Author and longtime chaplain Bill Gaventa is a notable influencer when talking about disabilities because he has spent so much of his working life serving with and among people with disabilities.
In this book, Gaventa wants to help people and communities as they come together to worship, learn, and support each other. Gaventa wants faith leaders and congregations to remember that people with disabilities are people first. They are worshipers, followers, and disciples of Christ, just like every believer. Sermons and activities within the church do not necessarily have to address disability in order to affect the lives of people with disabilities. Pastors should approach people with disabilities realizing that they desire most of the same things in community that other people do.
People can get to know people with disabilities through listening well, learning their stories, and asking open-ended questions. Gaventa strongly advocates building a relationship with each specific person you wish to know. It’s best not to make assumptions about what people need or don’t need until you have met them first.
The themes addressed in this book are very practical. Gaventa draws from his personal experiences and interactions with others to make his stories and examples relevant and useful. He writes knowledgeably about themes that touch both disability and theology. Topics include deity and humanity, hospitality, belonging, gifts and service, lament and suffering, justice, and salvation. The book includes 15 chapters and each chapter is full of engaging insights and ideas.
Gaventa promotes worship services and congregational journeys where all people can participate as givers and receivers. He talks about accessibility as not only architecture, but also attitude, inclusion, safety, and body-building. This book is a guidebook and not a read-straight-through text.
For each topic, Gaventa provides a thorough explanation or discussion, sermon ideas, and additional resources from other authors and scholars. There is also a useful section on people with disabilities and their participation in the traditional elements of worship. Some ideas in the book seem like common sense until one remembers that not every worship leader meets people with disabilities on a regular basis. This book encourages pastors and congregants alike in the concept and promotion of healthy body-life. It is recommended for preachers and everyday people. There’s something for everyone if people are willing to think, process, and explore for their own personal situational context. Change often happens slowly, but transformation of hearts and lives is possible and welcome. (Eerdmans)
About the Author
Aime Spriensma