Special Needs Families Are Leaving Churches....Here's Why with Craig Johnson

Families raising children with disabilities often don’t leave church because they’ve lost faith. Many leave because they feel unseen, unsupported, isolated, or overwhelmed trying to navigate spaces that were never designed with their children in mind. In this powerful episode, I sit down with Pastor Craig Johnson, founder of Champions Club, a worldwide special needs ministry that has helped launch over 135 disability ministries across the globe. Together, we have an honest conversation about disability inclusion in churches, autism acceptance in faith spaces, supporting families with special needs, and what true belonging really looks like.

We discuss:

• Why many special needs families quietly stop attending church

• The emotional weight caregivers carry in public spaces

• How churches can better support autistic children and people with disabilities

• Practical ways to create sensory-friendly and inclusive ministries • Pastor Craig’s personal journey and heart behind Champions Club

• What pastors, volunteers, and ministry leaders often misunderstand

• How the Church can become a place of refuge instead of isolation Whether you are a parent raising a child with autism, a pastor, ministry leader, volunteer, educator, or someone passionate about disability awareness and inclusion, this conversation is deeply important. No family should feel invisible in the house of God.

✨ If you’re a special needs parent, what’s one thing you wish churches understood better about your family? Share below. Your story may help someone feel less alone.

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