Every Christmas season, we return to the same stories. We call them nostalgic. Comforting. Safe. But if we’re paying attention, they’re anything but. Again and again, Christmas stories center on the outsider—the one pushed to the margins, misunderstood, or dismissed as the problem. And not as a side character. As the turning point. That’s not […]
When most people think of A Christmas Carol, they remember Ebenezer Scrooge, the ghosts, the lessons learned, and the redemption arc. But tucked quietly within Dickens’ classic is one of the most powerful—and often misunderstood—images of disability in all of Christmas literature: Tiny Tim. Crippled, frail, and walking with a crutch, Tim has what we […]
What the Shepherds Teach Us About Disability and Christmas On the night Jesus was born, heaven didn’t make the announcement the way anyone expected. There was no royal trumpet in Jerusalem.No proclamation in Rome.No elite audience, no powerful leaders, no religious giants gathered for a divine reveal. Instead, the announcement that would change all of […]
Every Christmas, we revisit the nativity story, and over time, it becomes wrapped in soft edges and warm sentiment. The manger scene in our minds looks peaceful, clean, candlelit, and organized. Everything is just as it should be. But the first Christmas wasn’t like that at all. The manger wasn’t accessible. It wasn’t clean.It wasn’t […]
If you’ve ever watched Stranger Things, you know about the Upside Down—an eerie, distorted version of the real world. Everything looks almost familiar, but it’s twisted, dark, and wrong. It’s a place where truth is inverted and life is threatened instead of cherished. Sometimes the world’s view of disability feels a lot like that. In […]
At Ability Ministry, we strive to help churches create places of true belonging for people of all abilities where they can encounter the great love of God. Over the years, we’ve equipped ministries with curriculum, training, and resources—but we sensed something important was missing. Worship Worship is one of the most powerful ways people connect […]
Kids with IDD don’t stay kids forever—churches must grow with them, honoring them as adults with real needs, gifts, and purpose. No, they can’t stay in Children’s Ministry or Student Ministry forever. You must treat adults like adults and move towards integration and service. Ministry Models Shift from Programming to Belonging Adults with IDD are […]
Do you ever feel like there is a Starbucks or a McDonalds on every corner of town? There may be a reason for that. Here are a few statistics to think about. Now compare that to the number of counties there are in the United States. That number is 3,144. While the distribution of Starbucks […]
From Barriers to BelongingBy Dr. Vickie BylerPublished by CSRM (Christian Sports Recreation Ministries) & Overwhelming Victory Press In From Barriers to Belonging, Dr. Vickie Byler challenges churches to move beyond accessibility and into authentic community. With a deep theological foundation and practical strategies, this book equips Sports, Recreation, and Fitness Ministries to reach, include, and […]
There’s a common, dangerous misunderstanding that circulates in conversations around intellectual and developmental disabilities: that some people, especially those with an IQ below 70, are somehow exempt from needing—or being able to understand—the Gospel. But here’s the truth: The Gospel is for everyone. Period. Full stop. No exceptions. No asterisks. The Ground Is Level at […]
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.
