What is Autism and Why Does it Matter for the Church?
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- Опубликовано: 6 июл 2024
- Here at Joni and Friends, our mission is to glorify God as we communicate the Gospel and mobilize the global church to evangelize, disciple, and serve people living with disability.
Through training and resources, we are equipping churches with practical tools to welcome and include people of all abilities into the body of Christ.
“In fact some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary.” I Corinthians 12:22 (NLT)
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I’m Autistic and no longer go to church because of my complex disability and other health issues, but when I was well enough to go attend church, my Autism was not understood because I was a intelligent adult woman and my Autism was not diagnosed until late in life I was frequently judged and miss understood, often told to try and and do better. It saddens me that we as Autistic people are still not understood.
Thank you so much for explain this it’s a brilliant video
Thankyou for your video, it was excellent. My son is a severely autistic. His anxiety level is so severe, he no longer attends Sunday services.... However, he is loved and prayed for by our dear church family. Life is challenging, but the support of fellow Christians means the world to us. If anyone reading my comment is seeking to minister to a family that has been affected by autism, I would humbly say, love them for who they are...build a friendship that is based on kindness, compassion....and most of all the love of the Lord. The journey is not easy, but having people praying for families like mine, is a gift beyond measure.
It is very difficult to navigate church life with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
We have 4 with ASD, ranging in age from 20 to 13yrs. Our 2nd oldest is level 3, (previously known as classic autism) and is like a toddler in a 19yr old body.
For several reasons we can't take him to church, so we alternate weeks with who is to stay home with him and who will go to church with the other kids, who all still live at home.
It is hard when people make presumptions or whisper behind your back about your family instead of just approaching you and asking. It can be very isolating, at least so for our family, and I think it's wonderful you have made this series to help others understand.
One other thing to mention is that our children have brought us closer to the Lord, and to each other. We'll be forever grateful that God chose us to parent these kids, it's a tough journey at times but it is a joyful one too, and I'd never trade it!
Steph, Australia
I'm glad to see this informative video. My 30 year old son has autism, he talks nonstop and loudly. We do not go to church anymore because we found no real community there. We also never had any help from other believers. We have a small Bible study at home. It's been real tough as a family.
It's a challenge isn't it? We have two adults sons with autism. One of them is nonverbal and he intentionally (like grunting pushing) passes gas quite loudly, it happens in church quite often and my husband will bring him out to the foyer. It makes it very difficult to attend church. Much love and understanding for you ❤
Thank you Joni and friends for making these videos, this is a topic that really does need to be spoken about in the church. Im a mother of two adult sons diagnosed with autism, they are much like the examples shown in this video about the spectrum. One is quite verbal, and socially awkward but desires to be around people, hes very much into mario brothers video games and tends to fixate on them and even started a youtube channel of play throughs, at 25 years old he still will break into a stim of jumping around or skipping with some level of arm flapping.
My other son is 22 years old and nonverbal, tube fed due to swallowing issues, is very difficult to bring into social situations as he hyperfixates on using the bathroom (goes about every 20 minutes even if he doesnt have to "go"), he has alot of gas due to the tubefeeding and swallowing disorder so that makes it very difficult for church, often times my husband brings him to the foyer or even sits in the van with him due to the noise and odor which is quite disruptive. He desires to worship God, he raises his hands during service and listeners intently when he is able to stay through. He even communicated his desire to and got baptized last year.
It is challenging and I look forward to hearing the rest of this series, perhaps there will be some advice that will help us and our local church body navigate these issues.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Been working with autistic children at my school where I work for over 20 years....love them! God uses me in a big way!
Wow! The timing on this I just incredible! I've heard of Joni my entire adult life and now have a child who may have autism. The timing of Joni coming out with this video series is Gods timing for me!
Another way to look at this scripturally is Jesus taught all 12 disciples, each coming from different backgrounds and intellects. To say you are not equipped to teach them would be leaning on your own understanding and not trusting that God not only calls chosen ones to teach these precious ones, but equips them too. To have a Christian school within your church and not teach special needs children goes against Scripture.
Scripture says that each person should be given the same opportunity to reach their full potential.
What a joy it is to witness a special needs person trying from within the deep recess of their hearts to point others to Christ. Born of the Spirit, washed in His blood is for ALL. ❤
Mahalo nui loa ❤ 🌺
I am an adult, diagnosed as an adult and considered highly functional but i hated trying to talk to people before or after church. Why didn't they say what they meant? How was I to know that body language changed the definitions of words? So much depends on looking at people's faces, especially their eyes. I couldn't do that.
Why did they not believe i meant exactly what i said and *only* what i said? It was bad enough that i was an adult with no kids so i already didn't have much in common with my age group. There wasn't any desire to try and help me fit in to a ministry area that i could do. And when i tried i was rebuffed bc they couldn't see past my total inability at small talk. I could go on but those of you reading this have been there. You get it.
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Thanks so much for this. My daughter has autism and an under developed brain so life is very difficult. I used to take her to Sunday school when she was little but she's 24 now and so she doesn't fit in with the littlies and she won't be able to sit quietly with me during a service. I so want to find a church home as life can be very lonely and I'm going through a separation at the moment. My daughter's step father has been emotionally abusing her for years and being a Christian wife I thought I must try make things work but he has now totally lost his faith and not only treats her badly but pushed her the other day so it has to end. Unfortunately he's been unemployed for a long time and living off her maintenance so he has no place to go. He's camping out in our lounge at the moment. I'm feeling so desperate. And I'm very anxious about the future. But I have to do what's right for my baby. God entrusted her to me when she was born with many problems and He has given me the strength to raise her. I just pray He continues to guide me and strengthen me. Also that my community will have the understanding even when she's rude or is not in the mood to communicate. I'm saying way too much. Forgive me.
Thanks for your comments...
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Thank you for raising Autism Awareness for the church. Inclusion means so much. 💙
Lovely 🎉
I am and there found out at 46 years old
This is very helpful. I have a friend whom I always thought was immature, but since seeing Matthew on The Chosen portrayed as having Asbergers, I now wonder if my friend has something on the autism spectrum. He lacks social skills and lives in isolation. There are other odd behaviors (short attention span, lack of empathy) that could be immaturity and selfishness. He was rejected by a church years ago because he would come early to watch the worship team practice.
Very interesting and important topic. I wonder if I have autism. I have had some developmental delays, trauma, and I feel my social skills are lacking in certain settings. Maybe this is something I need to look into...Thank you!
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This video is definitely of interest to me, since I have Asperger’s. I might just decide to use this in the future to tell people about it!
My son is 31 and not only has autism but fragile X syndrome and has severe mental intelligence and bad behaviors. My husband and I have to take turns going to church
I know you are attempting to be kind, however there are MANY times you CAN absolutely see the person has Autism.