Growing up with cerebral palsy, Sarah has always wanted to encourage others who feel underestimated and not truly known, whether as a consequence of a disability or some other circumstance. She works as a speech-language pathologist, and believes that the opportunity to express ourselves and be understood - whatever form that may take - is a gift from God for all people. 

Sarah has been blessed to be part of several amazing church communities, including St. John's Vancouver Anglican Church, which she has attended for 11 years. Through true friendships built with family in Christ, Sarah continues to learn more about how we can value interdependence and experience Jesus' great compassion in our pain and weakness, without denying that pain. Dogs are guaranteed to bring a smile to her face, and she enjoys sci-fi TV and fantasy games.

“Not Made to Fit: Reimagining Belonging at the King’s Table”

In Matthew 22:1–14, Jesus tells a story about a king who throws a wedding banquet. The setting might flood our minds with thoughts of elegance, status, and perfect etiquette. For any one of us, such a polished scene could evoke anxiety about whether we really belong there and what we need to do to fit in. The rest of the story shakes that up.  The king invites everyone to his feast: people from the streets, those with different dis/abilities, and others who are overlooked. 

Sarah will suggest that if we take our default banquet imagery as the backdrop and paste the king’s guests into it like paper cutouts, inclusion becomes a question of, “How do we help these people fit into this setting?”. This perpetuates an unhelpful atmosphere of anxiety for those making efforts to be inclusive. In Sarah’s experience, it also led to shame and trying to hide or overcome her disability in order to belong. 

Yet the kingdom of God flips that vision. Instead of designing the banquet first and helping people “fit,” what if we begin with who God created us to be — on purpose — and reimagine the table from there? By exploring the parable and some moments in her own life, asking, “What might the King’s banquet actually have been like?” Sarah hopes to spark enthusiasm for that reimagining.

 After growing up and pastoring in western Canada, Jon wrote a PhD on forgiveness in Scotland and went on to teach ethics in England before returning home to continue his theological work in and for the Canadian church. Jon is married to Angie and they have four grown sons who still gather to watch Liverpool Football Club.

 “Disentangling Christian Community from the Superman- and Barbie-ficiation of the Image of God”.

Jon frames prevailing myths of humanity within various interpretations of the Image of God in order to reorient us to the relational view that is to be modelled in the gift-sharing community of Christ.

In conversation with myths peddled by entertainment and tech industries, Jon will draw from various disability models to portray human goodness in terms of creaturely interdependence.

Terry and Chantelle Sanderson have dedicated much of their lives to pastoral ministry, serving in London, Ontario, St. Louis, Missouri, and now at Bayview Glen Alliance Church in Thornhill. Their journey has been marked by a desire to follow God’s leading and to serve His people faithfully.

A central part of their story is their daughter Jenna. Living with a disability, Jenna radiates joy and creativity, with a love for history, art, and ministry alongside her sisters, Jadyn and Jovanna. Her perspective has opened up new ways for the Sandersons to see God’s presence at work in their family, church, and community. Jenna is a published author often writing about her experiences with disability within a church context.

Together, Terry, Chantelle, and Jenna share a testimony of faith, family, and the beauty of God’s image reflected in every person.

“Belonging in Family and Faith”

The Sanderson’s explore what it truly means to belong—at home, in the church, and in our wider communities. Rooted in their shared family story and lived experience, this session weaves together faith, vulnerability, and practical wisdom.

Together, they reflect on how families are shaped by love, limits, care, and mutual dependence, and how faith communities can become places where those realities are named and honoured rather than hidden.

The Sanderson’s invite us to consider how belonging grows through relationships rather than programs, and how family life—especially when shaped by disability, difference, or caregiving—reveals a deeper vision of faith marked by grace, patience, and shared life.

Alicine has been a part of the SouthRidge Fellowship community since 2011. She has served at SouthRidge as a Children's Ministry Coordinator and is currently the Formation Support Coordinator for SouthRidge's ministry for children with disabilities. She has worked in early childhood intervention and education for over 10 years. She is dedicated to developing and implementing faith-based experiences that consider diversity, disability, and developmentally appropriate approaches to the discipleship of families and their children. She also likes hamsters.

Prioritized Intelligibility: How the local church can begin to faithfully and systematically embed inclusion into its' daily life and work. 

Often churches seek to support inclusion within ministry contexts through intensive, 1:1 supports. While this is a great first step, sustainability and real flourishing depends on stronger, more robust systems embedded in the foundational operations of the Church. The work of inclusion exists beyond the walls of the children's ministry and should impact all church functions for long term viability. It's not just about belonging in childhood but belonging in all ages and stages of life. Societally, disability is no longer a question of if but when. When individuals either have or experience disability, how is the church designed to embrace them and position them as needed, co-labourers in the edification of the church and participants in the ministry of reconciliation?

Dr. Estera Boldut is a couple and family therapist, clinical supervisor, and Assistant Professor at Trinity Western University, where she serves as Program Director for the Marriage and Family Therapy program. She focuses on systemic and compassion-oriented lens to her clinical, teaching, and supervision work, with particular interest in how families navigate suffering, identity, and belonging. Estera is passionate about fostering communities where all individuals, especially those often marginalized, are welcomed as valued and essential participants.

Disability, Relationships, and the Life of the Family

In this breakout session, Dr. Estera Boldut will offer a systemic and relational perspective on the lived experience of families who have a member with a disability. Drawing from her work as a couple and family therapist, supervisor, and educator, she will explore how disability is not only an individual experience but one that shapes family dynamics, attachment patterns, caregiving roles, and meaning-making processes.

This session will invite participants to consider how families navigate resilience, grief, identity, and belonging, while also engaging the broader relational and spiritual contexts in which they live. Particular attention will be given to the ways communities of faith can move beyond inclusion as accommodation toward genuine mutuality, where the presence and contributions of individuals with disabilities transform the life of the whole community.

Participants can expect a reflective and clinically grounded conversation that integrates systemic thinking, compassion, and practical insights for supporting families with wisdom and care.

Rodney Wiebe serves as Director of Family Support and Community Development for Bethesda Christian Association where he supports families impacted by diverse abilities and equips churches, schools, and other organizations to do the same.  His professional experience is complemented by 23 years of fathering two sons with Fragile X Syndrome and Autism. With 18 years of direct work alongside individuals with diverse abilities, Rodney brings both lived and professional insight to his work. Outside of his professional life, Rodney enjoys watching Formula One racing, riding his motorcycle, and writing fantasy stories.

From Barriers to Belonging: Disability and the Life of the Church

The Kingdom of God is made up of image-bearers, each uniquely gifted with different abilities, yet our faith communities do not always reflect that reality. If our churches are filled with God-fearing, compassionate, and loving disciples who genuinely care for others, why is there often a disconnect between our visible faith communities and the fullness of the Kingdom of God, particularly when it comes to those with disabilities who are themselves image-bearers?

 Whether the barriers are fear, lack of understanding, misplaced pity, or something else, if the church is to reflect the LORD’s Kingdom faithfully, she must be equipped, encouraged, and, at times, gently enlightened. In this breakout session, we will explore the importance of meaningful community engagement, both within the church and beyond its walls. Together, we will discuss the challenges present in our congregations and in the broader community, and consider practical ways many communities are working to overcome these barriers and cultivate environments that are truly welcoming, accessible, and inclusive.