I was born with spina bifida, a spinal condition that can cause paralysis. I am paralyzed from the waist down and use a wheelchair. Yet I have not allowed my disability to keep me from pursuing God’s call on my life.

A licensed Assemblies of God minister, I am also an AG U.S. Missions missionary associate, serving with Special Touch Ministry, an outreach to people with disabilities.

I have ministered in churches through preaching, teaching and singing. I have written Bible studies and devotionals. I have served abroad on missions teams.

Yes, people often see my disability before they see my potential. When I go to the altar to serve as a prayer team worker, it is not uncommon for someone to assume I am requesting prayer for healing. (I believe in healing and have experienced it, but that does not mean I cannot serve effectively and contentedly as I am.)

In sharing these things, I am not asking for applause. I am asking for open-mindedness. I am requesting opportunities for people like me to use their gifts in your church.

The apostle Paul taught in 1 Corinthians 12 that the kingdom of God is like one body with many parts. And no part should be sidelined.

Paul wrote, “The eye can never say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you.’ The head can’t say to the feet, ‘I don’t need you.’ In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary” (verses 21–22, NLT).

That is just like God. He loves to showcase His strength through what some might consider weakness, uselessness — or even foolishness.

In the opening chapter of 1 Corinthians, Paul wrote:

Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things — and the things that are not — to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him (verses 26–29).

If God judged by human standards, how many of us would He pick for His team? God isn’t looking for the fastest, fittest, or even the smartest. He is looking for people who rely on His strength and wisdom, not their own, so that no one may boast.

Yet too many churches overlook the gifts of people with disabilities. I don’t believe this is intentional or malicious. It is easy to look at my wheelchair and see what I cannot do and the kinds of accommodations I may need. Learning what I can do, however, requires getting to know me.

Diversity in ministry communicates that everyone has a place
in God’s kingdom.

Disability ministry is not just about welcoming people with disabilities. It’s also about welcoming their gifts. You need to be intentional about ministering to people with disabilities, but you also need to be intentional about including the ministries of people with disabilities.

I am more than a person with a disability. I am a person with God-given gifts and talents I can use to bless the whole Church.

Thankfully, I have been given many opportunities to minister, but not every Christian with a disability has that chance. The Church misses out when it says to a member of the Body, “I don’t need you!”

Moses thought his speech issue would disqualify him from leadership. But God had a different perspective: “Go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say” (Exodus 4:12).

Where people see impediments, God sees possibilities. As the Bible repeatedly underscores, God’s plan doesn’t depend on human ability anyway. We depend on God as we abide in Christ and invite His Spirit to work in and through us.

Jesus put it this way: “If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

So instead of fixating on what people with disabilities can’t do, ask God to help you see them as He does. Look for the spiritual gifts of congregants with disabilities, and encourage them to use those gifts.

Romans 12:6–8 says, “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.”

Disability is not a disqualifier in this text, and it shouldn’t be a disqualifier in your church. If you are willing to think creatively, you might discover there are few things people with disabilities cannot do.

I have seen wheelchair users serving as ushers. I have seen individuals with cognitive disabilities working alongside assigned helpers as they greet guests at the doors.

Perhaps there are people with disabilities in your church who would love to sing in the choir, serve on the prayer team, work in the food pantry, teach a class, or even preach. They might just be waiting for an invitation.

There is no specific formula for helping those of us with disabilities find a place to minister. Just take the time to get to know us, see our potential, and provide space for us to use our gifts.

Diversity in ministry communicates that everyone has a place in God’s kingdom. Race, ethnicity and gender are certainly important aspects of this messaging, but I believe we need to go further and also include people with disabilities on our ministry teams.

When we are not using every person in the body of Christ, we are not sharing the whole gospel. We must not limit God.

This article appears in the Summer 2022 edition of Influence magazine.