One Sunday morning, Payton, a 21 year-old young lady with non-verbal Autism, proclaimed, “I want to go to church.” Her mother was in disbelief as they had not attended a church for over ten years. Payton’s discomfort in crowds and change in routine made it exhausting for her as a single mom and challenging for the teacher at the churches they would visit. While Payton is now able to make transitions, read, and does not have behavioral issues, she did not know of a church in town that would be open to having them attend. Unfortunately, this is not an uncommon story.
Is everyone welcome in the church? Luke 14:13-14 states “But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” When looking around the congregation on Sunday morning or at a potluck dinner, do you see people in wheelchairs, with Down syndrome, Autism, or intellectual disabilities?
Read the entire article by Carol Brown: Equipping Congregations to Support Children, Adults, and Families with Disabilities
