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How Churches of Every Size Can Create Inclusive Ministry Spaces for People with Disabilities
An estimated one in 5 households has a child with a disability. Many of these families miss out on church due to a lack of physical or social accommodations. And while ministry leaders want to help, they often don’t know how to with limited space, budget, and trained volunteers. Churches must understand the challenges that disability families face so they can remove barriers to biblical fellowship.
Sandra Peoples, a disability ministry consultant and professor, has equipped hundreds of churches, large and small, to reach children and teens who have various cognitive disabilities, learning disabilities, physical disabilities, and behavioral and mental health diagnoses. Caring for disabled family members of her own, she understands what it takes to create a welcoming, inclusive space that supports children with a variety of diagnoses into adulthood. Through expert advice and practical examples, she shows ministry leaders how they can make their spaces—and the gospel—accessible to all.
Foreword
Author's Note about Terminology
Introduction
Chapter 1: Laying the Foundation: A Theology of Disability
Chapter 2: Who Is Missing? Do Our Pews Reflect Our Communities?
Chapter 3: Preparing for Accessibility: Programs, Places, and Policies
Chapter 4: Your Ministry Team: Everyone Has a Role in Accessibility
Chapter 5: Student Support: The Goal Is the Gospel
Chapter 6: Whole-Family Inclusion: Strengthening Marriages and Supporting Siblings
Chapter 7: Beyond Children’s Ministry: Inclusion for Every Age and Life Stage
Chapter 8: Growing Your Ministry: Marketing and Outreach Ideas
Conclusion
Acknowledgments
Discussion and Application Questions
General Index
Scripture Index
| Contributors | Sandra Peoples, Joni Eareckson Tada |
|---|---|
| ISBN | 9781433598180 |
| Format | Paperback |
| First published | August 2025 |
| Dimensions | 133mm x 203mm x 13mm |
| Weight | 0.23 kg |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Crossway |
Theologically grounded and deeply practical, Accessible Church will give clear direction to any church that desires to be welcoming and accessible to people with disabilities and their families. I’m grateful for Sandra Peoples’s advocacy on behalf of families like mine and creating ways for all people to experience God’s plans, purposes, and blessings through disability.
Sandra Peoples has provided a biblically grounded and clinically aware guide to disability ministry. As the dad of a young adult with autism, I was moved by the compassion and intentionality expressed in Accessible Church. As a church leader, I’m grateful for a resource that’s practical and scalable for congregations of different sizes and budgets. This will be my go-to recommendation for churches looking to start or mature a ministry to special-needs children, students, adults, and their families.
Few churches are equipped to welcome our brothers and sisters with disabilities, not because we don’t want to but because we don’t know how. Sandra Peoples wants to help churches be well prepared for the task. Her pioneering work is a gift to the church. If you are a pastor who desires to serve saints with disabilities, you and your staff need this book.
