With Ministries Quarterly Update
Flourish – Spring 2025
A Letter From Rebecca
People with disabilities need access to biblical community and the body of Christ needs believers of all abilities. As followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to “go and make disciples of all nations,” and I believe all means all. We long for all churches to be more faithful to engage all people in conversations regarding salvation and to create belonging for all people within the body of Christ.
At With Ministries, we come alongside churches to support congregational inclusion and the faith formation of individuals with disabilities. From Friendship Groups and our Together Curriculum to our Access subscription and Accessible KidMin kit, we are equipping and assisting churches to creatively set up environments to make the Gospel introduction accessible and personalized according to each individual’s interests, needs, and abilities. Your support allows for the development of resources like these that support churches across the country!
Because of our resources and training, we are witnessing change in congregations. We are seeing churches take steps to provide support in their corporate worship settings so that it is accessible to all people. We are hearing pastors proclaim the biblical truths about disability and their church’s commitment to inclusion. We are supporting 20 churches as they explore best practices for engaging children with disabilities in their ministries. We are celebrating the Christ-centered friendships forming, deepening, and modeling the beauty of interdependence. What a gift!
You are a part of our community and this work! None of this happens without your ongoing support and generosity that provides training and resources to support congregational inclusion and faith formation for individuals with disabilities. As we head into the last two months of our fiscal year, would you consider giving a gift to help us meet our organizational and ministry goals? We would be so honored!
Thank you for being with us!
Rebecca Wall
Executive Director
The Impact of Friendships + Biblical Community
Celebrating Stories of New + Old Friendship Groups
For 40 years, Friendship Groups have been an example of extravagant love, committed relationships, and biblical community. We celebrate the beautiful communities across the United States and Canada meeting regularly to deepen their love of God and one another. We pray these groups continue to grow and catalyze a greater message of inclusion and belonging in church communities on and between Sundays!
40 + Years
of friendship groups
1000+ Groups
Started across the USA & Canada
5 New Groups
Started Last Year
Lasting Impact
“For over 15 years, I have been a part of a Friendship Group in Ferndale, Washington, where our group gathers every two weeks to study God’s word together. We pray for each other, study God’s word, and just love each other so much. We are friends. We are the church. ”
Donald Recker, Friendship Group member
“When I moved from Ann Arbor, I came to Plymouth Heights about 10 years ago due in part to the active Friendship program. Aside from our weekly gatherings, I think the fact that so many participants with disabilities attend our weekly church services is remarkable. The group has undoubtedly positively impacted the overall culture and the welcoming atmosphere at Plymouth Heights, allowing all members and attendees to feel more free to be authentic and to belong.”
Kathy Natelborg, Friendship Group member, Michigan
New Growth
“We launched our Friendship Group, Explorers, last August and witnessed countless opportunities for people with and without disabilities to form genuine relationships. We have been utilizing With Ministries’ bible study curriculum, Together, a multisensory approach to teaching God’s word by sound, drama, and visuals. It allows for everyone to be a part of the group and have the opportunity to learn and connect with Scripture. Participants are learning from each other and with each other. Our small groups are eager to spend time together and serve together, which was our biggest hope—that relationships would extend beyond these monthly gatherings.”
Allison Patrick, Friendship Group member, Texas
Thousands of relationships are represented in these stories, churches, communities, and bible studies. We love our Friendship Groups and how they prioritize small groups of people with and without disabilities learning from and with one another!
Our most requested
resource is back!
With Ministries is honored to revise and update Expressing Faith In Jesus to guide
church leaders and persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities in
conversations surrounding public expressions, faith, salvation, baptism, communion,
and other expressions of faith. A public expression of faith in Jesus is often the
beginning of greater inclusion and participation in the church. Full inclusion happens,
however, when there is a shifting of church culture where people with and without
disabilities learn, serve, and worship alongside one another as a tangible
representation of God’s beautiful and diverse Kingdom here on earth.
Purchase With Faith: Expressing and Living the Gospel for your church today!
