About Me
Hi! I am Brooke Gulvas, founder of JAM Agency and creator of the Jesus Accepts Me Program.
Everyone has a story to tell, and I would love to take a moment to share mine. I am a daughter, mother, educator, and businesswoman. I received my Bachelor's in Education, took some time to teach, and discovered a passion for people. During this time, I was blessed with two boys.
My second son shocked us all. He was born needing an amputation of his lower leg, requiring the use of a prosthetic. He was also diagnosed with non-verbal autism. I knew that finding a solid church community would be necessary to navigate the tough times.
Growing up a preacher's kid, I knew the value of a church family. I understood how important it is to surround yourself with people of faith, especially in the darkest moments. And that's exactly what my little family needed: a church home. We needed a community that would support us, understand us, and accept us for who we are.
We spent time trying out churches, working to find one that felt like home, quickly discovering it was going to be hard. We had been told we weren't welcome in some places due to my son's inability to control his tone; he lets out little squeals when he is happy or excited. Once we had my child's bag packed and tossed in my direction by someone in the congregation, stating that we needed to leave. One pastor said to us that my son was distracting him. My son was always the "problem" to others wherever we went.
In desperation, I started emailing the pastors in our neighborhood, asking them to meet with us and share our story and troubles. One pastor finally replied, met with us, and sat down with a team to determine how they can help us feel welcomed. They let me guide them on how to care for my son, and together we devised a solution that allows us all to participate in worship on Sundays. It was a beautiful thing.
Through conversation with other families in the community of people with disabilities, I discovered this was a common occurrence. This journey led me to prayer, and through prayer and studying God's word, he placed it on my heart to develop the Jesus Accepts Me Program. Using my educational background and my experience as a mother who has faced the pain of being turned away, I created the Jesus Accepts Me Program to raise awareness and inspire change.
Everyone deserves a place in the church family. To be cast out because someone is different is the exact opposite of what God calls us to do. My prayer for this program is that it will educate others about our community, allowing them to learn, grow, and accept us, understanding that we have a lot to offer them as well. I also pray that we will grow in our faith together as a family. We invite you to explore the rest of our site to learn more about how we're making a difference.