Philip’s Ministry to the Ethiopian Eunuch Shows Us How to Adjust for Accessibility
Philip and the Ethiopian
In Scripture, we see Philip take steps of accessibility with the gospel message when he saw an Ethiopian eunuch seated in his chariot, reading from Scripture. The Ethiopian eunuch had a need (understanding what he was reading), and Philip was able to meet that need by taking three steps we can emulate: approach, ask, and adjust for accessibility.
Acts 8:26–28 sets the scene. An angel appeared to Philip and told him to go “south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza”: And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. . . . Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus (Acts 8:27–35).
Accessible Church
Sandra Peoples
Sharing years of expertise and personal experience as a caregiver, ministry consultant and professor Sandra Peoples shows churches how to remove physical and social barriers to create a welcoming, inclusive space for disability families.
In these verses, we see the three steps Philip took. Philip approached the man after the Holy Spirit prompted him. In fact, the verse says Philip ran! He was eager to meet this man and talk to him. When Philip heard him reading from the book of Isaiah, he asked him a question: “Do you understand what you reading?” Philip could tell the man needed help. The court official had been to Jerusalem to worship and was reading from the Scriptures, but he didn’t know the full story about Jesus. It was like he left before hearing the good part. So Philip adjusted for accessibility by starting at the beginning and sharing the good news about Jesus. The result: The Ethiopian eunuch understood the gospel message and asked to be baptized (Acts 8:37)!
In our churches, we can follow the same pattern with special-needs families. We approach them with kindness, we ask questions to figure out the challenges they’re facing, and we adjust so they have the opportunity to understand and respond to the gospel. Approach, ask, adjust for accessibility. Just like Philip with the Ethiopian eunuch.
We want every person with a disability and their family to be able to hear, understand, and respond positively to the gospel.
Our goal is the same goal that Philip had with the Ethiopian. Our goal is to share the good news about Jesus—the gospel. We want every person with a disability and their family to be able to hear, understand, and respond positively to the gospel. It may sound simple, but every decision you make about the placement of a child, how to adjust the curriculum for a teenager, and what outreach events you will offer should filter through this goal. It’s the foundation for everything we do in disability ministry!
In addition to wanting their children to hear and respond to the gospel, parents tell us about the goals they have for their children at church. They are also simple—safety and belonging. They want their children to be safe, and they want them to build relationships with their peers, teachers, and mentors. These needs aren’t different from the needs typical kids and teenagers have. In fact, they aren’t different from the needs I have at church. I want to feel safe, and I want to feel like I belong.
This article is adapted from Accessible Church: A Gospel-Centered Vision for Including People with Disabilities and Their Families by Sandra Peoples.
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