Disability Ministry and Your Church with Sandra Peoples

"Have you ever read the Bible with disability in mind? If not, what do you think you might learn if you did?" Join us as we talk about that and so much more with disability ministry advocate and author, Sandra Peoples. Sandra is going to lead us through what she has learned helping churches start or strengthen disability ministries of their own. Find out why your church does not need to be afraid to get started, how the story of Moses and Aaron serves as a blueprint for buddy ministries, and why special needs families are a gift for every church. So, if you are ready for a little practical knowledge, some inspiration, and a whole new way of looking at the theology of disability, then you won't want to miss this interview.

Sandra Peoples (M. Div, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary) has been part of a special-needs family her entire life—she grew up with a sister with Down syndrome and has a son with level 3 autism. These relationships are the inspiration and motivation for her advocacy work. She is the author of three books, including, ⁠Unexpected Blessings: The Joys and Possibilities of Life in a Special-Needs Family⁠. Her next book, Accessible Church: A Gospel-Centered Vision for Including People with Disabilities and Their Families, will release in 2025 from Crossway Publishers.

Sandra is currently a PhD student at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in the area of family ministry with an emphasis on inclusion for special needs families. She serves the ⁠Southern Baptists of Texas Convention⁠ as their disability ministry consultant, helping churches around the state start and strengthen their disability ministries. Sandra partnered with Lifeway Christian Resources to create the free download, Be All In: A Ministry Guide for Special Needs Inclusion in Children’s Ministry. She is also an adjunct professor in Liberty University’s School of Divinity, teaching classes in the area of disability ministry. And Sandra is a monthly cohost for ⁠Key Ministry: The Podcast⁠, where she shares her perspective on family aspects of disability ministry and inclusion.

To learn more about Sandra, please visit ⁠Sandrapeoples.com

A quick note on disability terms:

Before you listen I wanted to talk to you about something important about our podcast, and that is how we will be referring to disability during our discussions. We want you to know that at Wonderful Works Ministry, we know that words matter. We will strive to use preferred language regarding disability. But we also understand that preferred terms change over time and also can be subjective and vary from person to person, even among those with a shared diagnosis. With this in mind, we ask that you understand that we, here at Wonderful Works, and our guests may use a variety of terms on this show and in our resources. Please know that we will always approach language with inclusion, dignity and respect, and we hope you will too. Thank for listening!

One more quick note:

The views and opinions expressed in our show are those of our guests and do not necessarily reflect those of Wonderful Works Ministry. Wonderful Works Ministry does not provide medical, legal, or therapeutic advice or services. Rather, we provide general information regarding disability ministry. The information provided in our content does not replace the advice of medical, legal, or educational professionals. Wonderful Works Ministry is not responsible for any information or services provided by third parties. It is recommended that you use independent judgement when consider