Equipping Churches
Advent 2025 Prayer Guide
This Advent, we celebrate the journey of Immanuel—God with us. Join us each day as we pause, reflect, pray, and recognize God’s grace along the way.
Recommended reading list
Are you looking to be challenged, equipped, and inspired? Karis Disability Services collaborates with experts in disability and faith to produce resources to help you and your congregation become more accessible.
Everybody Belongs, Serving Together
An inclusion handbook for Christian churches
Accessible churches seek to bring about the full participation of people with disabilities in the life of the church, and the full participation of the church in the lives of people with disabilities.
This guide was created by the Christian Reformed Church in North America and the Reformed Church in America, with contributions from Karis Disability Services and Elim Christian Services.
Life Together Disability and Belonging in the Church
The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada
This free digital resource contains reflections, interviews, and stories from people with disabilities. Karis Disability Services also helped produce this resource in collaboration with the EFC!
Formed Together
Dr. Keith Dow
In Formed Together, Keith Dow uses his personal experiences of supporting people with intellectual disabilities to explore why people care for each other. He writes about what it means to be interdependent and created in the image of God.
Dr. Keith Dow is the manager of organizational and spiritual life at Karis Disability Services.
The Disability and Faith Forum
In this inspiring blog, you will learn from people with disabilities, direct support professionals, and church leaders about how disability and the Christian faith intersect.
Recommended resources
Indicators of Belonging
A checklist and guide to explore how people in your congregation experience belonging, and how you can remove potential barriers.
Disability and the Canadian Church
Join hosts Keith Dow and Jasmine Duckworth in conversation with experts in disability and faith. Available where podcasts are streamed!
The Five Stages of Changing Attitudes
Dan Vander Plaats & Wheaton Center for Faith and Disability
How can we change ignorance and pity into true belonging? This resource explores steps to change our attitudes toward people with disabilities so we can be more inclusive and accessible.
Collaborating Worldwide in Disability and Faith
Karis Disability Services collaborates across Canada, the United States, and Europe to advance inclusive approaches to disability and faith through international dialogue and partnership.
Join the Conversation
Would you like to stay informed and support your church in new ways? Our monthly church newsletter delivers updates on ministries, stories, and opportunities on how your church can be a place of belonging.
Stories to Share
Images of God: Art Exhibit in Waterloo, ON
In the Christian tradition, we are all made in God's image. This exhibit features art from 11 Ontarians with intellectual disabilities. The artists explore how they view themselves and God.
Belonging to a Church Community: Judy's Story
Judy is an integral part of her church community, contributing her gifts and participating each week. She is supported by a wonderful congregation that welcomes her and nurtures her faith.
Reimagining communities with Becca
Becca wanted to sing with her church choir but there was one problem: the stage where the choir sings has stairs and Becca uses a wheelchair. Read and watch how Becca's church became more accessible.
Contact us for more
Looking for more resources to make your church more accessible? We’d love to come alongside you in your journey. Please contact us for more information and resources.