To ASD adults: Do you feel like you belong at your Church?

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Churches are just starting to understand that we exist and some of us have the ability to understand spirtual matters. As a lifelong church- goes and someone whose been a born-again for 14 years, I don't see too many churches that have ministries centered around neurodivergent people. I did go to a mega church in Jacksonville a few years ago that had a sensory room for autstic people. There's another church I attended in Fernandina Beach, Florida (a church that supports the ministry home I reside in) that has an autstic individual whose 24 but still allowed in the youth group due to his high support needs.

Any churches that made you felt like you mattered? They say adults on the spectrum are the least churched demographic (at least those who are higher functioning). As a aspie, I felt welcomed and loved in most of the churches I've been to, there were sometimes where I felt like I didn't exist. When I was homeless and in dire need, nobody from my mega church in Jacksonville wanted to help me, but a smaller church in rural NC did and even bought me a hotel room for 3 weeks.

When I moved back to Jacksonville in 2023 I couldn't find no where to stay after all my "Christian friends" couldn't help me, but a guy I met at mega church in Jacksonville told me about a men's ministry in Yulee, FL (right outside of Jax) and they not only help with housing, but also help men to grow spiritually and to get back on thier feet as a productive member of society. It also functions as a local church for those who leave the program and want to become a church member. For many this is the first church that they get to be apart of. The ministry primarly targets durg addicts, alcoholics and covicted felons, You do have those with special needs/learning disabilities at our home, but they usually don't stay very long. It was a culture shock for me given that I was in a mostly unchurched environment. The guys cuss, smoke cigarettes, an had criminal backstories, but after being there a while I knew this place was home. It's the most at home I ever felt in a church environment.

It inspired me to start my own ministry home one day that targets neurodivergent people, specifically for aspies since we seem to struggle the most with Christianity and religion as a whole. I'm currently in seminary, but God willing I can create a space where aspies and other special need individuals can be trained in the gospel.

How has you church experience has been? Do you feel like you matter despite your different ways in processing the world?

It was lovely to read your story mwalker1996 and your journey, so thank you for sharing.

I live in London UK and am non demontional Christian, but was baptised Catholic and attended Catholic schools to 19.

I attend an Anglican/ Episolician church today. My church service is just 30 minutes and there is no music and it is in a small chapel with not many people who attend and we give each other space. I have no issues. I enjoy going at 8 am and look forward to it every week and helps give me a routine as well.

I keep my pray life as simple as I can not overwhelm myself. I have been a Christan since childhood really and I was 52 yesterday.

I have always come away with an uplifting feeling and a spring in my step after attending church. Going to church helps to sustain me and I like to know that I am doing what I can to manage my life the best way that I can. Attending a sacred place as well gives me further sanctuary from the world which can be challenging at times. I like the sense also of an ending and newness to the week ahead that going to church can give me as well.


I have found my church leaders to be an invaluable source of support to me spiritually and psychologically. In our gatherings as Christians also we can support each other (Esslesiastes 4:9-10) (Hebrews 10:25) "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." So yes, there is indeed that Body of Christ composed of Christ as the head and the members of the church to form one body and there is clearly also a meeting point where we gather together.to worship.

To make this clear, yes, I have experienced difficulties as an autistic in a different church with a different style of worship. The service I attended I must say was extremely good, but it was just not suited to my needs as an autistic Christian. The service I attend today is more suited to my needs as an individual who has autism also. I can say some of the difficulties; I have had in the past at church was that length of the service was not at a length I could retain focus and there was more movement of sitting to standing and this is a known issue that some autistics experience, but that was overcome for me when I went to a new church with a shorter service and less sitting to standing.

The church leaders all know about my autism they have gone above and beyond for me. We have different groups sometimes and a coffe morning after church mid week which I do like as well. I couldn't manage my life without and it has been a lifesaver to me.

They have lunch's sometimes and they are fun to and you get to see there a diverse bunch of people who attend who all have their own issues.

I have further needs in communication and imagination and if in any doubt I discuss things through with my church leadership and others using their gifts and the situation is understood. I can struggle with someone's pacing of their speech due to autism but listen and expand on the sermon privately at home after service. The service I attend is a silent service and I can struggle with an organ or very loud music. I do have my own playlist of Christian music and listen to when I feel drawn to do so. God has simply equipped me to cope which has circumvented my weaknesses and shone a light into what strengths which he only has given to me to sustain me through my journey and that is what I must focus and expand on. I have found ways to manage my difficulties sufficiently.

I have written about my journey with my faith and church going a few years back and the link if anyone is interested is in my signature.

I fail to see why anyone would expect a mainstream church to be centered around any one group of people. The whole idea is absurd.

Think about it. If the church is centered around one narrow group of people, then why should anyone else not in that group care about what the church does?

My previous church was a baptist church. The pastor's grandson is autistic and so is another well known child in the church body. I was very vocal when I was diagnosed with autism and they all accepted me as I was. I had been attending for a solid decade by that point and had been very active in the church.

I'm Catholic now (well almost there. confirmation is this Easter vigil) and too socially anxious to be well acquainted with many of the church.

There is a website called Autism Consecrated that is Catholic and it focuses on a Saint known as St Thorlak the Patron Saint of Iceland. He is posthumously considered to have likely been autistic and the site talks about his life and how to consecrate your autism with St Thorlak as an example.

He's going to be my confirmation Saint

Do I feel comfortable at church? Yes and no.
I'm a lifelong Lutheran, and I very much believe in my faith's doctrine of salvation as a free gift of grace. I've been attending the same congregation for most of my life, and I see it as home, which has members I genuinely like.
That said, I find myself in disagreement with the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod's opposition to LGBT rights. I feel embarrassed when I see my church body promoting creationism, a young earth, and a rejection of evolution (my stance on science is well known in my congregation). I'm also alarmed by the more recent growth of the political far right within my denomination (it should be stated, this trend hardly applies to all Missouri Synod Lutherans).
But if my church is my family, then I guess I have to expect to disagree with some family members.

In my case, just no.

To me, going to the church is just as well as voluntarily listening to senseless voice, scripted plays of rituals I "had to" follow.

That's always been to me as a kid.
Many ways of doing things felt foolish and awkward. That it's all in the name of belief and all that, but I just don't.

And the lack of language processing made sermons useless and quotes are just as confusing to annoying.



But sure, the other social stuff are fun if there are celebrations and games along with it.

But talking about things and with church goers? Not really.
I just don't see anything to gain for me when it came to joining any church. Except, maybe, more stress.


And, I already understand matters of spirituality without needing to go to church.

I understand the concept of what is sacred and unholy, I understand what higher power is, I understand forces and concepts beyond human mind's comprehension...

All of which I found and realized on my own. Scriptures either just put words into those things or if done the other way; limit things.


It's not that people are not so nice or overbearing.
It's just really isn't for me.

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Yes, similar names but very different things. Like Adult Autism Issues and In-Depth Adult Life Discussion. I once thought the former was the latter, and the result was quite embarrassing.

In response to OP's question:

No, it's hard to feel like one belongs in what feels like a bunch of dishonest people pantomiming along with nonsense. One of the hardest parts about attending Mass as part of school was accepting that people sincerely believe the underlying premise without skepticism. The underlying premise is so nonsensical that it feels like they all must just being lying and playing along out of some sort of ulterior motive. Even as a young child it always filled me with a deep sense of both not belonging but also not ever wanting to belong.