NAD Event Focuses on Increasing Inclusion of People With Special Needs

The last Sabbath of March 2025 marked the Disabilities Ministries Annual Conference of the North American Division, hosted this year by the Living Hope Seventh-day Adventist Church in Haymarket, Virginia, United States. Representatives from across the country joined forces to share insights, with the event livestreamed for those unable to attend in person. This was a historic meeting with record-breaking attendance, signaling the church’s increasing emphasis on inclusion.

The weekend began with a warm welcome from Christian Martin, Living Hope senior pastor, and Charlotte L. V. Thoms, Disabilities Ministries coordinator for the North American Division (NAD). The Friday evening consecration service featured an intimate interview with Shawn Brooks and his daughter, Annabelle, who shared her experiences growing up neurodivergent. Her candid reflections captivated the audience.

A Sabbath of Inspiration and Inclusion

Sabbath School combined the Thirteenth Sabbath program from Living Hope’s children’s division, directed by Nikki Gallagher, with a presentation by Beth Dobson, chair of the board of Three Angels Deaf Ministries, showcasing ways to integrate deaf ministries into regular church programs.

Martin highlighted the church’s Living Hope 3 initiatives emphasizing the men’s retreat, fasting, and prayer. Subsequently, Wendy Eberhardt, NAD vice president for ministries, addressed the congregation, marking the first official attendance of an NAD vice president at the conference since Rosa Taylor-Banks, former director of NAD Human Relations, who served in the role from the early 2000s.

Thoms delivered a thought-provoking sermon titled “Walking Fig Trees Sitting in the Pew,” challenging the audience to reconsider the definition of disability. When asked how many in the audience have disabilities, only six initially raised their hands. After she explained the seven major disability groups recognized by the NAD, nearly everyone identified with the community.

Youth Voices and Afternoon Programs

Youth shared their stories, including Morgan Vice, cochair of Youth 4 Disabilities, who spoke about her journey with autism. This was the first conference in which the audience heard Morgan’s voice. Deandra Thoms’ testimony about living with atopic dermatitis and nut allergies moved many as she highlighted the emotional challenges of her conditions. The youth created insightful, eye-opening skits depicting how people with disabilities should not be treated. 

The afternoon featured practical workshops raising the level of awareness, including “Creating a Welcoming Church for All Abilities,” led by Lilith Coke, and “Framing Adventist Possibility Ministry in the NAD Context,” with Ernesto Douglas Venn and Thoms, emphasizing the importance of inclusion in ministry. The attendance of pastors from various areas of the division and officials from the General Conference helped make this a significant event.

Recognition and Closing Highlights

Diane Thurber, president of Christian Record Services (CRS), shared her inspiring journey in a presentation titled “Lighting the Way” and received the Making a Difference award for her outstanding contribution to CRS. Other speakers included Jennifer Sankey-Battles, director of Health and Disabilities Ministries from the Southeastern Conference, who spoke on mental wellness, and Cornice Williams, western New York representative, whose message on elder care, titled “What’s the Buzz About?” was followed by a lively Q&A panel discussion.

The conference concluded with a call to action. Some of the members of Living Hope voiced their desire to establish a permanent Disabilities Ministries, as the two-day conference inspired collaboration and shared vision. From sign language interpreters Jaycee Robinson, Gayle Sutton, and Alessa Wilson to musicians Tammy Vice, Heidi Martin, and Natasha Perez, the event showcased the talents of the disability community and their advocates. The program left attendees confident that Disabilities Ministries is a movement whose time has come. 

The original version of this story was posted on the North American Division news site.