As the annual Family Togetherness Week of Prayer draws near, the Adventist Church is invited to reaffirm its commitment to understanding and supporting the diverse needs of our global family. This year, the General Conference (GC) Family Ministries department has chosen the theme, “Growing Hearts of Welcome: Understanding Diverse Families.”
Diversity in families goes beyond age and ethnicity. Families with neurodivergent members are also part of this diverse community, facing unique challenges. How prevalent are these challenges, and what do the statistics and stories reveal about the need for our support?
Real Experiences: The Struggles of Neurodivergent Families
According to Forbes, “Between 15-20% of the population in the U.S. is neurodiverse — including up to 10% of people who are diagnosed with dyslexia, 5% diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and 1-2% with autism [ASD].”1 While these numbers represent the U.S. population, this is a reality across our global church.
ANN spoke with an Adventist church member whose son has an ASD diagnosis. Each Sabbath, they face a difficult decision: whether to attend church or not, knowing that their son struggles to participate in traditional worship services and Sabbath School. The father shared, “We often feel like there isn’t a place for our son in the church. Sabbath Schools aren’t equipped to handle his needs, and it’s heartbreaking to see him feel excluded.”
Another family faces a different challenge. Their daughter, diagnosed with ADHD Inattentive Type, struggles to pay attention in Sabbath school. To stay focused, she often doodles, a common practice for those with ADHD. However, to the teacher and other adults, this is often misinterpreted as disinterest in the lessons. Her mother explains, “Doodling helps her focus on what the teacher is saying. It’s frustrating to see her faith interest misinterpreted as disinterest just because she processes things differently.”
It is not that anyone is intentionally hurting these young people, but the reality is that many are unaware of the broader challenges that neurodivergent families face within our church community. These stories are meant to highlight the urgent need for greater awareness, understanding, and support.
Understanding Neurodiversity: What It Is and Why It Matters
Neurodiversity is not a medical term or diagnosis; instead, “it’s a way to describe people using words other than ‘normal’ and ‘abnormal.’”2 The concept of neurodiversity includes individuals with diagnoses such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Dyslexia, Tourette Syndrome, and more.3 Historically, these differences in brain function were viewed as something to be “fixed.” However, neurodiversity should be acknowledged as a variation of human wiring, and neurological differences should be recognized and respected as any other human variation.
As society becomes more educated and accepting of neurodiverse individuals, our church must also strive to become a more inclusive space that reflects Christ’s love for all His children. The term "neurotypical" describes a generalized way of functioning, the basis on which much of the world around us has been built. Generalization can be beneficial but can leave those who deviate from that norm feeling out of place. As a church, we are responsible for educating ourselves and seeking to understand these differences, ensuring everyone feels safe, accepted, and included within our community.
The Church’s Role as a Safe Haven
The church is meant to be a sanctuary. Our recent engagement with the Adventist community suggests that work remains to make this a reality for neurodivergent families.
ANN conducted polls across social media to measure awareness for neurodivergent families within the church community. The results were revealing: 32% of respondents on X and 44% on Instagram felt their local churches did not adequately support neurodivergent members and their families. Furthermore, awareness levels among members are low, with only 20% on Instagram and 35% on X feeling well-informed about the challenges these families face.
These responses reveal a significant gap in our collective understanding. If our members lack an understanding of these needs, it’s reflected in how we assess our churches—since they are composed of these very members. To truly make our churches places of welcome and inclusion, we must take the time to listen and address these gaps with urgency and compassion.
Steps Toward Greater Understanding and Support
In a March 2020 Ministry Magazine article, Shaun Brooks reflects on his journey from being a frustrated young pastor to a father of a child with ASD, offering practical advice for local churches. He emphasizes starting with compassion, encouraging us as a church to ask, “How can we, as a church, serve you?’”4
While Brooks suggests resources such as sensory rooms or interpreters may not be available initially, churches can still send a strong message of welcome and support. This aligns with social media feedback. One Instagram follower supported the idea of churches providing headphones, noting that some individuals may want to enjoy worship without “sensory overload.”
On Facebook, someone emphasized that “educating the congregation is key to changing the culture.” An individual on Instagram suggested one way to do this: “inviting families, if they are willing, to share their experiences,” allowing churches to educate themselves about the challenges present in their midst.
Taking Action: Steps Toward a More Inclusive Church
In their resource guide for 2024, the GC’s Family Ministries department includes a presentation that can be given in churches to bring awareness and understanding. The guide states, “In a world where families are increasingly diverse, the church must be a place where all families feel seen, heard, and supported. This includes families with neurodivergent members, who often face unique challenges that require our understanding and compassion.”
Practical steps churches can take include:
Educational Workshops: Host workshops to educate church members about neurodiversity, its impact on families, and how to provide meaningful support.
Support Groups: Establish or promote support groups for neurodivergent individuals and their families, offering a safe space for sharing experiences and resources.
Inclusive Worship: Consider ways to make worship services more inclusive, such as providing sensory-friendly environments or creating quiet spaces for those who may need them.
A Call to Action
As we move into this week of prayer, let us commit to growing hearts of welcome. Let us strive to understand the unique challenges that neurodivergent families face and take concrete steps to ensure that our churches are truly inclusive. By embracing the diversity within our church family and actively supporting neurodivergent members, we do more than grow hearts of welcome; we fulfill our mission as a church to be a reflection of Christ’s love—a love that sees, values, and embraces every individual, regardless of their differences.
Let us work together to ensure that every family feels at home in our church, knowing that they are valued, supported, and loved.
Learn more about the Family Togetherness Week of Prayer sponsored by GC Family Ministries taking place from September 1-7, 2024.
1 https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbestechcouncil/2021/08/13/neurodiversity-as-a-strengthening-point-for-your-team-and-our-society/
2 https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/23154-neurodivergent
3 https://neurodiversitysymposium.wordpress.com/what-is-neurodiversity/
4 https://www.ministrymagazine.org/archive/2020/03/Making-room-for-those-with-special-needs
