About the Blog
The world has gone from an isolating perspective of people with disabilities to a celebration of disabilities. In years past, it is unlikely to have regular interaction with someone with a disability. Today, statistics show that almost 1 in 5 people are impacted by disability. Over 60 million Americans have a disability. Yet, over 80% of those people do not attend church.
Thankfully, we’ve come so far in our treatment of people with disabilities, but we’ve not fully arrived. In the almost 10 years I have been in disability ministry, the statistics changed from 90% to a little over 80% of people with disabilities not attending church. The world has taken significant, not perfect, but significant steps, like television shows, campaigns, and inclusion in our schools and sports.
The world looks like it’s doing a better job, and to some degree it is, but we’re nowhere near where we need to be. Especially the church. The over 80% of people with disabilities not attending church is unacceptable! It’s time for our churches to make big strides. The church must become the most welcoming, valuing, and inclusive place for individuals with disabilities and their families.
The future is bright because pastors, leaders, churches, and volunteers are stepping out and standing up to make sure all of the parts of the body of Christ are included in His church. Not enough, not perfectly, but we are seeing a shift, and the pastors and leaders recognize the need.
God created his people for fellowship. He created us to know Him and love Him through a relationship with Him. Beyond the ultimate goal of being in a relationship with God, the scriptures are endless regarding the benefits, promises, and commands of fellowshipping with one another. No one was meant to live alone. We were meant for community. So let’s keep the conversation going so that we can work together towards the goal of a fully accessible church. Physically accessible, socially accessible, and spiritually accessible. So that every person can have the opportunity to know Christ, grow in Him, and serve Him with the gifts He has given.
Need Resources?
Everyone wants a how-to, step-by-step instruction booklet. Parents want it for raising children. A handbook on teenagers would be fantastic! A written job description gives direction to a new employee. However, the fix of a quick read from the endless books, pamphlets, or descriptions that exist to inform us on the how-to of any topic will never outdo the entirety of the Bible. The scriptures should always be your first resource. But after that, I have some resources for you! Recently, I have written a book about my personal experience as a parent, titled “The Indispensable Kid” as well as a ministry how-to book, titled “Gospel Accessibility and Indispensable People: Disability Ministry, Foundations, Relationships, Programs, Strategies, and Co-laboring in Christ.” Click the link to order yours today!