“I’m not sure your child will ever know Jesus.”

Too many parents have heard some version of this, whether it’s said out loud or just quietly assumed. Today we’re debunking the myth that neurodivergent kids, because of a diagnosis or a different way of communicating, are somehow exempt from the Good News.

Here’s what Scripture says about your child’s ability to know God, plus three practical ways to share the Gospel with an autistic child.

Every Child Is Made in the Image of God

The Bible is clear: all people are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). It would go against God’s very nature to knit someone together in their mother’s womb (Psalm 139:14) who is incapable of knowing him.

The next time you feel discouraged, take a minute to remember the unique qualities that make your child them. Let those qualities remind you: God would not create someone who could not know him.

God’s Power Isn’t Limited by a Disability

Scripture tells us God is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). The same God who split the Red Sea for the Israelites to cross on dry ground (Exodus 14:21–22)—the same God who raised Jesus from the dead (Romans 8:11)—is the same God who reveals himself to your child.

An autism diagnosis is not greater than the power of God at work.

When you feel discouraged, remind yourself of the obstacles your child has already overcome. Those breakthroughs are evidence of God at work in them.

Salvation Doesn’t Depend on Us

All throughout Scripture, it’s the Lord who draws people to himself. We didn’t do anything to deserve salvation, and there’s nothing we can do to make Christ love us more or less.

Our job is simple: faithfully preach and proclaim the Gospel.

Think back to how you came to faith. Chances are it wasn’t through perfect theology or a flawless prayer. It was the Spirit of God calling you to himself.

How Can I Teach the Gospel to My Autistic Child?

1. Introduce the Gospel in a Way That Makes Sense to Them

Start with your child’s preferred learning style and lean into it. One of our students is an auditory learner, so each week I read our Bible story into a Tonies Box. He grabs it, jumps on the swing, and that’s how he hears the Gospel.

Maybe your child learns through art, games, or movement. Lean into that! Check out our post on adapted Bibles to see the tools we use in our disability ministry to help kids explore the Gospel.

2. Get Creative: Lean Into Their Special Interests

Our students have all kinds of special interests, from the color purple to PAW Patrol figures. Our team often uses these interests to tell the Gospel story in a way that’s fun, familiar, and engaging.

3. Offer Opportunities to Respond, Not Just Hear

Always presume competence with your autistic child. Never assume they can’t understand or respond to the Gospel because of a preconceived belief about their diagnosis.

We use AAC devices, core boards, recordable buttons, and more to give our students real opportunities to respond. At summer camp, I shared the story of Joseph with one of my high school students using an adapted retelling. After giving her space to engage, she picked up her AAC device and said, “forgive” and “make it,”reminding me that in the story, Joseph forgave his brothers, and God made it all good.

Want to go deeper on this idea? Read more on presuming competence in autistic children.

Final Encouragement

The goal isn’t for your child to memorize the sinner’s prayer. The goal is to help them become Jesus’ friend and follow him forever.

How the Lord chooses to reveal himself to your child isn’t your job to control, it’s his. Your role is simply to faithfully share the story of the Gospel. God is creative and boundless when it comes to inviting people into a relationship with him!

✏️  AUTHOR CREDITS

This blog was written by the Mission Hills Church Kids Ministry.