Non-Profit Spotlight- Mark 2 Ministries

By: Angela Arlington

meet Aaron Scheffler

History: Mark 2 Ministries was formed in 1986 by Steve Boles. Steve was studying to obtain a deaf education degree from Ball State University. He noticed that when he was hanging around with his friends who were deaf, his church friends weren’t around and vice versa. He decided that he needed to do something to help merge his two worlds. Mark 2 was then birthed to help the church create environments where the special needs community would be welcomed and integrated into the life of the church. “We’ve helped 100s of churches throughout the Eastern U.S., Europe, and Latin America since our inception in 1986. I have personally helped close to 50 congregations since coming on staff in 2010. The need is great! People want to connect with others where they can be themselves. People want authentic relationships. People need Jesus. We help provide all of these for our families and our local church bodies,” Aaron Scheffler, the Executive Director for Mark 2 Ministries, shares.

Aaron specializes in solution-focused Biblical counseling, life and relationship coaching for individuals, couples, and families, as well as consulting and training church leaders. He has been an ordained minister since 2011 most recently serving as the Family Pastor at a church in Central Indiana. Aaron describes himself as, first and foremost, a servant of the Lord Jesus. He is also a husband to Debra and a father to Jeremiah and Eli. He loves serving at his local church, dating his wife, and playing with his boys in his free time.

Mark 2 Ministries 4 Key Initiatives:

1. Coaching churches and their leaders through intentional mentoring and training to launch and support disability ministries. They also coach families in ways to strengthen and grow their relationships.

2. Consulting with churches on accessibility and programming for those with disabilities.

3. Collaborating with churches through championing the Disability Ministry Connection. The DMC meets quarterly to provide training, resources, and encouragement to anyone involved in disability ministry at their local church.

4. Counseling individuals, couples, and families through life’s challenges by using Biblical principles to highlight the desired path.

About:

“Due to COVID, we haven’t conducted a training session since late 2019. We’re still waiting for churches to re-open and welcome

new ministries like ours. We pray it happens soon. This inability to work with churches in the present environment is what led us to launch our counseling division on October 1, 2021. This new division allows us to go directly to families within the special needs community without needing “permission” from a local church. This new division conducts Biblical-based counseling sessions for individuals, couples, families, and groups in our office in Fishers. Needspecific support groups are a part of this offering as well. We have also just signed an agreement with Right Now Media to provide access to more than 20,000 Bible study videos, podcasts, and other content for our families,” Aaron explains.

Mark 2 Ministries works with church staff and volunteers behind the scenes. Aaron states, “We equip churches to love people who are different from the typical. One of the most fun things we teach churches to do is to throw a respite party. Kids and/or adults with various needs would come to a church for 3-4 hours to have fun while the parents/caregivers get a break to do whatever they want. It’s an awesome

time! We play games, sing songs/karaoke, watch movies, eat dinner... whatever it takes to have fun. “Disability” is left at the door, and fun takes over! It’s an awesome time!”

There are no testimonials to share from families, as all of the counseling work is private and confidential. Aaron shares, “If there are people who desire to see a ministry geared toward families within the special needs community at their church, are seeking Biblical counseling, want to start or get plugged into a support group and/or Bible study, they can reach out to me for info.”

Supporting Mark 2 Ministries:

1. Tell someone you know about what we do! 2. Reach out to your local church to see if they would like to start this type of ministry. 3. Go to www.mark2ministries.org to donate.

Offering free or for-donation Biblical Counseling and Relationship Coaching for families within the Special Needs Community.

Coaching - Consulting - Collaborating

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