Two Things Every Church Leader Needs to Know About People with Disabilities

When I was leading services for junior high students, I had one girl who would come to youth group, sit down, pick a spot on the wall, and stare at that point until she had to go. Questions directed to her got one-word responses at best. I encouraged other girls to reach out and engage her, and while they did their best, but she didn’t seem to want to talk much to them, either. After weeks of this, I gave up trying to engage her, and contented myself with the fact that she was not being disruptive or putting herself in any danger. I wasn’t even sure she understood what was going on around her, anyway.  

A few weeks went by and I got an unexpected voicemail from the girl’s mother, telling me how her daughter would not stop talking about her friends at church, what we’d been learning, and how excited she was to go back. In that moment tears filled my eyes, as I realized how narrow my perspective was. My perception of how she was feeling had very little to do with what was actually happening in her heart and mind. In an instant, I received a blessed correction that completely pierced my heart. God spoke to me in that moment and I understood my job was not to decide who God was or was not meeting. 

In that moment, God showed me two key things: 

1. The outward appearance does not always reflect an inward reality. 

I was so used to looking for outward indicators, I forgot, “man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV)

It is a hard habit to break because typically a smiling face, a dog wagging its tail, and a bird singing a song mean “happy.” But not everyone is typical and, sometimes, a smile not reaching the face does not mean that God is not reaching the heart.

2. God has not stopped seeking her, even if I have. 

If I joined God in what he was doing, I would continually pursue this student and encourage her peers to do the same. It means acknowledging and greeting her, even when she doesn’t make eye-contact or respond to my questions. To follow the Spirit means I would re-engage and recommit myself to walking as Jesus walked. If Jesus is walking in this girl’s direction, I should do the same. 

Beyond Our Church Walls, from Joni and Friends Irresistible Church Series puts it this way:

“Every single person on this earth needs the gospel. Just because a person is unable to respond verbally or fully articulate the gospel, we cannot doubt that the Holy Spirit is working in their heart. We do not have the privilege of understanding how the Spirit is at work in an individual’s life, we must simply share the gospel.”

In many ways, this perspective is freeing. Our role is not to pick and choose who we share the gospel with; we must simply share with those God brings into our path. And if God has called us to something, he will be faithful to equip us for the task. The question, therefore, is not, “With whom would you have me share the gospel?” but, “How do I share the gospel with those you bring me?” 

God is at work… and we get to join him in it. 

Written By—Ryan Faulk

Ryan Faulk works for Joni and Friends to equip churches across the country to evangelize and disciple people with disabilities. He is passionate about seeing churches reflect the heart of Christ for all people. He and his wife live in Southern California.