people who arenot being able to hear the gospel of
Jesus Christ, and people who arenot hearing words of hope, people who
(08:54):
are not seeing to discourage. Everyday I come across people either a person
with a disability or a family memberwho has a loved one at home,
you know, just not doing anything. They're just no motivation. And so
I wrote this book because I wantedpeople to to see that despite light affliction,
(09:20):
God has a purpose and a planfor each and every one of us.
So, no, it didn't happenall you know, it didn't happen
immediately. It's been sixteen years nowand I can remember I couldn't even talk
about having a discipulity or having astruck without breaking down in tears. Because
it is so hurtful trying to youknow, understand this new stuff that you
(09:46):
have and how to navigate just evengoing to the grocery store. You know,
everything you really have to think throughbecause you don't want to be um.
You know, people are so fuzzy, so unkind. You know,
you want to go shopping at timeswhere it's not too crowded. So you
really have to think through everything andit does take time or continue to do
(10:11):
therapy. I still do therapy eventoday, to continue to strengthen and believe
in God. You know, God, my head strikes, we are healed,
waiting for that manifestation. Um,you know, just working out,
continuing to watch my diet and continuingto be active. I was blessed to
(10:33):
be able to go back to workafter our and that was another thing too,
because I'd applied for jobs and I'ma social worker. I have my
master's in social work and that isthe profession I was doing in Pittspurgh before
we moved here, and Jess wasnot able to get a job and turn
(10:54):
up my dreads and made I gointo the interview and I felt that as
soon as I saw that I wasworking with the King. I didn't get
the job, and but there wasa company that did hear me coming help
comesant GRYTHM still working them there todaydoing counseling. So I've been there seven
eight years doing counting, working withchildren and adults, and I'm doing crisis
(11:20):
comesing working with commas. So it'sheads in the process. But you know,
just getting up every day, beingthankful, being grateful, and just
taking baby steps. That's what Iwould say to you. Take baby steps,
hey man, man, I meansuch a unique ministry and what God
(11:45):
is doing and how he took andI work all things together for the goods,
and so it's so such an inspirationto hear even though you know it
was very difficult because I remember mydad having a stroke as well in my
aunt, so I know I've seenhow it can change your life. So
(12:05):
my other question I have for youis, um, I know it was
very difficult to put it in writing, So how long did it actually take
you to say, Okay, Lord, I'm gonna put this in words.
Because as a writer, I know, Um, when God gave me the
vision to write one of my books, I just kept saying, nope,
(12:28):
nope, nope, nope, nope, nope, even though this is God's
saying, Okay, what did Isay? And I can't say I can't
write that because people gonna read it, Lord, So what do you mean
write it? So how long didit take you to just say, okay,
Lord, I surrender um and I'llgo ahead and do what you call
me to do. Right. It'sit's it's so interesting that you would ask
(12:52):
you that question because some people camefrom my dissertation, and it took me
a year after I graduated to Cityfor my dissertation, because you know,
writing things down. And then thefirst part of the board was all new
context that I needed to write,which is a little biographical, because I
(13:16):
felt that it was necessary for peopleand even for me to look back over
my life, Sudy, he hadto look back over and see how far
God had brought me to this pointnow sitting here being a stroke survivor and
the next part of my life.And so U yeah, And it's funny
(13:37):
too, because I had someone elseI had written it, put it together,
and the young man had an instrumentalencouraging So it was written for like
two years, and then the pandemickept and then I met my publisher and
so then I sent it to herto kind of get it. I mean
(13:58):
it took like three or four yearsyears for it to get into the final
state. So I've started another book, so that's going a little bit faster.
I started it last year and itshould have been to her, you
know, last time. I's gotto still working with it. So I'm
trying to do this one a littlebit quicker than the first one. But
(14:20):
it does take time. It doestake time, and you know, you
want to get that right information inthe book to be the couragement and to
be a blessing to those who willpick it up. And yet and still
you know, you're trying to impartthe truth, which is sometimes hard for
people to take. But and Iknow I found that to be uh in
(14:45):
my case with the first book,because I'm writing about the church and the
things that we the church need todo to be more inclusive with people's disabilities
to utilize them and tom you know, be a s So it does take
wall a wall for being sleep patientsbe encouraged and keep writing on it,
(15:05):
you know, send some timelines foryourself. I had to do that,
and I'm doing that now so Iget this next book all the way done
and into her hands that we couldmove forward. But it was a challenge,
and so it was a good challengeand I'm happy that it was done.
And the next book we'll talk moreabout my steps in the process that
(15:31):
I went through and the things thatI've been doing to encourage myself to metivate
myself, trusting and helping the Lordto um, you know, continue to
be a blessing to others that Icome into contact with. Amen, Amen,
Um. I have another question,Um, what would you say your
(15:52):
plans are for your book overall?And the second part of that question is
have you considered hosting workshops with peoplewith disabilities or even churches, just to
have some real conversations and and youknow, get people thinking different about it.
(16:14):
Excellent, excellent question, because Ididn't add that in there as a
part of my dissertation and haven't goneinto California to visit juniors and Jolly Tarner
Ministry. That is what she wasdoing, disabilities ministry workshops. So it's
a part of my dissertation. That'swhat I did, a disability awareness ministry
(16:36):
workshop, and I started doing them. I was doing them every year actually
until the pandemics hit three years ago, and their workshops on and I would
invite the church members, community membersof people with disabilities, caregivers to come
(16:57):
and have different speakers talking about adifferent aspects how to help your church be
accessible, from the hand railings tothe bathrooms, to even the bulletins information
for families on how to you know, encourage your loved ones. And would
(17:21):
have people from the health in titnesscome and talk about exercising and diet,
nutrition and even mental health because alot of times we don't consider mental health
and we talk about disability, welook at the physical. But that's why
I continue to work so that Icould be an encouragement to not only people
(17:41):
with physical disabilities with this with mentalhealth issues. But thank you so much
for reminding me to mention that,because we were doing the workshops once a
year, and it's like God kindof nudge me the other day and said,
Okay, you know the pandemic isjust about it. You know,
Oh, are kind of and youknow, what are your plans going to
(18:03):
be for getting back out there anddoing these workshops? So yes, I
am considering starting back out. Ohthat's gonna be awesome, awesome, awesome.
So remind the listeners of the titleof your book, and if you
don't mind, if you would readan excerpt from it, thank you.
The title of the book is calledStroke Forward, Life Beyond Disability by ep
(18:30):
Gainer and to read an expert,I would read this old blurb that my
destiny seems uncertain until I realized thatI was not alone. There are stories
of how the least lifely person madea glorious comeback after a seemingly life seemingly
(18:52):
defeated them, and a chiefs aboveall expectations. There is something in all
of us that wants to know thatachievement is possible. Amen, Amen,
Amen, Um. I have justa couple of other questions. Um.
This one just popped up in myspirit. Um, when having gone through
(19:18):
what you've gone through. Um.And you know how one of the one
of my phrases for for what Ido in my podcasting and speaking as wholeness.
If you could speak to someone whohas a disability and they are discouraged
and they you know, the thingsthat they're going through, what would you
talk to them about? Um?That being whole? You know, even
(19:41):
though they're not necessarily physically, theydon't feel physically whole. But what would
you talk to them about as faras the word wholeness, because that just
popped in my spirit as you weretalking. So I would say to remember
that personal that you are loved byGod and you know Jesus that Jesus um
(20:04):
send his son Jesus din across youknow, for our sins and despite our
physical limitations or our physical appearance.Most importantly, you are loved. I
am loved and God loves us somuch that he made a great sacrifice for
(20:26):
us. And so it's hard.I know it's hard. And sometimes,
um my brother had made a statement, he said, you make it seem
easy. But I guess after therevelation is seeing Johnny Erikson, Tata and
Nick Nichak, two people, onein a wheelchair and one with a lot
(20:48):
of physical limitations. I was ashamedbecause you know, God has a plan
for each of us, as Isaid before, and He has a purpose
for you, and going through thishard time, we can still be a
light in this dark world. Youcould be a light in your church.
(21:11):
You could be a light to yourfamily members to let them know that,
Um, that even though it maytake you longer to do things. So
you may have walked a little slower, but you are still here and that
you are loved and you have apurpose. And so just ask God and
pray. You know what is yourpurpose, even if it's if you're not
(21:34):
able to seek, you could praysilently in your church. I had the
opportunity to minister at a disability servicein Hampton, Virginia, a church that
has a disappility ministry, and nottoo many churches has that, and what
their ministry included with having a speakercome in, which is myself. And
(21:56):
then the young man on the organwas visually in pairs, which means he
was fine and so he could notsee, but he was playing the organ
and it was amazing. And thenthey had praise and worship dancers who were
who could something not here something Italk, but they were dancing to someone
(22:22):
signs that were doing sign language tothat for him. I mean, it
was just amazing to be at thatservice, to know that despite whatever you
are going through, God can useme, and He can use He needs
us. The church needs us seeus and me being out and trying to
(22:45):
do what God has called me todo. I always hope that it is
an encouragement to someone else who's fillydiscouraged, he's filling in despair, to
who is filling hopeless to note thatif I can, you know, just
let's wrap some strength every day toget up into stress one. So can
(23:06):
you? You know, do whatyou can do and God will help you
do the rest. Amen, Amen, amen um am I. One of
my last questions is I know youtalked about you have another book that you're
working on. Are there any otherprojects that you're working on that you want
to share? Um, that's theonly one right now on the other four,
(23:30):
but I am gonna, as youhave mentioned, start doing the workshop
and the second focus called it's calledstright forward and if it's stepping into oh
your divine destiny. I liked it. I liked that one. I like
it. UM, thank you forsharing. UM. Did you want to
(23:52):
add anything else? Before you tellthem how to connect with you, how
to buy your book, and howto connect with you even if you're online.
UM. I would just say toanyone who's listening, if you or
a person with a disability, orif you know someone who has a physical
(24:12):
or mental disability, just be encouragedto them, you know, let them
see the love of Christ in you, encourage them to go to church,
be active. It's however, muss, they're able and UM, okay,
so to thank you. God lovesyou. That's amazing man. And then
(24:37):
tell the audience how to connect withyou by your book and um, even
if you're on social media. Yes, ma'am. So my book title kid
is Stroke Forward, Life Beyond Disability. My Facebook page is stroke Forward.
It's Life beyond Disability. UM.The book can be teen on amazons and
(25:04):
on Amazon, as well as theUM the Epoch on Amazons UM and online.
Pair of staters are calmed. Allright, thank you, thank you,
thank you for joining us. I'mgonna pray us out. So I
pray that people that are listening,UM, that this will you know,
(25:25):
many will hear this, and manythat need to hear this will hear this.
And I'm get connected to you.So I'm gonna pray us out.
UM. So finally, thank youGod for this time. We thank you
for what you have called from thisetho to do. We pray God that
you would touch continue to bless her, bless her husband, bless our household,
(25:45):
and continue to bless her hands,whatever you um, the miracle that
you performed in her life. Letthe world see you, God, so
that they would put their hope inChrist. Lord. And so we thank
you, and we give you gloryand honor for what you continue to do
in her life. And we giveyou praise in Jesus's name. Amen,
(26:06):
Amen and Amen Amen. So again, thank you all for tuning in to
Hoping Christ with Denise here on KingdomInfluences broadcast. Have a phenomenal rest of your weed
Come on, let's lift up thename of Jesus Christ. There is none
other in heaven or on earth.Welcome to another episode of Hope in Christ
with Denise here on Kingdom Influencers Broadcast, where we place our hope and the
only hope there is Christ, OurLord. All right, Welcome, Welcome,
(00:29):
Welcome, Welcome back to Hoping Christwith Denise here on Kingdom and Florenceers
Broadcast. I am your host,Minister Denise, and I welcome you back.
Today we have another phenomenal author thatis going to be sharing what God
has given her hands to do.And before I bring her on, I'm
(00:49):
going to open us up with aword of prayer, Father God, in
the name of Jesus, what wethank you, Oh God, for this
opportunity once again to share, toshare the works of your hands that you're
doing in our lives. God.We pray O God and missus Ethel the
message that she has those that arelistening, those were here, the replay
(01:14):
that they would be prompted to beginto moving your purpose and do your will.
God Lord, We thank you aGod for what you are going to
say and what you are already doingin our lives and what you're yet to
do. In Jesus name, wethank you, Amen, Amen and amen.
So again, thank you, thankyou, thank you for tuning in
(01:36):
to Hoping Christ with Denise here ourteendom influences broadcast. And again I'm your
host's minister, Denisa, and hereat Hoping Christ. We are healthy,
we are overcomers, we have purpose, and we maintain an eternal perspective because
Christ Jesus is our Lord. Sowe're going to jump right Inanna, and
(01:56):
we have a phenomenal Christian author who'sgoing to share with us today, and
she's gonna share with us about herbook and and all the other things that
God has her doing. And withoutfurther ado, we're gonna have miss Ethel
Ghanna introduced herself and tell us alittle bit more about herself. Good evening,
and thank you, minister to Nisefor allowing me this opportunity to be
(02:22):
on hope in Christ, to honorand a privilege. And I'm very thankful.
God bless you, and God blessyou, and God bless your ministry
what you were doing providing this opportunity. My name is Ethel Paris Skater and
the name of my book is Strokesforward life beyond disability. And I am
(02:46):
a native of Pitts for Pennsylvania.However, my family and I relocated to
Richard, Virginia in two thousand andseven. We felt hoped to continue our
ministry work. My husband is theministry as well past the present canner at
UM a church here in Richmond,and so we felt called him in Richmond.
(03:07):
I had gotten a job at achurch here in Richmond, Virginia,
and twenty one days after being here, on April twenty first, I had
a stroke. And so I amtruly thankful to be alive today, and
you know, just to be here, Um, it was a life shattering
and you know, um, youtalk about hope and destiny, and so
(03:32):
the spirture that really had to Ihad to keep in my heart was Jeremiah
twenty eleven. UM. And knowthat God had plans for me. I
know that the plans I have foryou declares the Lord plans for you to
prosper, not to harm you,plans to give you helpe in a future.
(03:52):
And all that seems so far away, and the hallward was gonna recover
and even continue in ministry after thishappened. But we know that God is
faithful and if he calls you todo something, he is going to make
a way for you to do it. And so, you know, I
worked for a while and as Istarted to try to understand how I could
(04:17):
continue in ministry, and you know, I fell into despair. You know,
I thought it. I didn't wantto do anything. You know,
the stroke did affect the right kidof my body and so I had to
do therapy to learn how to walkand to even go back to work.
(04:38):
But magica bad to work and youknow, continue to wonder, you know,
how am I supposed to continue inministry after surviving this stroke. And
one that I was playing watching umPursuing television and a woman came on who
was in a wheelchair, Jeremy EricSintana, araplegic, who who who?
(05:05):
She had a divney accident and thisis how she ended up in the wheel
chair. And she was on theshow interviewing and another young man who was
had a disability. He was bornwith no arms emblade. So Joanie Ersontado
was interviewing a gentleman by the nameof vic Nick Vochek, and they were
(05:27):
talking about all the ministry things thatthey were doing. Sending wheelchairs for Africa.
He was going around the world talkingto young people about bullying and just
being encouragement. She was doing workshopsin California, and I had the opportunity
to eventually go to one of herworkshops in California. But she was talking
(05:51):
about the thing that was on myheart, disability ministry. And so after
seeing those two people on television talkabout ministry, one in the world chairs,
one who hit no legs and letme the use of his arms.
I think he had no arms andno use of to places. I feel
(06:11):
like, God, you know,let me not follow this pit of despair.
And I got myself up and decidedto continue in ministry, to do
what God has called me to do. Hey man and and um, So
one of the questions that came tohim, and I'm not sure is um
you answered it, but tell usabout the length of time and maybe some
(06:40):
of your emotions that you fell forthe people that are you know, that
are listening. That's an excellent question, because um it was not an overnight
process. I had to stroke himtwo thousand and seven. So the first
thing I had to do was tobe even get back in the car and
(07:00):
drive and my highschool thank him somuch because he said, up, well,
you're gonna have to get in thecar and you're gonna have to drive
because we're here in Richmond alone ifwe don't have family here, and I
didn't think I would be able todrive, but took Bab these steps for
me to drive during the research.I just so after after after a year,
(07:24):
the job that I came here for, they made me off and so
yeah, I felt too, alittle bit of depression and question glad again.
But I decided, well, Icame here to go back from school.
I wanted to receive my doctorate,and I did go back from school,
got accepted to Virginia Union send towhat Practice School of Theology, and
(07:44):
I received my doctorate degree in ministryin two thousand and sixteen. But during
that time I had the opportunity totravel to California to visit Jenny Tanna Erickson's
a minute in California. Beautiful thingsthat she's doing out there, and she's
teaching people how to do disagoliting ministryand say that was the focus of my
(08:09):
dissertation on educating because I've sell theneeds for churches, the need for churches
to be educated on how to beinclusive and to utilize people with disabolities.
If you don't see it, ifchurches are don't have a sensibility, if
they're not reaching out because people withdisagolities. There are fifty four million people
(08:31):
in the United States with a disaboliand that is, like I said in
my dissertation and in myself, thatthat is a nation of people. That
is a lot of people who arenot being able to hear the gospel of
Jesus Christ, and people who arenot hearing words of hope, people who
(08:54):
are not seeing to discourage. Everyday I come across people either a person
with a disability or a family memberwho has a loved one at home,
you know, just not doing anything. They're just no motivation. And so
I wrote this book because I wantedpeople to to see that despite light affliction,
(09:20):
God has a purpose and a planfor each and every one of us.
So, no, it didn't happenall you know, it didn't happen
immediately. It's been sixteen years nowand I can remember I couldn't even talk
about having a discipulity or having astruck without breaking down in tears. Because
it is so hurtful trying to youknow, understand this new stuff that you
(09:46):
have and how to navigate just evengoing to the grocery store. You know,
everything you really have to think throughbecause you don't want to be um.
You know, people are so fuzzy, so unkind. You know,
you want to go shopping at timeswhere it's not too crowded. So you
really have to think through everything andit does take time or continue to do
(10:11):
therapy. I still do therapy eventoday, to continue to strengthen and believe
in God. You know, God, my head strikes, we are healed,
waiting for that manifestation. Um,you know, just working out,
continuing to watch my diet and continuingto be active. I was blessed to
(10:33):
be able to go back to workafter our and that was another thing too,
because I'd applied for jobs and I'ma social worker. I have my
master's in social work and that isthe profession I was doing in Pittspurgh before
we moved here, and Jess wasnot able to get a job and turn
(10:54):
up my dreads and made I gointo the interview and I felt that as
soon as I saw that I wasworking with the King. I didn't get
the job, and but there wasa company that did hear me coming help
comesant GRYTHM still working them there todaydoing counseling. So I've been there seven
eight years doing counting, working withchildren and adults, and I'm doing crisis
(11:20):
comesing working with commas. So it'sheads in the process. But you know,
just getting up every day, beingthankful, being grateful, and just
taking baby steps. That's what Iwould say to you. Take baby steps,
hey man, man, I meansuch a unique ministry and what God
(11:45):
is doing and how he took andI work all things together for the goods,
and so it's so such an inspirationto hear even though you know it
was very difficult because I remember mydad having a stroke as well in my
aunt, so I know I've seenhow it can change your life. So
(12:05):
my other question I have for youis, um, I know it was
very difficult to put it in writing, So how long did it actually take
you to say, Okay, Lord, I'm gonna put this in words.
Because as a writer, I know, Um, when God gave me the
vision to write one of my books, I just kept saying, nope,
(12:28):
nope, nope, nope, nope, nope, even though this is God's
saying, Okay, what did Isay? And I can't say I can't
write that because people gonna read it, Lord, So what do you mean
write it? So how long didit take you to just say, okay,
Lord, I surrender um and I'llgo ahead and do what you call
me to do. Right. It'sit's it's so interesting that you would ask
(12:52):
you that question because some people camefrom my dissertation, and it took me
a year after I graduated to Cityfor my dissertation, because you know,
writing things down. And then thefirst part of the board was all new
context that I needed to write,which is a little biographical, because I
(13:16):
felt that it was necessary for peopleand even for me to look back over
my life, Sudy, he hadto look back over and see how far
God had brought me to this pointnow sitting here being a stroke survivor and
the next part of my life.And so U yeah, And it's funny
(13:37):
too, because I had someone elseI had written it, put it together,
and the young man had an instrumentalencouraging So it was written for like
two years, and then the pandemickept and then I met my publisher and
so then I sent it to herto kind of get it. I mean
(13:58):
it took like three or four yearsyears for it to get into the final
state. So I've started another book, so that's going a little bit faster.
I started it last year and itshould have been to her, you
know, last time. I's gotto still working with it. So I'm
trying to do this one a littlebit quicker than the first one. But
(14:20):
it does take time. It doestake time, and you know, you
want to get that right information inthe book to be the couragement and to
be a blessing to those who willpick it up. And yet and still
you know, you're trying to impartthe truth, which is sometimes hard for
people to take. But and Iknow I found that to be uh in
(14:45):
my case with the first book,because I'm writing about the church and the
things that we the church need todo to be more inclusive with people's disabilities
to utilize them and tom you know, be a s So it does take
wall a wall for being sleep patientsbe encouraged and keep writing on it,
(15:05):
you know, send some timelines foryourself. I had to do that,
and I'm doing that now so Iget this next book all the way done
and into her hands that we couldmove forward. But it was a challenge,
and so it was a good challengeand I'm happy that it was done.
And the next book we'll talk moreabout my steps in the process that
(15:31):
I went through and the things thatI've been doing to encourage myself to metivate
myself, trusting and helping the Lordto um, you know, continue to
be a blessing to others that Icome into contact with. Amen, Amen,
Um. I have another question,Um, what would you say your
(15:52):
plans are for your book overall?And the second part of that question is
have you considered hosting workshops with peoplewith disabilities or even churches, just to
have some real conversations and and youknow, get people thinking different about it.
(16:14):
Excellent, excellent question, because Ididn't add that in there as a
part of my dissertation and haven't goneinto California to visit juniors and Jolly Tarner
Ministry. That is what she wasdoing, disabilities ministry workshops. So it's
a part of my dissertation. That'swhat I did, a disability awareness ministry
(16:36):
workshop, and I started doing them. I was doing them every year actually
until the pandemics hit three years ago, and their workshops on and I would
invite the church members, community membersof people with disabilities, caregivers to come
(16:57):
and have different speakers talking about adifferent aspects how to help your church be
accessible, from the hand railings tothe bathrooms, to even the bulletins information
for families on how to you know, encourage your loved ones. And would
(17:21):
have people from the health in titnesscome and talk about exercising and diet,
nutrition and even mental health because alot of times we don't consider mental health
and we talk about disability, welook at the physical. But that's why
I continue to work so that Icould be an encouragement to not only people
(17:41):
with physical disabilities with this with mentalhealth issues. But thank you so much
for reminding me to mention that,because we were doing the workshops once a
year, and it's like God kindof nudge me the other day and said,
Okay, you know the pandemic isjust about it. You know,
Oh, are kind of and youknow, what are your plans going to
(18:03):
be for getting back out there anddoing these workshops? So yes, I
am considering starting back out. Ohthat's gonna be awesome, awesome, awesome.
So remind the listeners of the titleof your book, and if you
don't mind, if you would readan excerpt from it, thank you.
The title of the book is calledStroke Forward, Life Beyond Disability by ep
(18:30):
Gainer and to read an expert,I would read this old blurb that my
destiny seems uncertain until I realized thatI was not alone. There are stories
of how the least lifely person madea glorious comeback after a seemingly life seemingly
(18:52):
defeated them, and a chiefs aboveall expectations. There is something in all
of us that wants to know thatachievement is possible. Amen, Amen,
Amen, Um. I have justa couple of other questions. Um.
This one just popped up in myspirit. Um, when having gone through
(19:18):
what you've gone through. Um.And you know how one of the one
of my phrases for for what Ido in my podcasting and speaking as wholeness.
If you could speak to someone whohas a disability and they are discouraged
and they you know, the thingsthat they're going through, what would you
talk to them about? Um?That being whole? You know, even
(19:41):
though they're not necessarily physically, theydon't feel physically whole. But what would
you talk to them about as faras the word wholeness, because that just
popped in my spirit as you weretalking. So I would say to remember
that personal that you are loved byGod and you know Jesus that Jesus um
(20:04):
send his son Jesus din across youknow, for our sins and despite our
physical limitations or our physical appearance.Most importantly, you are loved. I
am loved and God loves us somuch that he made a great sacrifice for
(20:26):
us. And so it's hard.I know it's hard. And sometimes,
um my brother had made a statement, he said, you make it seem
easy. But I guess after therevelation is seeing Johnny Erikson, Tata and
Nick Nichak, two people, onein a wheelchair and one with a lot
(20:48):
of physical limitations. I was ashamedbecause you know, God has a plan
for each of us, as Isaid before, and He has a purpose
for you, and going through thishard time, we can still be a
light in this dark world. Youcould be a light in your church.
(21:11):
You could be a light to yourfamily members to let them know that,
Um, that even though it maytake you longer to do things. So
you may have walked a little slower, but you are still here and that
you are loved and you have apurpose. And so just ask God and
pray. You know what is yourpurpose, even if it's if you're not
(21:34):
able to seek, you could praysilently in your church. I had the
opportunity to minister at a disability servicein Hampton, Virginia, a church that
has a disappility ministry, and nottoo many churches has that, and what
their ministry included with having a speakercome in, which is myself. And
(21:56):
then the young man on the organwas visually in pairs, which means he
was fine and so he could notsee, but he was playing the organ
and it was amazing. And thenthey had praise and worship dancers who were
who could something not here something Italk, but they were dancing to someone
(22:22):
signs that were doing sign language tothat for him. I mean, it
was just amazing to be at thatservice, to know that despite whatever you
are going through, God can useme, and He can use He needs
us. The church needs us seeus and me being out and trying to
(22:45):
do what God has called me todo. I always hope that it is
an encouragement to someone else who's fillydiscouraged, he's filling in despair, to
who is filling hopeless to note thatif I can, you know, just
let's wrap some strength every day toget up into stress one. So can
(23:06):
you? You know, do whatyou can do and God will help you
do the rest. Amen, Amen, amen um am I. One of
my last questions is I know youtalked about you have another book that you're
working on. Are there any otherprojects that you're working on that you want
to share? Um, that's theonly one right now on the other four,
(23:30):
but I am gonna, as youhave mentioned, start doing the workshop
and the second focus called it's calledstright forward and if it's stepping into oh
your divine destiny. I liked it. I liked that one. I like
it. UM, thank you forsharing. UM. Did you want to
(23:52):
add anything else? Before you tellthem how to connect with you, how
to buy your book, and howto connect with you even if you're online.
UM. I would just say toanyone who's listening, if you or
a person with a disability, orif you know someone who has a physical
(24:12):
or mental disability, just be encouragedto them, you know, let them
see the love of Christ in you, encourage them to go to church,
be active. It's however, muss, they're able and UM, okay,
so to thank you. God lovesyou. That's amazing man. And then
(24:37):
tell the audience how to connect withyou by your book and um, even
if you're on social media. Yes, ma'am. So my book title kid
is Stroke Forward, Life Beyond Disability. My Facebook page is stroke Forward.
It's Life beyond Disability. UM.The book can be teen on amazons and
(25:04):
on Amazon, as well as theUM the Epoch on Amazons UM and online.
Pair of staters are calmed. Allright, thank you, thank you,
thank you for joining us. I'mgonna pray us out. So I
pray that people that are listening,UM, that this will you know,
(25:25):
many will hear this, and manythat need to hear this will hear this.
And I'm get connected to you.So I'm gonna pray us out.
UM. So finally, thank youGod for this time. We thank you
for what you have called from thisetho to do. We pray God that
you would touch continue to bless her, bless her husband, bless our household,
(25:45):
and continue to bless her hands,whatever you um, the miracle that
you performed in her life. Letthe world see you, God, so
that they would put their hope inChrist. Lord. And so we thank
you, and we give you gloryand honor for what you continue to do
in her life. And we giveyou praise in Jesus's name. Amen,
(26:06):
Amen and Amen Amen. So again, thank you all for tuning in to
Hoping Christ with Denise here on KingdomInfluences broadcast. Have a phenomenal rest of your weed
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