“… this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him” (John 9:3b).
Consider a few of the sobering realities playing out across the United States and Canada. In the United States, an estimated 60–90% of babies diagnosed with Down syndrome[1] in the womb are aborted, compared to 18% of all pregnancies.[2] Meanwhile, Medical Assistance or Aid in Dying (MAID) continues to expand its reach; in Canada, eligibility is 18 and above and no longer requires a fatal or terminal condition.[3] The practice is rapidly normalizing and threatening to expand further to those with mental illness only, “mature minors” and beyond. While Canada is significantly “ahead” of the United States in implementation, Illinois recently became the 13th U.S. jurisdiction to legalize physician‑assisted death.[4] These statistics reveal an alarming trend that is devaluing the lives of the most vulnerable, whom Scripture calls us to see as bearers of God’s image and vessels through whom his works are displayed.
As we take these cultural realities to heart and to prayer, we begin to see more clearly the many individuals and families, both within our congregations and in our wider communities, who live every day with physical and developmental disabilities, and the weight of trauma and mental illness. While we may wrestle in our flesh to meaningfully engage, their presence represents a holy invitation. Their presence reminds us that upholding the sanctity of every human life requires a holistic, gospel‑centered commitment to protect life and nurture human flourishing from conception to natural death.
Providing intentional welcome, care and a purpose-filled belonging for those impacted by disabilities is an important part of a holistic discipleship plan and a holistic sanctity of human life culture. And this is where some good news comes in: we have many examples of this taking place in Wesleyan churches of all shapes and sizes. Particularly compelling are church planters who are intentional about creating a culture of care for the vulnerable from their church’s inception.
The works of God displayed through little children
Pastor Emma Adams at Hope Church in Seaford, Delaware, shares how, even before their launch in 2021, their team has intentionally focused on being a church where every child’s needs are met. They’ve invested in trauma-informed care training and attended conferences to gain insight into how to effectively love and reach the vulnerable.
God’s faithfulness and the fruit of their commitments have been experienced in precious moments along the way. At their very first baptism service in 2022, Pastor Emma baptized an 11-year-old girl with Down Syndrome. Shortly after, the girl told her, “I got baptized! I’m filled with the Spirit!”
Two years ago, a new family came to their church with two boys they brought into their family through foster care. Both boys have autism and one was nonverbal. Their kids’ ministry welcomed and met them where they were, using picture boards so the nonverbal child could participate in class. One Sunday during prayer, their kids’ ministry director asked if anyone had prayer requests, and for the first time ever, the nonverbal child said, “Jesus.” Their whole staff celebrated together at their next meeting, knowing how far this little one had come.
The boys were dedicated at Hope Church, and last summer, the congregation celebrated with joy as the brothers were officially adopted into their forever family.
Recently, as this little “nonverbal” boy continues to develop and grow, his mom sent Pastor Emma a video of him singing along with worship music and praising Jesus by name through song.
Reflecting on what these children have meant to her, to their staff, and to their entire church family, Pastor Emma says, “They are ours. They are home.”
The works of God displayed through his provision
Pastor Jason Leadingham, a church planter in Greenfield, Indiana, believes that every child, parent and volunteer should be enabled to access the love and discipleship happening in their children’s ministry space. He explained that while attending the Disability and The Church Conference in April 2024, “God broke our hearts in the best way, opening our eyes to how many families feel excluded not because they don’t want to be in church, but because the building itself becomes a barrier. We feel deeply called to change that.”
Already converting a classroom into a sensory room to love and support children with disabilities, he realized that without an elevator in their 1960s church building they will never be fully accessible. Although the cost is too high for their young church plant to handle alone right now, they are stepping out in faith to raise the funds and believing that God will provide so that every child, every parent and every volunteer can fully belong, fully participate and fully experience the hope of Jesus in their community. And God has already provided through the first grant awarded!
A call to display the works of God
These stories remind us that when the church chooses to see, welcome and walk alongside those impacted by disability, something holy happens. The works of God become visible in those we serve, but also in us. Our faith grows. Our compassion deepens. Our understanding of the gospel expands. And our churches become more like the kingdom Jesus described: a place where every person is treasured, every gift is needed, and every life bears witness to God’s glory.
The sanctity of human life is lived out in the way we design our buildings, structure our ministries, train our volunteers and shape our corporate worship. It is revealed in the patience we extend, the accommodations we offer, the friendships we form and the belonging we create.
As the pressures of our cultural moment grow heavier, may our churches be places where every person, regardless of ability or diagnosis, can encounter the love of Christ and flourish in the community of his people, lives honored, protected and cherished from conception to natural death.
Jodi Lewis serves as the director of Hephzibah62:4, a subsidiary of The Wesleyan Church dedicated to equipping and mobilizing local Wesleyan churches to transform the lives of vulnerable children. Both churches in this article are “Hephzibah62:4 Churches”, intentionally aligned with our mission and equipped by available benefits.
Sanctity of Human Life Sunday will be recognized on January 18, 2026. Visit hephzibah.org/sohl to access a FREE toolkit to help equip your church to protect, preserve and promote the sanctity and abundance of human life through the lens of holistic discipleship.
[1] Jaime L. Natoli and et. al, “Prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome: a systemic review of termination rates” in Prenatal Diagnosis, https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/pd.2910.
[2] “Abortion in the United States” in Guttmacher, https://www.guttmacher.org/fact-sheet/induced-abortion-united-states.
[3] “Medical assistance in dying: Overview,” https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/health-services-benefits/medical-assistance-dying.html.
[4] Pritzker signs bill allowing some terminally ill adults to take their own lives with medical help” in ABC 7 Eyewitness News, https://abc7chicago.com/post/illinois-assisted-suicide-law-gov-jb-pritzker-signs-bill-allowing-terminally-ill-adults-take-own-lives-medical-help/18279722.
