50 Words of wisdom gained from years of Disability Ministry adventures The disability community is the largest unreached people group in the world The disability community is the only mission field that exists in every community You do not have to travel over an ocean to “go on mission” reaching the disability community for Christ […]
50 Words of wisdom gained from years of Disability Ministry adventures
The disability community is the largest unreached people group in the world
The disability community is the only mission field that exists in every community
You do not have to travel over an ocean to “go on mission” reaching the disability community for Christ
Disability does not discriminate
The disability community has open enrollment, you could join at any time
Disability Ministry is not a lone ranger ministry. Build a team. Jesus the only person in human history that did not need a team-built one.
Start with who you have
The people who love you already will forgive you when you make mistakes because you will make mistakes
See a need meet a need
Disability Ministry is not a cookie-cutter ministry
Every Disability Ministry will look a little different because the makeup of every church and community is different
Disability Ministry is more like a crockpot than a microwave
Always assume competence
Inability to speak does not equal an inability to understand
We are more alike than different
Simply treat everyone as if they were your friend
All behavior is communication
Ask the leaders in your disability community, “How can we be a blessing no strings attached?” and actually mean it
God is not silent on the topic of disability neither should churches be
Disability is not a punishment from God
Disability is not a mistake
All people were created on purpose for a purpose
When you meet one person with a disability you have met one person. Everyone is different.
Disabled does not equal disqualified
Disabled does not equal disposable
There are no asterisks in the Bible for people with IQ scores under 70
You can’t have true diversity without disability
Did you know that Jesus himself commanded the church leadership of his day to reach their disability community with a sense of urgency?
Disability Ministry is not an elective, it is a mandate
Did you know that God tells us plainly that the lack of people with disabilities in your church makes you incomplete?
The disability community needs the church, but more importantly, the church needs the disability community
If you are programming your Disability Ministry “to” and “for” people with disabilities, you are doing it wrong
Disability Ministry done right is done “with” and “by” people with disabilities
Disability Ministry should never be an “us” and “them” thing, rather it should always be a “we” conversation
The ministry of presence, or being present, is a real thing
Inclusion is not the end goal it simply means people are in the same room together. The end goal is belonging. It means you are missed when you are not in the room.
The lid of every Disability Ministry is equal to the buy-in of the church leadership
You never get a second chance at a first impression so don’t let your building communicate something that does line up with your heart
When you grow large you have to think small, or you will lose your personal touch
Some of the greatest untapped volunteers in every church are teens and people with disabilities
Disability Ministry is not just a Children’s Ministry thing
Disability Ministry is not just for women
Disability Ministry is a cradle to grave ministry
The Field of Dreams “If you build it they will come” ministry model does not work Disability Ministry
Trust takes time and it can only be earned when you are willing to leave the office and spend consistent time in the community
Disability Ministry is not complicated. Try starting with “hello”.
Expect the unexpected
Two mandatory “F” words for Disability Ministry are “fun” and “flexibility”
Fixing physical accessibility issues is easy it is the attitudinal issues that is hard work
Your flock is your flock no matter where they are
Consider taking attendance in reverse, rather than identifying who is present determine who is not there
Make sure to spend equal time reaching those who are not present as you do preparing for those who are
Consider universal design when creating anything for your ministry
Think of stairs versus a ramp. Everyone can use a ramp but not everyone can use stairs. What is it that meets everyone’s needs?
Every church can do something, no matter the size of the church
It is Ryan's passion to equip and empower churches, organizations, and individuals to reach their disability communities for Jesus. Ryan comes to Ability Ministry with 15+ years of ministry experience. He previously worked at First Christian Church in Canton, Ohio as their full-time Disability Pastor. He also worked as a Church Consultant for Key Ministry. Micah 6:8 and Proverbs 31:8 best describe Ryan's commitment to life and ministry.
Because Jesus' table is accessible for everyone...
We desire to see the Church make room for all people affected by disability. To fully participate. To fully partner. To fully lead.
We exist to equip and empower the 25% of the population with a disability, their families, and their churches to become who God has created them to be.
