Did you know that only about 15-20 percent of evangelical churches have any form of disability ministry? Or that the disability community is one of the most under-reached people groups in the world? Often it is not a lack of faith that keeps individuals with disabilities and their families away. It is that there are often barriers that get in the way of church attendance. These barriers might be physical (no ramp or no elevator) or attitudinal (they are unwelcome).

Praise God that the Church is seeing this information and taking action! Just this year there were resolutions made at the Southern Baptist Convention that will see more resources and support available to churches who are serving families impacted by disability. 

Here at Council Road, we have a long history of seeing needs and doing what we can to meet those needs. In my 17 years as a Council Road member, I have seen our church grow and support families in some amazing ways. About 8 years ago, we opened our sensory room to support children who struggle with loud noises and being around too many people. Since that time, we have grown to offer one-on-one buddies to help children and students stay in class with their peers, we have expanded our sensory room to include more support items, and we have added a special needs connection class where leaders teach the Gospel to students with special needs in a way that they can understand and respond. 

We have seen our children and students grow in their faith and respond to the Gospel because of the willingness of teachers to teach in the way that their students learn. We are seeing individuals with special needs light up when they come to church because they know that they belong here. We have been able to give some of our special needs students the opportunity to serve and connect with their peers through service. We see in Genesis 1:26 that we are all made in the image of God. We know that since God made each of us, He wants to be reconciled to us through His son, Jesus. Having a disability doesn’t exclude a person from that. Through the disability ministry, we have seen students hear the Gospel and respond to it in their own unique ways. God is moving in the lives of our brothers and sisters with disabilities!

I want to encourage you to look around our church when you come on Sunday. Maybe you have seen a family impacted by disability. Go ahead and say hi to them. Introduce yourself and find out more about their family. Sometimes it can be tempting to shy away because we are afraid we will say the wrong thing. Be brave. Be bold. Be willing to make a mistake and then correct it. Then, after you have made your new friends, find out how you can help support them at church. It is very hard for families dealing with disabilities to get to church. Ask how you can help. Or, serve as a buddy. This is an opportunity to work one-on-one with a child and help make sure they know that church is a safe place for them to be while they learn about Jesus. We will train you. You don’t have to be good with kids or have a lot of practice. Kids can tell when people are happy to be with them. Jesus invited the children to come to Him and be blessed. We are inviting you to come work with the children. You will be blessed when you do. 

• Kara Kilman
  Disability Inclusion Director at Council Road