Shaping a Ministry that Considers every Learners needs
Inclusivity in discipleship is not just a noble goal—it's a practical approach that enriches the spiritual growth of every individual. Let’s explore the transformative potential of tailoring teaching methods within ministries to accommodate the diverse ways people learn. By highlighting the use of a versatile lesson or Bible plan template that embraces multisensory techniques, to emphasize the importance of creating educational experiences that resonate with each participant, irrespective of their learning style or abilities.
A pivotal video that I came across almost a year ago entitled, Inclusion Makes the World Move Vibrant impacted me in such a way that I use it when I train churches. In the video, a boy and his mom enter into a museum and the mom is likely blind. She is excited to share this experience with her son but her son just sees the barriers of what is ahead in this experience. She encourages him and he walks up to the first painting and goes into a dramatic explanation of what he sees. By the time the video ends, there is a crowd surrounding the boy and cheering him on. They even ask that he explain more paintings. The video points out that anything he did to bring this experience to life for his mom only benefitted every other person and actually enhanced their experience to the point that they didn’t want it to stop. This story beautifully illustrates how practices initially designed for those with disabilities can significantly enhance the learning experience for a broader audience. It exemplifies the core message: inclusivity not only benefits individuals with disabilities but also adds to the collective vibrancy of the community.
Educators and volunteers tend to teach in the same manner they prefer to learn. We all learn in different ways, visually, musically, by movement, and by touch. However, we tend to inadvertently overlook the needs of others with different learning preferences and teach to our preference. Volunteers can take a learning styles quiz, we can bring to light the innate biases in teaching, and challenge volunteers to expand their approach to lesson planning. I typically share a lesson plan template that pastors, leaders, and volunteers can use to adapt the lesson for all learners. The lesson plan breaks the lesson down into a couple of categories: Big Idea, Scripture Focus, a Multi-sensory approach, Life Application, and Prayer. The lesson plan template she introduces is simple yet powerful, guiding educators to dissect curriculum content and present it through visual, kinesthetic, and auditory methods that appeal to all five senses.
It is a simple strategy, that highlights the possibilities of a multi-sensory approach that causes us to reassess and redesign the methods of teaching to be more inclusive. Striving for perfection is not the goal—rather, it's about the ongoing commitment to creating accessible and enriching practices that allow every individual to fully participate and contribute to the learning environment.
By fostering an environment where everyone is truly indispensable, we open the doors to a community where fellowship, learning, and spiritual growth are experienced collectively. It’s just a reminder that the pursuit of inclusive education in faith-based settings is not just about accommodating differences—it's about celebrating them and recognizing the unique value they bring to our collective spiritual journey.
