For Churches & Ministries
Is Grace & Faith Right for Our Church?
You may recognize the need to include and disciple adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities but still wonder how your church can begin.
You may be asking:
- Do we have enough volunteers?
- Do our volunteers need special training?
- What if we only have one or two adults who need adapted teaching?
- How do we teach adults respectfully without using children’s curriculum?
- How will we know whether they are understanding what we teach?
These are reasonable questions.
Grace & Faith Adaptive Curriculum was created to help churches move from “We would like to do something” to “We can begin.”
You do not need a large disability ministry, specialized staff, or a perfect program.
You can start with the people God has already placed in front of you.
Church Objection 1
We Don’t Know Where to Start.”
Many churches care deeply about adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities but feel unsure about how to begin.
The good news is that you do not need to launch a large program all at once.
Start small.
Begin with the people already in your church or community. One learner, one facilitator, and one consistent Bible study can be a meaningful beginning.
Grace & Faith provides the lesson structure, teaching guidance, and practical tools so your church does not have to create everything from scratch.
You do not need to have everything figured out before you begin serving the people God has already placed in front of you.
Church Objection 2
“Our Volunteers Aren’t Special-Education Professionals.”
They do not need to be.
Grace & Faith is designed so that caring church volunteers, ministry leaders, caregivers, and family members can use it without specialized teaching credentials.
Each lesson includes:
- Clear facilitator guidanceStep-by-step teaching structure
- Simple preparation instructions
- Concrete teaching ideas
- Visual and tactile supports
- Check-in questions
- Review and retention questions
- Suggestions for adapting participation
The curriculum gives facilitators a framework to follow while still allowing them to respond to the individual needs of the learners in front of them.
A willing, patient facilitator with clear guidance can make a meaningful difference.
Church Objection 3
“How Do We Teach Adults Without Treating Them Like Children?”
This is one of the most important questions a church can ask.
Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities may benefit from simpler language, repetition, visual supports, and hands-on learning.
But they are still adults.
Grace & Faith is designed to use:
- Adult-respectful language
- Age-appropriate discussion
- Scripture-centered teaching
- Concrete examples without childish presentation
- Hands-on learning that supports understanding
- Flexible participation based on each learner’s abilities
The goal is not to make biblical truth childish.
The goal is to make biblical truth understandable while honoring the dignity of the adult learner.
Adapt the method. Keep the truth. Honor the adult.
Church Objection 4
“What If Someone Can’t Answer in the Usual Way?”
Understanding does not always look like a spoken answer.
Some learners may respond by:
- Pointing
- Choosing between options
- Using gestures
- Matching pictures or objects
- Demonstrating an action
- Repeating a key word or phrase
- Using a communication device
- Showing recognition through behavior or participation
Grace & Faith encourages facilitators to look for meaningful participation in more than one form.
The goal is not to force every learner into the same response pattern.
The goal is to give each person a genuine opportunity to engage with the lesson and show what they understand.
Participation can look different and still be meaningful.
Church Objection 5
“How Do We Know Whether the Lesson Worked?”
Finishing a lesson does not automatically mean the learner understood or remembered it.
Grace & Faith builds review into the curriculum so facilitators can look for understanding over time.
Lessons include:
- Check-in questions during teaching
- Optional review questions
- One-week retention questions
- Two-week retention questions
- Three-week retention questions
- Opportunities to reteach or reinforce important truths
The goal is not to test learners in a way that creates pressure.
The goal is to help facilitators notice what has been understood, what has been remembered, and what may need to be taught again in a different way.
Success is not simply completing the lesson. Success is helping biblical truth become understood and remembered.
How Your Church Can Begin
Starting an adaptive Bible ministry does not have to be complicated.
Your church can begin with a few simple steps:
- Identify the people you want to serve.
Start with the adults already connected to your church, ministry, or community. - Choose a facilitator.
Look for someone patient, dependable, respectful, and willing to learn. - Choose a consistent meeting time.
A simple, predictable rhythm can help both learners and facilitators. - Begin with one Grace & Faith module.
Use the lesson structure, facilitator guidance, props, check-in questions, and retention review provided. - Adjust as you learn.
Every group is different. Pay attention to what helps your learners understand, participate, and remember.
You do not need to build a large program before you begin.
Start small. Be consistent. Learn your people. Keep going.
Need Help Getting Started?
SG Hulett Ministries wants churches and ministries to feel supported as they begin serving adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
If your church is considering Grace & Faith and would like help thinking through:
- How to start small
- Choosing facilitators
- Preparing for your first lesson
- Adapting participation
- Using Grace & Faith in an existing ministry
- Introducing the curriculum to church leadership
- Planning a church presentation or curriculum demonstration
We would be glad to connect with you.
You do not have to figure everything out alone.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Explore Grace & Faith, review the curriculum modules, or contact us with questions about using the curriculum in your church or ministry.