All Christians

Two months ago at the 2026 Disability and the Church Conference, I had the opportunity to present a workshop titled “Shepherding Toward Wholeness: Building Resilient Leaders and Healthy Churches.” The presentation centered on a growing reality many churches are beginning to recognize: pastors and ministry leaders are carrying tremendous emotional, spiritual, and relational burdens while trying to faithfully shepherd others.

[Read more…] about Shepherding Toward Wholeness: Building Resilient Leaders and Healthy Churches

The Church is called to be a reflection of the heart of Christ. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus consistently moved toward those who were hurting, marginalized, misunderstood, and struggling. He welcomed people whom others avoided and demonstrated that God’s Kingdom has room for those carrying burdens of every kind. In fact, my favorite story of Jesus that I hold close to my heart and have led my profession for the last ten-plus years is the Beatitudes, which has led my mission.

For many individuals experiencing mental health challenges today, the church can either become a place of healing and belonging or a place where stigma and misunderstanding deepen their isolation. It’s my belief that the Beatitudes are one of the most prominent callings to help include and make way for people with severe mental illness, substance misuse, and disabilities.

[Read more…] about How the Beatitudes Call the Church to Mental Health Inclusion

For many men in the church, mental health struggles do not always appear in obvious ways. Men may not openly say, “I am depressed,” or “I feel overwhelmed.” Instead, their pain often emerges through anger, shame, anxiety, and addiction. Beneath these behaviors are deeper wounds involving loneliness, unresolved trauma, spiritual confusion, and the pressure to appear strong.

[Read more…] about Anger, Shame, Anxiety, Addiction: Men’s Mental Health in the Church

At the 2026 Disability and the Church Conference, I had the opportunity to present on a theme that continues to surface in both ministry and clinical settings: the growing need to reconnect the work of psychology with the life of the Church based off of our writing a couple of years ago. For many individuals and families, this divide is not theoretical, it is deeply personal. People do not experience their struggles in isolated categories. Emotional pain, mental health challenges, and spiritual questions often emerge together, shaping how a person understands both their suffering and their hope.

[Read more…] about Rebuilding the Bridge Between Church and Mental Health

I am writing this a week after the 2026 Disability and the Church conference that happened in Washington D.C. The conference talks about how the Church can become more accessible via evangelism, service, discipleship, and worship for people with developmental, physical, and neurological disabilities as well as those with mental health (or hidden disabilities).

[Read more…] about Disability and the Church 2026

In a cultural moment marked by stress, disconnection and shifting family structures, many Christian families are quietly asking the same question: How do we stay strong together? Recent research from Barna Group offers both a sobering reality and a hopeful invitation. According to their findings, only about 1 in 7 married parents meet the criteria for being “resilient families.” This reminds us that resilience is not something families simply stumble into, it is something intentionally cultivated over time.

[Read more…] about Building Resilient Families: A Christ-Centered Path for Today’s World

As pastors, we preach that the church is the body of Christ, woven together by grace, mission, and mutual care. Yet when it comes to disability and belonging, many congregations, despite loving intentions, unintentionally create environments where people with disabilities and their families feel on the margins instead of at the center of Christian life.

Belonging isn’t a nice extra; it’s the foundation of the Gospel. Scripture’s vision in 1 Corinthians 12:24-27 challenges us: every member of the body matters, neither ignored nor sidelined. Baylor University’s Center for Disability and Flourishing has a whole faith section with resources, including the free PDF titled Belonging Church Guide 2024, which makes the 1 Corinthian’s passage practical by framing belonging around 10 dimensions that deepen our understanding of what it means for someone to truly belong in God’s family and in our churches.

Below is a pastorally grounded reflection, with theological roots, practical insights, and current research you can take back to your congregation.

What Research Tells Us about Belonging and Disability in Church

Many churches intend to welcome everyone, but research reveals a gap between intention and experience:

• A survey by Lifeway Research found that 99 % of Protestant pastors believe people with disabilities would feel welcome in their church, yet families often experience something very different.
• Studies of families of children with disabilities have found that nearly one-third (32.3 %) have left a church specifically because their child wasn’t included or welcomed.
• Other research shows individuals with disabilities often attend religious services at lower rates compared to those without disabilities, even though personal faith is just as deeply held.

These figures don’t point to apathy — they point to barriers that keep people from experiencing community, worship, and discipleship as whole, visible, beloved members of Christ’s church.

Belonging in Action: What Your Church Can Reflect On

Below is a summarized set of ideas from each Belonging category in the Belonging Church Guide 2024, practical ways to reflect theologically and transform ministry practices.

“No one should ever wonder whether they really belong in your faith community. The disability-related prejudices, stereotypes, and stigma that exist in our culture have no place in the church.”

1. Present

To belong is to be present, not just physically, but relationally and spiritually. This includes:

• Ensure people with disabilities can participate in worship, learning, service, and fellowship together.
• Offer multiple ways to engage in activities; consider rides, online options, or sensory supports.
• Foster intergenerational connections and encourage intentional relationship building.

2. Invited

Belonging begins with invitation. People often come when they are personally invited. We might consider:

• Reach out to families who miss events or services.
• Use your website and communication channels to show that your church welcomes people of all abilities.
• Notice and invite the entire family of people with disabilities.

3. Welcomed

A warm welcome shapes how newcomers and long‐standing members experience community. You might want to think about:

• Create structures where greeters focus on building connections and be intentional of how they work with families who have disabilities inclusively, not set apart.
• Provide space for greeting and sharing prayer requests, knowing their may be unique barriers to this holy time.
• Foster hospitality that truly listens and responds with kindness.

4. Known

People belong when they are known not just seen, but understood and valued. This includes:

• Learn people’s names and stories of the whole family; encourage sharing gifts.
• Ensure leadership models inclusive attitudes.
• Create safe spaces for storytelling and mutual learning.

5. Accepted

Acceptance is choosing to value someone as they are. Consider the following:

• Seek input from people with disabilities and families about what belonging means to them, remembering they should have a voice at the table.
• Use surveys or connection cards to learn about needs and challenges.
• Invite families into planning and leadership roles.

6. Heard

Belonging includes having your voice matter. You might want to think about:

• Respond quickly and effectively to requests and questions to show the value of their questions.
• Communicate expectations clearly, including accessible information on your website.
• Ensure feedback opportunities are genuine and ongoing.

7. Supported

Support removes barriers and affirms participation. This includes:

• Offer support groups, respite care, and mentorship.
• Provide accessible seating and flexible curriculum.
• Connect new members to community groups that fit their needs.

A Theology of Belonging: Beyond Programs to Gospel Identity

As ministries expand, it’s important that our theology precedes our programming. The starting question is not “How do we manage behaviors?” but “How does Scripture call us to belong to one another?” The Apostle Paul teaches that members who appear weaker are indispensable to the Body (1 Cor 12:22-27), orienting our ministry not to tolerance but to mutual belonging and interdependence.

What This Means for Pastors and Leaders

Belonging isn’t a program; it’s a posture of discipleship. Churches with genuine belonging see:

• People with disabilities participating as ministers, not just recipients of care.
• Families experiencing less stress, greater support, and deeper community ties.
• Congregations are becoming richer and more representative reflections of Christ’s Body.

In fostering belonging, we practice the gospel, inviting every part of the Body to flourish and grow together.

As pastors are called to walk with God’s people in the valleys of suffering, loss, identity, and joy, we need resources that help us listen before we speak, accompany before we answer, and reflect theologically before we act. Carrie Doehring’s The Practice of Pastoral Care: A Postmodern Approach is a dense, theologically informed, and a practically grounded guide that meets this need with integrity.

Doehring, a pastor and clinician, invites readers into a narrative, relational, and embodied model of pastoral care that resists quick fixes and prioritizes deep, trust-rooted relationships. Rather than offering a set of techniques divorced from context, she frames pastoral care as an ongoing spiritual and interpersonal practice, one that is shaped by scripture, attentive listening, and attunement to cultural and existential contexts.

Listening and Relationship First

One of the most pastoral chapters in the book is the section on embodied listening, where Doehring encourages caregivers to enter into the actual life and story of the person before them.

Pastoral care is not a speech delivered from the pulpit but a conversation lived in the margin of someone’s grief, anxiety, or doubt. In pastoral settings, where hurried schedules and checkboxes often dominate, this reminder to slow down and listen generously is both a challenge and a gift.

A Theologically Reflexive Approach

Doehring integrates interdisciplinary insights from theology, psychology, and cultural studies into her pastoral framework. Rather than compartmentalizing scripture on one side and psychology on the other, she shows pastors how theological reflection and psychological awareness enrich one another.

Pastoral care moves beyond assessment into discernment, attending to the deeper longings and questions that God is already at work in. Again, Doehring’s writing resists simplistic responses and calls pastors to be present with complexity with sensitivity and humility.

Intercultural and Contextual Sensitivity

Doehring’s postmodern approach does not mean relativism but rather situational awareness. She explicitly urges caregivers to understand the cultural, social, and identity contexts shaping each care-seeker’s story, a perspective especially valuable in increasingly diverse congregations. Her emphasis on intercultural care encourages pastors to listen for how faith, ethnicity, family history, and community pressures intersect in the lived experience of those we serve.

Practical Strengths for Ministry

What stands out most for pastoral ministries is Doehring’s balance of theory and praxis. Each chapter offers not only theological depth but practical considerations: reflective exercises, assessments, and narrative engagement tools that can be adapted for parish care conversations. Her integration of psychological awareness with scriptural trust makes this a resource both for study and on-the-ground ministry.

Final Thoughts

Doehring’s The Practice of Pastoral Care is not a quick-read theology text, nor a simplistic counseling manual. In fact, a clear difficulty with the revised edition is that it reads like a doctoral dissertation in one section and then a more practical application text, only to flip-flop again. This actually becomes a distraction throughout the text to the point it takes longer to consume and makes the text feel disjointed. Further, she tackles theological topics that many conservatives may not feel comfortable with and it feels the push for these explanations are very limited creating a “take it or leave it” ideology.” Yet, this should not distract from the importance of the material and need for better pastoral care application.

It is a sober, compassionate, and deeply pastoral invitation into the hard work of being present, an invitation that resonates with any pastor who has ever sat beside someone in grief, wrestled with a parishioner’s faith questions, or sought to bring the hope of Christ into the tangled reality of human life. Reading this book will stretch your heart, sharpen your discernment, and deepen your capacity to offer care that honors both the sacredness of the human story and the redemptive activity of God in Christ.

We give this book a 3.5 stars out of 5.

I’m excited to share that I’ll be speaking at the 2026 Disability & The Church Conference, hosted by Key Ministry in Washington, D.C., April 21–23, 2026. This annual gathering is one of the most impactful events for pastors, ministry leaders, mental health and care teams, volunteers, and disability advocates who want to build churches where every individual, especially those touched by disability, mental health challenges, or trauma, is welcomed, valued, and equipped to thrive.

Whether you’ve attended before or this will be your first time, Disability & The Church is not just another conference, it’s a movement of faithful leaders committed to deepening our understanding and practical care for all God’s people. You’ll leave inspired, equipped, and empowered with tools you can begin implementing in your ministry right away.

👉 Ready to register? Click here to save your spot now!

What Makes This Conference So Special

Over the course of two and a half filled days in Washington, D.C., attendees will experience:

• Mainstage sessions that inspire and challenge your heart for inclusion
• Interactive breakout workshops designed for practical takeaways
• Networking opportunities with leaders from churches large and small
• Real discussions about disability, mental health, trauma, and church culture
• Tools and resources you can immediately use back home

This year’s format is built to give you more training and connection than ever before, equipping you to reach deeper into your church and community.

Why You Should Be There

If you serve in children’s ministry, student ministry, pastoral care, counseling, disability ministry, mental health ministry, leadership development, or on a care team, this conference is made for you. The workshops are tailored to help you think differently about ministry, remove barriers, and create environments where everyone can flourish in Christ.

And I’m honored to be part of the faculty this year! I’ll be leading sessions that speak directly to the heart of ministry leadership and spiritual resilience, including:

and

These sessions are designed to give you practical frameworks for strengthening leadership health and integrating faith and psychological insight in your pastoral care, essential tools for today’s church leaders.

Register & Be Equipped for What’s Ahead

Whether you’re coming with your whole team or joining on your own, now is the time to register and plan for an experience that will shape your ministry for years to come:
👉 https://brushfire.com/keyministry/datc26/621445

I can’t wait to connect with you in Washington, D.C., and to learn alongside you as we grow churches that reflect the heart of Jesus, for every person with every ability.

See you there! 🙌

[Stock photo by Emily Hoogerwerf on Disability Is Beautiful]

Church leaders are increasingly aware that people with developmental, mental health, and substance misuse disabilities/disorders (collectively referred to as hidden disabilities) are often present in our congregations but remain underserved. Families may quietly leave churches because they feel unseen, overwhelmed, or judged. Others never walk through the doors at all, assuming there will be no room for their loved one.

[Read more…] about Welcoming the Whole Body of Christ