About 1 in 5 children in the U.S. has some form of neurodiversity, according to the CDC. These children grow up to be teens and adults.
It’s a disheartening truth that many neurodivergent youth, who are initially welcomed into children’s ministry, often start to feel excluded when they reach youth ministry. As adults, they may feel marginalized because others perceive them as ‘too much. ‘ This unspoken sentiment of not fully embracing them or accommodating their needs is a challenge we must confront. The church should be leading the way in accommodating the needs of neurodivergent people, rather than leaving it to other institutions.
Since a large number of kids experience neurodiversity, we need to learn how to support them well. It is our job to understand their unique needs so we can create a community where everyone feels welcome.
Neurodiversity isn’t a hurdle to ministry, but a hidden window into the heart of God.
We live in a world where God wires brains differently—some process language more slowly, some feel sound more deeply, some move constantly just to stay grounded.
In a church culture that often values sameness, structure, and “normalcy,” neurodivergent individuals—children, teens, and adults—can be overlooked, misunderstood, or exhausted. But Jesus is not confused by how a person’s mind works. He made it. And when He calls someone to Himself, He doesn’t ask them to change their brain first.
So maybe the question for our churches is:
Are we making space for every part of the Body?
Seeing Neurodiversity Through the Gospel
The Gospel flips the script. It says:
- You’re not your diagnosis. You’re God’s child.
- You’re not broken. You’re beloved.
- You don’t need to act like everyone else to be welcomed by Jesus.
Jesus didn’t shrink back from people who were “too much” for the crowds or “too complicated” for the program. He walked toward them. And when we do the same, we reflect Him—not just in speaking the words, but giving of our time and presence.
Children’s Ministry: Inviting All In
- Visual schedules showing “First worship, then story, then craft” to lower anxiety
- Sensory supports like headphones, wiggle cushions, fidget bins, and calm corners
- Storytelling with movement—using sand, blocks, water, and visuals to tell the Bible
- Buddy programs—trained volunteers who walk with kids who need extra support
- Gospel words spoken often: “Jesus loves you.”
The goal is connection.
Youth Ministry: Safe Spaces Over Cool Spaces
Teens who are neurodivergent are often master maskers—hiding exhaustion, confusion, and anxiety under smiles, silence, even anger and disobedience. But the Gospel invites authenticity.
What helps?
- Shorter teaching chunks with visuals
- Written discussion questions ahead of time
- Options for expression—drawing, movement, quiet reflection
- Student stories about following Jesus with ADHD, autism, anxiety, or sensory struggles
- Peer training—teaching teens how to notice and include, not ignore or label
And let’s say this often:
“You are valuable and unique. I’m so thankful for you and so thankful God put you in my life. He loves you very much.”
Adult Ministry: Creating Real Belonging
Many neurodivergent adults have been quietly hurting in church for years. They’ve masked their needs, felt misunderstood, and believed that full participation wasn’t for “people like them.” They’ve been labeled, or even pushed out of classes for being “too much to handle.” They’re not afraid to ask the hard questions; not to be argumentative, but because they need it to make sense in their heads. Perhaps people have given up on them because “they’ll just never change.”
But the church should be the most gracious place on earth.
Ways to honor neurodiverse adults:
- Quiet seating options
- Sermon outlines or visuals
- Small groups with different paces and formats
- Clear expectations for events (what to bring, how long it lasts, what to expect)
- Serve teams based on strengths, not assumptions
Some adults may doodle during sermons. Some may struggle to make eye contact or keep up in rapid Bible studies. Some miss social cues and are labeled “unfriendly” or “disinterested.” They are not less spiritual. They are often deeply tuned in, just on a different frequency.
And isn’t that exactly the kind of person Jesus lingered with?
What the Church Needs to Remember
Neurodiversity isn’t a problem to fix—it’s a reality to embrace.
And if the church is the Body of Christ, then that body includes every mind, every sensory profile, every processing speed, every learning style.
When we make room for the whole spectrum of human wiring, we reflect the creative, compassionate heart of Christ.
The Connected Table 
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