Bridges to Belonging

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 Disability and Flourishing (BCDF), 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.