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by Lyn Roehrs and Lyn Benger

What can we do as church to support families living with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)?

Every day, every hour, ASD families are trying to find ways to provide an environment in which their children can function and flourish. Now let’s think about one of these families planning to come to church and look at some of the issues they may be facing:
• This is not the regular school/kindy routine and the whole family needs to get ready
• They have to wear different clothes and it’s a different time of day
• There may be battles over breakfast and over what they can take with them to church. ‘No, not your 50 cars or a tub of Lego.’
• When finally in the car … is the seatbelt on? Do they feel squashed in? Are they squabbling with their siblings in the back seat?

When they arrive at church, what does the child who has sensory issues face?

• Unfamiliar surroundings
• Being greeted by an unfamiliar person
• Lots of strangers crowded around
• Handshakes or hugs – ugh!
• Strong smells from perfume, hairspray or flowers
• Loud music and bright lights

The child may well think, ‘And you expect me to sit still and be quiet in church? But I need to wiggle/make loud noises/fidget/move about … and I can’t cope with that music, those lights and people so close to me. Help! Get me out of here!’

A meltdown is on the way as the child is overloaded with sensory stimulation. How does the congregation react? Do members criticise parents for their ‘lack of discipline’, ignore or even exclude the family?

The family makes a hasty retreat. The parents and siblings miss worshipping with their church family, the social contacts, support and understanding, just when they need it most. Will that family return to church – or is it just too difficult? At The Ark at Salisbury Lutheran Church, we pondered this problem and came up with ways to make our church more inviting for our families and visitors with children with sensory issues.

We applied for and received a mission stimulus grant from the LCA to fund projects to support families living with ASD. These included upgrading the church welcome area, creating a sensory area, providing some education for members, including hosting a workshop, and staging a ‘Purple Picnic’ for families in support of autism awareness.

We refurbished the foyer with two areas, as some of the children prefer isolated play. We also provided comfortable seating for the families, including lounges, beanbags, cushions and a swivel egg chair. We purchased squishy fiddle toys and placed them in drawstring bags, and bought some weighted stuffed animals and wiggle cushions from online suppliers. We also purchased several headsets that were very helpful in filtering out noise.

On Pinterest we discovered a variety of easy-to-make ideas for sensory toys, such as gel pads, sensory/calm-down bottles, mazes and weighted cushions. We also bought cheap waterwheel toys and church members made some puzzle cubes. Even a bundle of colourful pipe-cleaners can be twisted, curled and joined to keep young hands busy.

We were careful not to purchase any items with small parts that could become a choking hazard. The toys are regularly disinfected or washed, and checked for safety. The items are placed in one area of the foyer but are available for all families to use. Many families are taking them into the church with their children rather than staying in the foyer, which is wonderful.

We also put posters around to help other members of the congregation understand why we have those things in the sensory area. And one of the children got up in front of the church to explain why he chose the items he did and what they did for him.

We also have a library of books available for our congregation, as part of the ASD education and awareness process. Members have become aware of the challenges that these children have, what the sensory issues are, and what is in place to help them.

We also have two groups that meet regularly, offering an outlet for families with children on the spectrum.

Volunteers are an integral part of the programs and groups we run to support families – from creative input for the sensory area, to staffing the crèche, providing meals and helping in the kitchen – we couldn’t do without them.

We’re all learning as we go along. We just want to continue to see where God leads us. Because he’s led us big time in this.

Lyn Roehrs is a member at The Ark at Salisbury Lutheran Church. She has been a part of planning and introducing its programs, groups and facilities aimed at making the church more inviting for families living with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other sensory issues.

Lyn Benger is Care and Connections Coordinator at The Ark.

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by Kirra Lewis

We suspected early on that Asher’s development was progressing differently to that of his brother and peers. After months of questioning our parenting, we sought a diagnosis. What was then called ‘Asperger’s Syndrome’ (now diagnostically referred to as ‘autism’) was confirmed when he was three.

In the early years, Asher struggled with anxiety, meltdowns, misunderstandings, sleep disturbance and disruption to routines. Life was complicated and perplexing. In his world, shoes made his feet scream, tags on clothing were like mosquitoes biting and bright lights hurt his eyes. Raised eyebrows were confusing.

These days, Asher’s feet still scream but he has learned to manage the sensation. At school, he does very well in the classroom with its clear rules and routines. But the playground is a jungle of unpredictability, filled with loud noises, strong facial expressions and bizarre social rituals. What we find easy, even fun, for Asher can be torturous and exhausting.

The early years were tough. But as we’ve all grown and matured, Asher too has grown to become absolute colour and life to our family. He has wisdom. He has insight. He’s funny. He knows who he is and how he is wired. He looks at us ‘neurotypicals’ and thinks we’re weird in the way we think – and maybe he’s right! There is such beauty in autism. It reminds you that there is more than one way to approach things. Order, routine and predictability have their place. So, while parenting can be a hard slog, there is so much to learn and gain through the process.

As soon as Asher was diagnosed, we were galvanised into action. As limiting and destructive as labels can be, this label provided much-needed answers. We figured out which therapists and support services we needed and got to work.

It has really helped him to see a psychologist, working on emotional awareness and regulation – getting Asher’s ‘engine’ to run not-too-fast and not-too-slow. Occupational therapy helped with everyday skills, like putting shoes on those screaming feet, gripping a pen or getting into a swimming pool. And there was speech therapy, social skills groups, sensory programs, and the list goes on.

Of course, this has an impact on family time with our other children and as a couple, and really stretched our capacity to cope. There were times I parented out of frustration and exhaustion, as opposed to being the Pinterest mum I really wanted to be! Those times taught us about forgiveness, as I needed to seek my children’s absolution as well.

Having autism in the family also affects siblings. Elijah just wanted a traditional brother who would kick the footy with him and run barefoot in the backyard. As the eldest, he often carried the burden of being the one to compromise to help Asher navigate his world. Our youngest, Aliya, naturally fell into the role of nurturer and social worker. From a very young age, she would alter her play expectations and needs to accommodate Asher.

We also learnt that therapists and counsellors weren’t just for Asher. Each of our children have benefitted from processing their experiences with a professional, as have Rowan, and I. Having a child with additional needs can add pressure to a marriage. In the harder years, with a pre-schooler, a baby and Asher in-between, nothing was ever easy or uncomplicated. If someone had told me everything would be okay, I wouldn’t have believed them!

Today I am astounded by Asher’s maturity, creativity, and his capacity to cope and understand the world.

A ‘product’ of Lutheran congregations in Melbourne’s east, Kirra Lewis is Community Education Officer for Australian Lutheran World Service.

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by Rob Edwards

A taste of heaven. That’s what I believe the Christian community will experience again this Easter at Rockhampton in Queensland, about 600 kilometres north of Brisbane.

When we get to heaven, we will gather together with all of the saints around the throne and worship the King. This is really something to look forward to: no divisions, no hatred; complete unity, pure love, holy togetherness.

But every now and then, you come across something heavenly on earth, a little taste of the glory to come.

That’s how Easter has been for us for the past two years at Rockhampton – a little taste of heaven. It sounds difficult – in fact, I said it would never work!

Despite my view, the idea of a combined churches’ Easter celebration was proposed for Easter Sunday morning. The idea was cooked up by members of the Rockhampton ecumenical ministers’ fellowship.

The church ministers in Rockhampton gather for lunch once a month. We pray together and each of us has the opportunity to share our highs and lows of ministry. We have been intentionally working on much closer relationships between ministers and our churches. As a result of this trust and friendship, the idea bubbled to the surface that we needed to do something big. Something that would say to the community, ‘this is important, something worth taking notice of!’ And so the idea of a combined Easter service was born.

The problems were obvious. Who would want to give up their Easter service to join with other churches?

But we first gave it a go in 2016.

There were the obvious challenges. What would we do about holy communion? And, what about giving up our own individual services? How would we make sure everyone got to know about it?

But the chance of potential for good was far too evident to let it go by without giving it our best shot. So we, Calvary Lutheran Church in Rockhampton, decided that we were in. The Lutherans would be a part of it.

It actually wasn’t too difficult once we set our minds to it. We started the day with a barbecue breakfast, then held a short holy communion service at 8.30am in our own church. We moved on to the local Baptist church ready to begin the main worship service at 9.30am. The effort was well worth it, and the mild inconvenience was swamped by the excitement and sense of celebration.

The result? Five churches officially took part and about 850 people got together for worship, with musicians, choir, readers and preachers, all from different churches celebrating in a way that would shake the town. Overall, there were Church of Christ, Baptist, Lutheran, Catholic, Brethren, Peace Christian Church, Assemblies Of God, Covenant Church and Anglican representatives, and possibly a few Uniting Church members as well.

The vibrant and jubilant worship service went for 90 minutes and, when it was over, people mingled, and shared morning tea and fellowship together. Some discovered for the first time that their dentist, their pharmacist, or others in their community whom they deal with on a daily basis, worshipped the same God, though maybe in a slightly different way, and they were part of the same Christian family.

Pastor Rob Edwards is Parish Pastor for Rockhampton Queensland, including Calvary Lutheran Church Rockhampton and Yeppoon Living Waters Fellowship.

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by Darren Jaensch

Members of the defence forces often compromise their own comfort and safety in seeking to protect the freedoms we as Australians and New Zealanders enjoy.

Those who have faith need to be supported and ministered to, especially when they are isolated from their home church or religious community. Others may become open to faith and spiritual growth when confronted with alternative realities or removed from their usual supports.

Defence chaplains provide pastoral, spiritual and religious support to people (souls) in this context. Chaplains also advocate for the powerless and speak an alternative and fearless voice to commanders.

Chaplains educate and influence commanders and troops alike in the reality of the spiritual dimension to life, moral consequences, the importance of character and faith, and compassion in the sacred encounters of life. And, often, our very presence is a simple reminder of the reality of the transcendent.

Since recently taking on the role of Director General Chaplaincy – Army, I have been responsible to the Chief of Army for overseeing the management of 71 full-time and roughly 100 part-time chaplains from Christian denominations and other faiths. I also am required to oversee the recruitment, training and resourcing of chaplains, their support to Australian Defence Force operations, and the provision of pastoral, spiritual and religious support to the Army workforce. My focus includes setting a vision and direction for Army chaplaincy, and shaping its culture and ethos.

Concurrently, I assume the role of Principal Chaplain Protestant Denominations, which means I exercise oversight and care of all Protestant chaplains in Army. I represent them in posting considerations, monitor denominational accountability, advise on suitability for Army chaplaincy, and advise Army commanders on Protestant matters.

I have a great team of senior chaplains and strive to harness their enthusiasm and giftings, as they develop as leaders in chaplaincy.

However, this role has been a world away – both figuratively and, at times, literally – from the realm of service and work I expected to be a part of when I began studying for ministry in the LCA.

I was a parish pastor for six years in Queensland and Northern Territory from 1994. But God was already leading me towards my present role even before I was ordained. In 1992, while I was on vicarage, Pastor Ken Schmidt talked to me about the possibility of Army chaplaincy in the future. He could see something I couldn’t, and I distinctly remember laughing at the suggestion. Ken (and God) had the last laugh! In 1998 I served a parish that had a number of Defence members in the congregation. In an effort to understand their world and, in response to approaches from local chaplains and advice from the previous pastor, David Spike, I agreed to support the Army in
part-time (Reserve) chaplaincy.

I liked it, it liked me, and two years later, the opportunity to serve full-time presented. I discerned a calling to that ministry and the LCA agreed to release me to represent the church in that mission context.

It is a specialised ministry and not everyone’s cup of tea, nor is everyone suited to it. But I find fulfilment in knowing that I am able to ply my ministry gifting in a context that also contributes to our national security.

I find joy in engaging with clergy and faith group leaders from other denominations and even faith groups, and working together with them as colleagues.

Defence chaplains can find themselves in a wide variety of situations, which can be both invigorating and frightening. Not many people get paid to visit unfamiliar parts of the world or to jump out of perfectly serviceable aeroplanes! But mostly, there is both challenge and fulfilment in engaging with a flock which is largely unchurched and yet working in fields in which members necessarily encounter issues with spiritual and eternal relevance.

There is joy in enabling them to find a vocabulary for that experience, and to lead them into the reality of the divine and a faith journey. Most of what we do as chaplains might be termed ‘pre-evangelism’, sowing seeds perhaps. Occasionally we get to see that seed germinate. There are inevitable domestic, personal and philosophical ‘rub points’ in defence chaplaincy. Army service can take you to more remote parts of the country, away from family support.

There is inherent danger in the role, too, both on overseas operations and in training exercises. And you can face physically challenging and uncomfortable working and living environments.

Defence service means signing up to be where the troops are. Sometimes that means involvement in military actions that chaplains – and other members – feel conflicted about. These issues need to be philosophically worked through by clergy who seek to minister in this context and play their part in serving the people of Australia and defending the nation’s interests.

Chaplains are not permitted to proselytise, and are expected to remain respectful in encouraging and providing support to folk of faith in their existing spiritual or religious journeys. So there is no ‘Bible bashing’.

St Francis of Assisi is erroneously quoted as saying, ‘Preach the gospel. If necessary, use words’. This sentiment, however, is a reality for chaplains. Our actions and care often preach a clearer gospel than our spoken words.

And we have opportunity to share our personal faith, respectfully and appropriately, in pastoral counselling encounters; in character-training lessons; in quiet conversations at 3.00am on piquet in the gun pit; and in conversations that follow when members face morally and spiritually confronting situations, including the taking of life, the death of mates and their own thin grasp on life.

Even a prayer or blessing, given in response to a superstitious or talismanic request, is an opportunity to introduce people to the Lord of Life.

Pastor Darren Jaensch is the Australian Army’s Director General Chaplaincy.