Church Street Church of the Nazarene in Carlsbad, New Mexico, is one of many churches making space for families and children with disabilities. Lead Pastor Ryan Nelson started a Wednesday night service at the church called Wonderfully Made that is interactive and geared toward families. 

“We’re inviting all families from our community to come, families of all abilities” Nelson said. “Our heart is that we can just do church together.”

The service, held every other month, includes a worship time Nelson likened to “camp” style worship. Following a devotional, there are activities that families can complete together that are centered around the evening’s theme. 

“It’s meant to be a time when we can have all these families come, we can see them, we can love them, we can encourage them, and we can just enjoy being in the presence of the Lord together, no matter our ability level,” Nelson said. “From a pastor’s perspective, it’s been life-giving to think outside the traditional box and to see Jesus at work as we do non-traditional things.”

Nelson is also the disability ministry coordinator for Nazarene Discipleship International. The position and ministry are funded by a grant from the Lilly Foundation to provide local Nazarene churches with resources and training for ministry to families with children with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

NDI has partnered with Wonderful Works Ministry to create the Adapted Discipleship Library, a website where churches, leaders, and families can find resources to better minister to children with disabilities. There are short training videos with simple and implementable information to put into practical use in ministry.
Other tools include social narratives, which are short stories to help leaders guide children in discussion when special events occur, such as communion, baptisms, etc. In addition, there are classroom tools and adapted Bible stories that include discussion guides for leaders.

While most of the Adapted Discipleship Library is aimed at resourcing the local church, Nelson has also started a small group program for families with disabilities.

“One thing we’re hearing so much of is that these families desire to have that community and want to be part of the church community,” Nelson said. “But it’s just so difficult sometimes to get out the door, to get to church, and do those things."

Nelson noted that churches may not be equipped to support those families, even if they can make it out of the house. One family who is participating in the group said, “It is uncommon to have found a group that has no judgment.”

Another family who attends the small group said “I’ve been wanting a group like this and haven’t been able to find one until now.”

Nelson said that while the group typically meets virtually, they have decided to meet together in person to share a Thanksgiving meal together.

Individuals with disabilities are the largest minority population in the United States. Still, they are invisible in data because disability is considered a negative medical outcome. According to Christian Council for Persons with Disabilities (2019), 80 percent of families who have a loved one with special needs are unchurched.

Nelson’s heart, and the heart of the Disability Ministry, is to reach families with disabilities who are often overlooked.

“We’ve missed this population, and we need to be better about reaching them,” Nelson said. “I think that’s really what our heart is, saying, ‘We see you, we love you, and we’re here for you.’”

To learn more about the Nazarene Disability Ministry, click here.