The Nurturing Care Maker’s Space, organized by Nazarene Theological Seminary (NTS), concluded with vibrant energy as nine congregations presented their prototypes aimed at making worship and prayer experiences more accessible to autistic children. Over the course of two days, the event, hosted by Youthfront, saw participants tackle the question, “How might we create inclusive worship environments for autistic kids?” through a collaborative and imaginative process.

The gathering began day one with a letter board prayer (often used by non and minimally verbal autistic children) and Stephanie Answer’s meditation on Luke 5:17-26, which encouraged participants to consider both the theological and practical aspects of creating inclusive spaces. Sustained with worship led by EB, an autistic music therapist, consultants and facilitators provided steady guidance, fostering a spirit of curiosity and openness.

Under the direction of Dr. Dean Blevins, teams were encouraged to explore “wicked good” problems, identifying both the “why” of the challenges they face and the “how” in terms of building solutions.

As the weekend progressed, congregations worked tirelessly to develop a range of prototypes, each uniquely suited to their context. Ideas ranged from worship playbooks designed to gradually introduce autism-friendly adaptations in services to creating mobile sensory spaces that could be used for both indoor and outdoor community gatherings. One congregation proposed custom worship bags tailored to children’s sensory needs, while another built on their church’s inclusive culture to enhance spiritual engagement for autistic kids.

The event emphasized innovation through experimentation, urging participants to view their prototypes as a starting point for learning and growth. After presentations, each team was tasked with finalizing their proposals and preparing budgets, with five new prototypes and three ongoing initiatives set to emerge from the event. The collaborative spirit and creativity on display reflected the power of asking the simple yet profound question, “How might we?” in addressing the unique needs of young autistic children within faith communities.

As the event closed, participants expressed deep appreciation for the consultants’ encouragement and expertise, and the institutional support that made the Maker’s Space possible. This effort represents a hopeful step toward fostering greater inclusivity in churches, combining theological reflection with practical action to embrace autistic children and their families in worship and prayer.