Editor’s note: Tom Stolle is executive director of the Baptist Convention of Maryland-Delaware and served as chairman of the SBC’s Disability Ministry Task Force.
In 2001, my wife Shelley and I were blessed with our third child – a wonderful little boy. We were attending Cresthill Baptist Church in Bowie, Maryland, and named our son after our pastor, James Painter, to honor a man God had used powerfully in our lives. Both James Painter and our youngest son go by the nickname “Jimmy.”
Even back then, we felt our Jimmy would also be used powerfully by God, though we didn’t yet know how.
Shortly after Jimmy was born, we noticed behaviors that seemed odd to us. His hand flapping and foot twirling seemed constant, and he would not hold eye contact. Jimmy’s favorite toys were empty plastic soda bottles. He would either spin them or line them up and flap his hands while looking at them.
Upon medical diagnosis, we discovered that Jimmy was affected by autism. We had no idea what that meant, but upon seeing all the things that had led up to that point, and hearing the grim diagnosis from the doctor, our faith was challenged.
“Why, God?” “Why do this to Jimmy?” “I’m a big boy. Why him? Do it to me, not Jimmy.”
These were common phrases in my prayer time early on. There was much grief.
Shelley and I were determined to love Jimmy the best we knew how. We were determined to provide the best life possible for him.
Things got harder – much harder. Jimmy would hurt himself. Then, when he hit puberty, he began to hurt Shelley and me. Physical attacks were frequent. Destruction of our home became the new normal. Suffering and grief became acquainted with chaos. It was beyond difficult.
How we felt when Jimmy was born – that Jimmy would be used mightily by God – seemed like a distant memory. We hadn’t thought about that in years. We were just trying to make it to the next day.
During this chaos was when I met Shauna Amick. Shauna serves at Joni and Friends. She began to tell me about her daughter, Sarah, who has Down syndrome. She also told me about the challenges they face. Shauna had a joy that radiated from her – a joy that reminded me that God is bigger than the chaos, that God has plans for Jimmy and Sarah.
My belief began to be recharged. I realized through prayer and through speaking with Shauna what God wanted me to do. God wanted me to tell the story of Jimmy – to boldly proclaim that Jimmy, Sarah, and the many millions of people with disabilities are created in the image of God and must be included in the church.
Shauna partnered with me to start the first-ever disability conference for churches within the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware (BCM/D). A partnership with Joni and Friends was born. In my conversations with Shauna as we prepared to launch our ministry partnership, I told her that Sarah and Jimmy were leading the way. Then I was reminded of something I believed when Jimmy was born.
I understood that God is using Jimmy, and I saw that God was using Sarah.
This was the beginning of a partnership between Joni and Friends and the BCM/D. I didn’t know how far the partnership would go. I didn’t know what God had for us. I was just happy God was providing and knew more was coming.
Fast forward to what is happening now. God has grown this partnership in amazing ways. On June 10, the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) presented a report from the SBC Disability Task Force to more than 10,000 people in attendance and to the world, requesting that churches and other SBC entities provide resources and include individuals living with disabilities in the life of the church. All people are created in the image of God.
Joni and Friends, Shauna Amick, and Sarah Amick are key parts of this story.
Our partnership continues to grow. Shawn Thornton, president of Joni and Friends, traveled to Orlando to participate in a panel discussion on June 9 about the intersection of sexual abuse and disability, highlighting how vulnerable individuals affected by disabilities are to abuse and how the church can offer better protection to these precious people.
Joni Eareckson Tada is providing people, videos and resources for this cooperative effort to share the love of Jesus with individuals living with disabilities. This is not the culmination of a partnership. This is only the beginning. I am confident that still more is on the way – much more.
I am honored and humbled that this partnership is growing. It will continue to grow.
It all started with the birth of two children: Jimmy and Sarah. I reflected on what I heard from God in prayer: God would use Jimmy mightily. I almost forgot that along the way. I am thankful for our God – a God who doesn’t forget!
God brought Shauna. God brought Sarah. God is using Sarah and Jimmy mightily. In fact, Jimmy and Sarah have led the way! Our partnership would not have been born years ago if not for them.
I am reminded of 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 (NIV): “Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things – and the things that are not – to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.”
What is happening in the SBC through a partnership that was birthed with Joni and Friends years ago is all due to God.
God chose those the world would see as weak – Sarah and Jimmy – to begin something powerful. It is God who is moving us forward. God is driving the train. We just get to be on the train!
God, thank you for Jimmy and Sarah. Thank you for the way You designed them. You are using them mightily, and You designed them just the way they are for Your glorious purposes. I wouldn’t have it any other way, and I’m confident my friend Shauna Amick would agree!
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