Introduction

 

Conference Story And The Importance Of This Material

 

I’ll never forget the look on her face. I was attending a conference many years ago; the speaker was a well-known and brilliant individual with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). There was a time slot where people could ask some questions. Across the crowded room, a woman expectantly raised her hand. The speaker acknowledged her. “I have a daughter with autism. Do you have any advice on how we can introduce my daughter to God?” Without hesitating and with finality in her words, the speaker said, “God is too hard for people with autism to understand. Next question.” My eyes went immediately to this mom. Her face dropped, her coloring changed, and then the tears started to flow. I could see the devastation from many rows away. When the session was over, I tried to push my way past people to get to this mom – to reassure her that I have several friends with ASD who have a vibrant relationship with Jesus Christ. When I got to her seating section, she was gone. I looked for her in the women’s restroom, in the eating area, and in the remaining sessions to no avail.

 

This day of training many years ago and the face of this mother is permanently etched on my brain. In fact, it’s her face I see in every writing session for this book. On that day, I was unable to reach her.

 

Maybe you have been asking that question too. I hear it a lot from parents and leaders within church communities. How do I know my child with a disability is saved? How do I introduce my friend with a disability to Jesus Christ? How can my adult child grow in the faith? While I have the opportunity to speak on many topics across the country, the topic of accessible gospel and inclusive worship is the most treasured to me. It’s the reason for every other topic on my speaking list. Behavior management is important because it creates an environment where you best have the attention of those participating. Creating inclusive churches is important because, in addition to home, they often provide the setting where spiritual formation happens over an individual’s lifetime. Autism spectrum disorder, sensory processing disorder, understanding persons with an intellectual disability or AD/HD are also important topics because the information allows us to better select tools when interacting with a person with a specific disability area. Creating understanding and welcoming peers is another speaking topic because inclusive community provides places for everyone to grow one step closer to Jesus Christ – and each person is critical in that process to one another. And while I often travel with a suitcase filled with aprons that display pictures, recordable buttons that offer options for persons with no spoken words, gadgets for those who struggle with writing or reading, and seating options for those with attention concerns, these tools all feed the process of meeting Jesus and growing in Him.

 

If I had reached the mom on that day of the conference, I would have spoken with her about the process and methods I describe in this book. In lieu of that conversation, I offer this to you. May you experience God’s presence and clear direction as you walk through this material. Whether you are currently mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, sibling, Church school teacher, adult group leader, mentor, classroom assistant, pastor, or friend to the individual that brought you to this book, may you also enjoy relating as a brother or sister in Jesus Christ.

 

 

 

Thoughts About Spiritual Formation

My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth

 until Christ is formed in you. Galatians 4:19

 

I am not a theologian; I am a special education teacher. While I am a devoted follower of Jesus Christ, this book is about practical ideas, not theological understanding. And yet, as is true for most Christian authors, one must have a working knowledge of the topic from a biblical base before launching into ideas to try. Theologians such as Dallas Willard[1] and N.T. Wright[2] have produced some excellent books and articles on the topic of spiritual formation and growing in the disciplines of the faith. Some people might use the words faith formation to describe this process as well. In my quest for more information, I not only did some reading, but I also interviewed some pastors and theologians for a starting place in thinking about this topic before relating it specifically to persons with disabilities.

 

Pastor Rich Hamstra from First Christian Reformed Church in Grand Haven, Michigan offered three phrases that he believes capture the heart of spiritual formation.

 

“Meaningfully devoted” “Use of gifts in service” “Presentation of one’s witness”

 

To further add to these thoughts, Pastor Randy Bremmer from Trinity Reformed Church in Grand Haven, Michigan stated, “I prefer ‘Christian formation’ because ‘spiritual formation’ is too vague and could mean just about anything. It’s the process of recreating a unique representation of Christ in the life of the believer.”

 

It has been a huge joy in my life to be the daughter of a theologian. So, as with many questions, I decided to ask my dad. He was also professor emeritus of New Testament and Theology at Calvin Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan. As he reviewed the comments from Pastors Hamstra and Bremmer, Dr. Andrew J. Bandstra added, “I agree; however, we must emphasize the role of the Holy Spirit in the process as well.”

 

Dr. John Witvliet of the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship affirmed that direction with his comments. “Christian formation is the way the Holy Spirit shapes and molds us to become disciples of Jesus. We are privileged to participate in the Spirit’s work by ‘walking in step with the Spirit,’ praying in the Spirit, reading the Spirit-inspired Scripture, and obeying the gracious Spirit-inspired commands found in Scripture—including commands to worship God, hear the Word preached, celebrate the sacraments, pray together, share the good news, and express hospitality.”

 

Still on a search for a working definition, I noted that Zeeland Christian School (ZCS) put a statement on their website. I had a classroom at ZCS for 26 years, and I believe they offered a direction that weaves in the comments of those I read and those I interviewed. “We create an environment where students, through the work of the Holy Spirit, are encouraged to develop a personal faith in Jesus Christ so that God can use them to impact His world.”[3]

 

Using these thoughts, ideas, and readings as background, I hope to address the following question in this book: How can we set up an environment where persons with disabilities can connect with the gospel message and grow in relationship with Jesus Christ?

 

I find this question freeing and delightful. In fact, it’s important to “let ourselves off the hook” in some ways. Salvation is a gift from God. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8. You and I are not the ones who save; that is God’s work and His gift. I do believe, however, we are called to set up environments where we can make an introduction between the Lord of our lives and those we love and know. Those environments may take some creativity we have not yet imagined. How do we construct these places of introduction for persons with an intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, or other areas of disability?

 

It is also important, I believe, to offer environments where each one is able to grow in relationship with Jesus Christ. While the church we attend may be “handicap accessible,” how much energy and effort do we invest in making our worship services accessible? It’s not just about being able to get inside the church physically, it’s also about being able to have each one enter into that conversation with God. As we engage in prayer, praise, listening, learning, confessing, serving, and blessing, whether with family at home or our family at church, it’s an opportunity to grow in our relationship with Jesus Christ. How do we create those kinds of accessible conversations and activities for each one?

 

 If you are hungry for some very practical ideas in setting up those environments and introductions, may this book be a valuable resource for you to use.