A recent release of a podcast interview with Stephanie Barton highlights one of the current themes active in our ministry prototypes in our Nuturing Care KC/Autism initiative: selective mutism, sometimes associated with minimally verbal autism, and the the role of play with autistc children. Barton serves as a consultant to our Lilly Endowment Inc. funded #NTS project. 

Barton’s interview on the podcast Rise and Build Nehemia 2:8, Share, Collaborate, and Teach. Building All God’s Children. The podcast revolved around the theme of neurodivergence and the goal of not changing people as much as empowering people to adapt and flourish as they are. 

Barton’s discussion with host Kendra Morgan around, specifically autism and selective mutism, reflects a recent report from one of our grant funded congregations, Growth Church. Director Demi Lawson-Residor reported the following “God sighting:”

During Growth kids we witnessed an incredible God Sighting. For the month of November Growth kids spent each Sunday learning about biblical thankfulness through praise, worship and prayer. This month the children were introduced to sharing prayers and praise from the past week. Praise is something good that happened in the past week. Prayer is something good that happened in the past week and prayer is something (bad/sad) that happened in the past week.

During class we moved around the class circle to allow each child to share their prayer/praise. One of the children with autism who is primarily non-verbal, sought out fidgets to utilize during the prayer/praise circle. Upon the invitation for him to share his prayer/praise either by picture or words, when asked his praise he said “Jesus” to which he began clapping and confidently smiling.

Reports like Growth Church grounds the idea that we can identify opportunities to empower all neurodiverse children to experience God. In doing so, those children can invite us into their spiritual lives, regardless of their neurodivergent world.

A good way to start a new year.