So, you don’t know me, but I’m a pastor. God called me to ministry about five years ago. Like most of us, I never would’ve seen it coming. There are a dozen reasons why nobody would want to use me and those are all the reasons why God chose me.
You see, I am greatly gifted in mercy and helps, and I am acceptably able to effectively use the gifts of prophecy (simply speaking a word of the Lord), and pastoring (caring for the flock). But I have a lot of weaknesses too. I know—real shocker. Some of them are just because nobody holds all the gifts. Many of them are because of my disabilities.
I have PTSD, anxiety, and depression. This makes me both incredibly intuitive and invested in other people’s feelings, and somewhat unreliable because Heaven only knows if I can handle another thing on a given day. I have a learning disability. I read about the seventh- or eighth-grade level. Even better, I have issues processing words from the page to my brain, so I basically depend on audio translations of almost every book I read to understand it. On top of all this, I have an autoimmune disease that causes significant brain fog and pain. This impacts my memory greatly, and sometimes makes me appear as though I’m careless. In reality, I am killing myself all day long so I can be an effective helper. Two years ago, I had a significant concussion and ever since it my brain has not been the same. On top of all this I’m genuinely socially awkward—a side effect of significant trauma.
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I can hear you right now, “Sign us up! Where does our church get one of her?” Flaky, easily distracted, and socially awkward. Win! (I am also adept in the gift of sarcasm). But in reality, you want someone like me on your staff. Someone overtly flawed. Someone impacted by disabilities. Someone who is broken. Someone who is a mess, but a mess for Jesus. Below are several reasons why you want someone like me on your staff, board, etc. Our lead pastor could attest to all these things as well. So here we go!
IT WILL GROW YOUR PATIENCE. It’s everyone’s favorite and most dangerous prayer. God, give me patience. But to effectively lead the flock, you need patience. You need the ability to pause and empathize with a person’s situation before you speak quickly and hurt them. You need the ability to patiently wait for people to hone their gifts for the glory of God. As a pastor, we all need patience.
IT WILL MAKE OTHER PEOPLE LIKE ME FEEL WELCOME. The Great Commission is clear: “Go, therefore, and make disciples.” But where do we go? I think that’s a question on which the church could use more clarity. We naturally go to the people who have it all together, the successful, and the gifted. That’s not enough, though. We must go to the broken, the relegated, the neglected, and the unwanted. We go, empowered with empathy, so we can better understand someone of a different culture and how to care for their needs. And we go in grace, patiently accepting our brothers’ and sisters’ flaws. We go, looking for how everyone bears the image of God and is of divinely gifted value. We go in love. Do you want to see people walk in your doors? Represent them. People want to see representation, somebody they can relate to, in your church. The disabled are no different. They will see you celebrating disability inclusion. When they see that, they bring their giftings.
IT WILL GROW YOUR FAITH AND THE FAITH OF YOUR CHURCH. Watching a leader walk through significant disabilities with grace and grit will, in fact, show your church that God is faithful through it all. That they can rely on God, no matter how hard life is, and that faith is supposed to be tested. That we all have a cross to bear. And that our hardship doesn’t make God any less good. This will open a forum for the hurting in your church to share their pain and how they see God through it all. That is beautiful.
IT WILL AFFIRM THE GOSPEL. I believe this is the most important reason. God calls people, then He equips them. Moses had a speech impediment. Paul had a thorn in the flesh. Yes, even Jesus had a cross to bear. The gospel affirms over and over again that God’s people will face struggles. It affirms over and over again that this doesn’t disqualify them from being used by God. What a precious gift to give your church! A real-life example that states clearly: “When God so loved the world, He meant you, too. He has a plan and a purpose for your life. You do not have to be perfect to be used by God. You simply have to be willing.”
You want somebody on your staff, or at least in your leadership, to contend with a significant illness or disability. It will give you a different perspective. It will confirm to your church that God has a plan and a purpose for all. It will grow your faith. Your walk will be enriched by seeing another choosing each day whom they will serve, no matter how heavy the cross that they bear.
One final point: The disabled and the hurting have spent their entire lives being told their voice doesn’t matter. In the church, it must matter. The body is incomplete without our brothers and sisters with disabilities and chronic illnesses. As such, when you bring these people to leadership, please be aware they may not recognize the value of their voice. They may need you to affirm it. But when you do, you are celebrating the voices to which Jesus paid special attention when He walked the earth. You will learn, grow, and be forever changed, simply because you chose to listen and empower a brother or sister to operate in their calling.
Joanna French is the special needs pastor at Flint Hills Church, Junction City, KS. Joanna and her husband Jairmie have two boys with autism. In 2017, Joanna started Flint Hills Embrace, with the goal to make Flint Hills Church a place where everyone belongs. Why? Because we all have a place in God's plan.
