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Lamar Hardwick was designed by God to write this resource for the church. Lamar perfectly weaves together his personal experience, the history of the church, and today's much-needed conversation on diversity to lay a blueprint for inclusion in the local church. Ryan Wolfe, president and executive director of Ability Ministry In Disability and the Church, Lamar Hardwick combines his professional and personal experience to create a unique and necessary resource for pastors and church leaders. After being diagnosed with autism several years into his pastoral career, he became an advocate for including individuals with disabilities in the church. What he has to say about ministering with-rather than to or for-people and families affected by disability has the potential to transform the body of Christ. I am grateful to Lamar for his transparent, honest voice in Disability and the Church. I not only recommend the book wholeheartedly, I also plan to gift copies to leaders at my church. Jolene Philo, disability advocate and coauthor of Sharing Love Abundantly in Special Needs Families Lamar Hardwick brilliantly captures kingdom vision for diversity, inclusion, and gospel-reflecting community. He draws a powerful parallel between his own long journey from difficulties to diagnosis and the church's battle to be a place of welcome and belonging where everyone gets an equal stake in the promises of God. This book carries a message that is ripe for today with a plan lifted straight from the Scriptures. Lamar helps us understand historical problems in the church and wakes us up to a bright future of possibilities. Lisa Jamieson, cofounder of Walk Right In Ministries and author of Finding Glory in the Thorns Reflecting the wisdom and heart of a seasoned church pastor, this book by Rev. Dr. Lamar Hardwick sparkles with the best parts of being a scholar and a preacher-a biblical exploration of God's desire for the full welcome of the diverse people God has created (particularly people with disabilities) combined with personal stories, reflections, and very detailed ideas for living into that reality. His many years serving as an autistic pastor give him the insight and credibility to name the kinds of barriers to leadership and participation that neurodiverse and disabled folks experience in churches, and the practical and theological tools needed to remove these barriers. At its heart, this truly helpful book calls our communities to be accessible to the presence, gifts, and leadership of people with disabilities, and thereby into faithful resonance with the way of Jesus and the very heart of God. Bethany McKinney Fox, author of Disability and the Way of Jesus and founding pastor of Beloved Everybody Church Disability and the Church by Lamar Hardwick is a must-read for every pastor and church leader! Lamar does a wonderful job of explaining why every church needs to become inclusive and welcome families and individuals with disabilities with open arms. I especially appreciate how Lamar is vulnerable and explains how he and other individuals with disabilities have been treated by the church. It is time for the church to finally welcome these amazing families and change the way it thinks. Every ministry must see through the eyes of a family with disabilities and plan accordingly. Thank you once again, Lamar, for leading the way in calling all of us to step up and welcome families with disabilities with open arms! Churches need to receive the full blessing that God wants to bestow on them! Stephen Doc Hunsley, executive director and founder, SOAR Special Needs

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Lamar Hardwick (DMin, Liberty University), also known as ""the autism pastor,"" is the lead pastor at Tri-Cities Church in East Point, Georgia. He writes and speaks frequently on the topic of disability, especially autism, and he is also the author of the best-selling I Am Strong: The Life and Journey of an Autistic Pastor.

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