FEATURE

Why the Summit Matters

In this episode, host David Nakhla asks seasoned deacons Ray Pellerin from Merrimack Valley OPC in North Andover, Massachusetts, and Len Richards from New Life OPC in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, to reflect on their experience and excitement about the National Diaconal Summits. Each has attended multiple summits since their inception in 2010. Listen as they share some of their favorite moments, and enjoy a few clips from past talks and the ever-popular group singing.

If you are an officer in the OPC, we encourage you to consider this once-every-four-years event—and to bring your whole diaconate with you. Register today at opccdm.org/nds-registration.

You can listen to this episode here.

Walking Alongside Special Needs Families

In this episode, host Adrian Crum is joined by Mike and Naomi Schout, whose perspective on special needs was shaped by Mike’s brother, Stephen, who lived with an uncontrolled seizure disorder; Eddie and Hillary Mercado, whose eleven-year-old son Calvin is non-speaking autistic; and Nicki Gotch, whose son is on the autism spectrum and whose experience led her to serve as a teacher in the “Wonderfully Made” Sunday school class at Harvest OPC in Wyoming, Michigan.

Together, they discuss how deacons and congregants can provide thoughtful, practical care for families with special needs, and why every person, regardless of ability, is a valued image-bearer of God and an essential member of the church. The conversation explores how churches can move from awareness to intentional, actionable support, recognizing the often unseen burdens these families carry and how the church can help lighten them.

They also reflect on the importance of building lasting, meaningful community beyond childhood programs, identifying and removing barriers to participation in worship, and creating opportunities not only to serve these families, but to equip them to serve within the life of the church.

You can listen to this episode here.

This episode pairs with the April 2026 issue of New Horizons, featuring the article “Special Needs Families in the Life of Christ’s Church” by Rev. Adrian Crum. Be sure to check it out.