Hearts create homes

Compassion and patience can be hard to find in a world that doesn’t always understand the developmentally disabled. But Resurrection Lutheran Church, where between eight and 12 worship most Sundays in Greensboro, N.C., teach us a thing or two about welcome and advocacy. They not only welcome the developmentally disabled with open arms, they have used their assets to build them a place to live. Said one member: “These ... children of God and their families taught us how to be the people of God, something of what it means to be the church of Jesus Christ.”

The story begins:

Compassion and patience can be hard to find in a world that doesn’t always understand the developmentally disabled.

Wendy Miller is the mother of a high-functioning autistic daughter. At age 7, Michelle sat in the back during worship, leaving during hymns when she’d cry. Miller found her church had become less than welcoming to her daughter. Not only did the congregation ask her to do something about the crying, but they neglected to visit Michelle when she became severely ill.