“Accessible Gospel, Inclusive Worship” – New book from Barbara J. Newman
Barbara J. Newman, an author and contributor to more than 20 books and resources relating to disability ministry and inclusion, offers practical ideas and advice to churches worldwide in her latest book, Accessible Gospel, Inclusive Worship. The 128-page book, published by All Belong, encourages churches to introduce the Gospel and nurture faith formation within children and adults with disabilities.
“I heard the mother of a child with autism ask a well-known speaker how she could introduce her daughter to God several years ago,” said Newman. “The speaker replied, ‘God is too hard for people with autism to understand.’ and it broke my heart.”
“I’m often asked questions similar to this in my work with parents and church leaders around the country,” continued Newman. “In fact, these questions were part of the impetus for starting the Church Services division of All Belong eight years ago. Though we’ve published resources on inclusion and specific disabilities, I wanted to give readers of diverse denominations and roles a way to think about how each person in their congregation can use the gifts God has given them to grow in their relationship with God.”
Newman offers readers practical tools and ideas to cultivate faith formation in persons at all levels of ability in this recently published work.
Using the Vertical Habits framework developed by the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship (CICW), Newman provides ideas to foster faith formation among everyone in a congregation by creating an inclusive worship environment. The Vertical Habits framework is a process of connecting words used in relationships with people to words used to express emotions to God. There are eight Vertical Habits, including Love You, I’m Sorry, Why?, I’m Listening, Help, Thank You, What Can I Do?, and Bless You. Accessible Gospel, Inclusive Worship gives readers a set of tools to get to know a person with a disability and an in-depth guide to integrating the eight Vertical Habits into their faith practice.
“People of all ages and with all kinds of complementary abilities and capacities who immerse themselves in the practices described in this book will find themselves growing in grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ,” said John D. Witvliet, director of the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship.
Thanks to the contributions of Betty Grit, former CICW Worship Renewal Grants Program Manager, Accessible Gospel, Inclusive Worship is the first published resource to use Vertical Habits.
“Since 2005, more than fifty schools and churches across North America have adapted the Vertical Habits into their corporate worship,” said Grit. “This resource will provide communities with the tools to create a place where all believers can learn and practice the habits together.”
The book is based on Newman’s thirty years of experience in special education at Zeeland Christian School and consulting with congregations across North America. She has created and contributed to more than twenty books and resources, including Autism and Your Church: Nurturing the Spiritual Growth of People with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Helping Kids Include Kids with Disabilities, and Body Building: Devotions to Celebrate Inclusive Community. Newman frequently speaks at national church and educational conferences on autism spectrum disorder, behavior management, inclusion, and much more.
“This book was made possible by an anonymous donor who values the relationship between a Christian school, church, and family,” shared Elizabeth Lucas Dombrowski, All Belong advancement director. “We are grateful for their support and their love for God’s children at all levels of ability and disability. This donor’s deeply rooted conviction that all children are covenant children is a blessing to each individual who receives this book.”