All Are Welcome!

Our Perspective of Disability.

1. We believe that EVERY human being is created with purpose, ability, and value. Therefore, everyone should be treated with value, dignity and love.
2. We believe that no one functions as well as we were intended to function in any area of our lives (including mind, body, emotions, relationships, and spirituality). Therefore we all need to be restored.
3. We believe that we should prioritize our efforts in serving people by focusing on those who evidence the greatest need for restoration – especially those affected by disabilities.
4. We believe that there is help for all people who need any aspects of their lives restored.
5. We believe that in an ideal community, the various parts make up one body and that all parts should have concern for each other.
6. We believe that in the ideal community everyone is seen as having the potential to enrich the lives of others.
   

General Overview

Lives Restored, Inc is a faith-based, non-profit, funded solely by those who care about people affected by disability. Working through community organizations, we strive to provide foundational services such as: respite, housing, employment, transportation, community, friendship, and training. We are also working to enrich the community's social networks by helping them to be more understanding, proactive, accessible and relevant to those who Jesus said should be the priority - "When you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind" (Luke 14:13). We are working to raise the quality of life for individuals affected by disability in the name of Jesus Christ by helping them pursue their greatest needs and by helping community organizations to be more understanding, proactive, accessible and relevant.

Our Services and Offerings.

The following is a list of services and offerings available to those we serve:

1. Respite and Retreat Services:
   • Family Retreats: Retreats were held in 24 locations throughout the US during the summer of 2010. This summer one of these retreats will be in Western Pennsylvania. Come join us August 1-5, 2011.
   • Discovery Camp: The camp consists of two one-week camps for individuals with a primary diagnosis of MH/MR. Camps are held each summer in July. In support of Jumonville Camp and Conference Center we are seeking individuals who would be counselors for two weeks during the summer.
   • Wounded Warrior Camp: In association with Joni and Friends International. Held at two locations in the US throughout the year.
   • Respite Saturday: In association with various churches throughout Western Pennsylvania.
     
2. Individual Assistance Services:
• Transition Assistance: We are willing to work with individuals to help them transition into more independent living situations. We have helped people: develop greater life-skills; connect to an accessible church; procure handicapped accessible vehicles/transportation; find appropriate housing and find appropriate employment.
• Job Assistance: We work with individuals to help them find or connect them with resources so they can develop work skills in order to find appropriate employment. We are refurbishing a home in Duquesne, a suburb of Pittsburgh, PA. This work is being done by individuals affected by disability where possible. In the process of refurbishing this house, individuals can try out their own construction abilities.
• Wheelchairs Restored: We provide medical assistance devices to those who have a need.
• Wheels for the World: In association with Joni and Friends International. We recycle, restore in prisons and then ship them in order to meet the needs of people around the world. This wheelchair distribution is done through local churches who share the gospel with each individual who receives a wheelchair.
  
3. Spiritual Enrichment Activities:
• A Restoration Church: A Restoration Church is a new church starting the South Hills of Pittsburgh with a heart for individuals and families affected by disability. This church is fully accessible and welcoming without regard for an individual's way of being. It is our goal to start other churches with a similar vision.
• Assistance to existing churches: We are working with a number of churches to improve their help, hope and love to those affected by disability. We provide expertise, encouragement and opportunities to increase a faith community’s assistance to those affected by disability.
  
4. Educational Services:
• Through the Roof Conference: In association with Joni and Friends International, this conference offers a keynote address and varied breakout sessions in a half-day or full-day training conference.
• Emergency Preparedness For Those Affected by Disability: We are certified by the state of Pennsylvania to provide training to those affected by disability on emergency preparedness training.
• Individual Seminar Offerings: 
1. Disability Sensitivity; 
2. Ministry With Those In Our Church and Community Who Are Affected by Disability; 
3. Biblical Foundations of Christian Ministry to Families Affected by Disability; 
4. Theological Foundations of The Restoration of All Things; 
5. Community Connections – School District Case Study; 
6. Elevators Can Be Bad; and 
7. Addressing Pastoral Concerns About Inclusion
• Theological White Papers: The Restoration of All Things, Changing the Culture of Disability, Regaining a Moral Compass, The Ultimate Temptation, The Elephant In The Room.
• Devotional: Broken Needs Fixed
• Inspirational: Thanksgiving Restoration Stories, Family Retreat Memory Stories.
5. Community Support:
   
• Disability Support Groups: Peters Township Special Needs Network and Steel City Amputee Network; Spiritual Conversations; and Circle of Friends.
• Community Events: Wheelchair Collection with Goodwill Industries; Summer Ability Tournament and Fundraiser; Peters Township Community Day; Upper Saint Clair Community Day; South Hills Chamber of Commerce Golden Oldies.
• Peters Township School District: We are working to bring socialization opportunities to children with IEPs in the Peters Township School District.
• Special Olympics: Coaching and Involvement

We will not discriminate in providing services to people on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, gender, religion or sexual orientation

Foundational Convictions.

Our officers and baord members all affirm the following statement of Christian Faith:

1. We believe the Bible to be the inspired, only infallible, authoritative Word of God.
2. We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
3. We believe in the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, our only Messiah and redeemer. We believe in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious atonement through His death and shed blood on the cross, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.
4. We believe that regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential for the salvation of lost and sinful people. We believe that only by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit is the Christian enabled to live a Godly life.
5. We believe that only those who commit by faith to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior are given the free gift of eternal life, the forgiveness of sin, the righteousness of Christ, are justified, are being sanctified and will be glorified and fully restored at the restoration of all things.
6. We believe in the fellowship of all true believers in Christ who make up the family of God – the Church. We are committed to participate fully in the life of the Church of Jesus Christ.

Lives Restored exists:

Our Great Purpose:

To provide hope and help to individuals and families with special needs by connecting them to people, resources and services.

Our Compelling Philosophy:

All people without regard for ability or disability need dignity, value, purpose, spiritual enrichment and community life.

Our Goal:

To raise the visibility of Jesus Christ, through His Church, by assisting individuals affected by disability in their pursuit of greater dignity, value, purpose, spiritual enrichment and community life.

Our Unique Approach:

Lives Restored connects people affected by disability with the resources and services they need and helps them move from isolation to integrated, caring community. All people need dignity, value, purpose, spiritual enrichment and integrated community life. Families affected by disability have a greater challenge finding the people, resources and services they need. Lives Restored finds and connects people, resources and services to bridge the gap by:

1. Mobilizing volunteers to surround an individual and their family.
2. Supporting them as they sort through their issues and needs.
3. Utilizing existing services and providing additional services.
4. Encouraging collaborative solutions provided in the context of caring relationships.
5. Partnering with existing community organizations and resources to maximize what we have to offer individuals and families affected by disability.

Our Values:

Integrity, Accountability, Fiscal Responsibility, Hard Work, Service, Relationships, Partnerships, Excellence, Classic Christian Beliefs, Biblical Principles of Disability and Non-Discrimination of Those We Serve.