Adaptive Curriculum Writer Jill Miller has a passion to expand the horizons of individuals with disabilities. After her daughter Kim was born with multiple disabilities, Jill employed her training as an educator—including a BA in Elementary and Special Education and a Master’s equivalency as a Reading Specialist—to design teaching tools to effectively convey the gospel message to Kim and her friends. From her labor of love, an entire series of Bethesda interactive Bible studies were born and, most recently, a family devotional—Finding Jesus on Upside Down Days—was released.
Through the years, Jill has started two businesses aimed at employing individuals affected by disability. At a fundamental level, Jill believes that individuals with disabilities can thrive, learn God's Word, and know his amazing love for them. Jill is a mother of six, wife of Paul Miller, grandmother of many, and lives with Kim and Paul (not to mention two dogs, two sweet donkeys, and a few goats) on farm property in rural Pennsylvania.
Why Bethesda
Disabilities tend to isolate individuals and families, even within the church of Jesus Christ. It should not be so. Named after the pool where people affected by disability gathered in Jerusalem of Jesus’ day, the Bethesda Bible study series offers a place where people affected by disabilities—and those not so affected, in the traditional sense—can gather together, jump into God’s word, and find healing and life.
"When our church wanted to establish a special needs ministry, Felicia Grandinette and her team came alongside and guided us through the process. Her years of expertise in special needs ministry was evident as she listened to our specific vision and immediate needs. From there, we were able to develop a plan for implementing a ministry and curriculum tailored to our church family. Once we had our ministry team in place, the Bethesda team offered us all a highly informative morning of training about ministering to people with various special needs."
- Gina Shoemaker, Immanuel Leidy's Church, Souderton, PA
"My students continue to blossom with the Bethesda materials. I thought I had been ‘getting through’ to them, but this curriculum ‘gets through’ at a whole different level. The repetition is Christ-like and awesome. The points are so rich. I am fed as I teach."
- Tim Cummings, Ministry Leader, Glassboro, NJ
"Bethesda has developed an excellent curriculum for students with intellectual disabilities. Through visuals, video and an interactive format, this curriculum uses Bible stories to teach students a three step way to love others like Jesus loves. The lessons plans are well designed and easy for volunteer teachers to use. The Kim’s World section provides teachers with insight and application to their students with intellectual disabilities, particularly autism. I look forward to using it in our ministry.”
- Dawn Clark, Director of Disability Ministries, College Church, Wheaton, IL