Ministering With Autism (Stephen J Bedard)
What is it like to be a person with autism and to be a pastor of a church? That was a question that I was curious about until one day I found out that I had been one for fourteen years.
Ministering With Autism (Ron Sandison)
At eight years old I was diagnosed with autism. The educational specialists and doctors informed my parents that I would probably never read beyond a seventh grade level, attended college, or have a career. My mom was determined to prove the experts wrong by developing my unique gifts. As Proverbs 22:29 says, “Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve kings. He won't serve obscure men.” For me to develop my skills and be a minister I had to overcome five main autism quirks.
Sesame Street, Autism, and your Church! (video)
Thanks, Sesame Street for striving to "see amazing in all children," and helping to contextualize such an important biblical truth, that is, the value of embracing differences. As people of faith, may we be reminded that God sees amazing in all children as well as in all people. Further, may this be cause for the church to celebrate the different gifts of every person.
What is Disability Ministry?
Does disability ministry require its own staff person or volunteers? Does it require its own room and time to meet? As a parent of two children with autism, I would just assume that any church that we attended would provide ministry even if there were no other children with special needs. It would never enter my mind that ministry would have to wait until “critical mass.” I am not criticizing churches that have organized disability ministries that have specific events for large groups of people with special needs. I am just saying that is not the only form of disability ministry.
Engaging youth, fostering friendship: Koinonia Ministry
It is my hope and dream that by bringing the two groups together our kids will learn to see autism in a new light and have empathy for these kids struggling with enormous challenges. In this we, as a youth ministry, are living out the gospel of Jesus rather than just speaking about it.
The Church, Autism and Apologetics
How will you respond? Will you sit down with them and go over the ontological argument for God’s existence or the intricacies of the Trinity? Will you even try to explain issues related to the logical problem of evil? If not, do you have anything for them? ...But instead of just requiring a rational response, it requires a compassionate response.