Bridges to Belonging: Accessible Ministry with Youth and Young Adults
The Bridges to Belonging project is equipping churches to pursue and embrace young people (aged 13-25) with disabilities, including mental health challenges and chronic illnesses, and their families in new ways that lead to spiritual growth, holistic well-being, belonging, and mutual thriving through accessible Christian practices. Young people with disabilities can experience unique barriers to participation and flourishing in the local church. We are learning together how to engage creatively with young people with disabilities, reflect theologically on disability and ministry, and adapt and apply practices in accessible, enriching, and spiritually formative ways.
This interdisciplinary project is a collaboration of George W. Truett Theological Seminary, the Baylor Center for Developmental Disabilities (BCDD), and the Center for Church and Community Impact (C3I). We are funded through Lilly Endowment Inc.'s Thriving Congregations Initiative. The principal investigators leading the project include Drs. Angela Reed, Gaynor Yancey, and Erik Carter.
Our Why
Like anyone else, youth and young adults with disabilities, mental health challenges, and chronic illnesses want to:
- know and be known by God
- love and be loved by their neighbors
- serve and be served by others
- discover and live out their callings
Like anyone else, they need to explore, share, and deepen their faith within a caring and committed community. Like anyone else, they desire to experience the assurance of belonging. Like anyone else.
Despite many barriers, our project team is certain the Church can and should shine in this space. We seek to support individual congregations as they step into this important work with and alongside youth and young adults with disabilities.
What We Do
Church Partnerships
Through Congregational Learning Communities, we are working with approximately 20 churches in our first two-year cohort as they assess and adapt their ministries in ways that promote spiritual growth and belonging for young people with disabilities. Each cohort will engage in monthly gatherings, access free resources and experts, connect with ongoing support from our team, and commit to trying new practices that increase participation and belonging.
Research and Evaluation
Our project incorporates rigorous and relevant research. This enables our work to be responsive to the distinct needs of young people, their families, faith leaders, and the disability community. We are conducting a variety of studies designed to inform our work with churches, our resource development, and training. The studies involve: youth and young adults with disabilities, parents and caregivers, youth pastors, disability and ministry experts, and disability service providers.
Resources and Training
Our project provides practical guidance to congregations on how to reflect on and refine their ministry practices. We are developing a resource guide, online learning modules, research articles, and a book. We will also present at regional and national conferences. We are developing new coursework and a spiritual direction training program through George W. Truett Theological Seminary.