In John 9–10, Jesus contrasts false shepherds with the Good Shepherd—and Dr. Chris Hulshof applies that lens to disability ministry. Learn the five qualities of a “disability-effective” leader—Understanding, Trust, Safety, Accessibility, and Sacrifice—with practical steps, reflection questions, and a weekly challenge for your team.
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John 10 and The 5 Qualities of the Disability Effective Leader
Episode overview
In Ep. 163: “John 10 and the 5 Qualities of the Disability-Effective Leader”, Dr. Chris Hulshof walks through the Good Shepherd discourse (John 10) in context with John 9 and shows how Jesus’ model of shepherding shapes the way we lead in disability ministry. Drawing on Ezekiel’s critique of Israel’s “bad shepherds,” Chris names five qualities every disability-effective leader cultivates—and turns them into concrete practices you can use this week.
“If you get the theology right, the architectural, communication, and attitudinal barriers come into clear view—and you’ll know how to remove them.”
What you’ll learn (at a glance)
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How John 9 sets up John 10—and why that matters for disability ministry.
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A memorable framework (5 qualities) to assess and grow your team.
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How to avoid “celebrating the disability” instead of celebrating the person.
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Why theological clarity (Imago Dei, Psalm 139) is the key to true accessibility.
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Practical checklists for trust, safety, and communication with families.
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A simple weekly practice to disciple your volunteers in gospel-centered care.
Why John 9 and John 10 belong together
There’s no scene change between the healing of the man born blind (John 9) and Jesus’ Good Shepherd teaching (John 10). Jesus is responding to how the religious leaders treated the healed man—expelling him from worship. With Ezekiel 34 in view, Jesus contrasts thieves, bandits, and hired hands with the Good Shepherd who knows, leads, protects, and lays down his life for the sheep. That contrast frames how we think about leadership in the church—especially among those who are most vulnerable.
The 5 qualities of the disability-effective leader
1. Understanding (John 10:3–4)
Know, love, and celebrate the people entrusted to your care—by name. If you celebrate without truly knowing and loving, you risk celebrating a diagnosis rather than a person.
Try this: Schedule intentional get-to-know-you time (interests, sensory needs, communication preferences). Track what you learn and celebrate personal growth, not just program milestones.
2. Trust (John 10:5)
In a world of competing voices, be the voice parents and caregivers can trust—consistent, transparent, and steady.
Try this: Create simple, repeatable communication rhythms (pre-service text, mid-week recap, incident follow-ups). Ask, “What would build trust fastest if I were in their shoes?”
3. Safety (John 10:10–13)
Shepherds guard the most vulnerable from harm. This is about physical and soul-care safety.
Try this: Clarify check-in/out, ratios, de-escalation steps, and space setup. Train volunteers on dignity-first practices and how to speak hope while handling tough moments.
4. Accessibility (especially theological) (John 10:9)
Ramps matter—but so does doctrine. Many “acceptability” barriers are theological.
Two core questions to answer clearly:
What does it mean that every person is an image-bearer of God?
What does “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139) actually mean—beyond synonyms?
Try this: Host a 60-minute team study on Imago Dei and Psalm 139. When theology is clear, architectural, communication, attitudinal, and aspirational barriers become obvious—and solvable.
5. Sacrifice (John 10:15)
Leaders “eat last.” We bear the cost so people with disabilities and their families don’t have to.
Try this: Budget time, volunteers, and dollars to remove specific barriers this quarter. Ask, “Where can our leaders go last so our families can go first?”
Put it into practice this week
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Study Challenge: Read Psalm 139 and a trusted commentary. Write a 2–3 sentence explanation of “fearfully and wonderfully made” you could share with a volunteer or skeptical friend.
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Theology in 2 Minutes: Draft a plain-language definition of Imago Dei you can use in training and on your ministry page.
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Trust Touchpoint: Send one positive, specific update to a parent/guardian after Sunday (“Gabe completed the whole craft with a buddy today—asked for the blue scissors by name!”).
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Safety Audit: Walk your space with fresh eyes—entrances/exits, sensory options, ratios, de-escalation plan, incident documentation.
Scripture + resources mentioned
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John 9–10 (Good Shepherd discourse in context)
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Ezekiel 34 (condemnation of bad shepherds)
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Psalm 139 (fearfully and wonderfully made)
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Genesis 1–3 (Imago Dei)
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Simon Sinek, Leaders Eat Last (on sacrificial leadership)