By Russell Threet, Pastor • West Park Baptist Church, Ozark
Executive Editor’s Note: This is the third article in this series for Autism Awareness month. You can find the other two articles in the April 5 & 12 issues or on our website at www.BaptistTrumpet.com.
Autism is a blessing. Some people would have a hard time understanding that statement. Yet, I would say the overall impact of autism in my family’s life is rightly viewed as a great blessing. There are surely difficulties, but God’s comfort and faithfulness in the midst of those struggles continue to encourage our family even today. My son brings blessings into my life every day and autism is a big part of his makeup. In this final article of the series on autism awareness, I want to share one of the more recent blessings that happened in our lives with our 13-year-old son who has autism. We will call him WP.
Several weeks ago, on a Saturday night, my family had supper together. As we were eating, I read from the Bible to my three sons. After we finished our meal, everyone was going their own way to do some things before bedtime, but my youngest son lingered. He told me he wanted to speak with me, so we sat back down at the table. Suddenly, he broke into tears as he shared his deep concern for WP and his salvation. He wanted me to do something about it. For a few minutes, I tried to explain to him how salvation was in God’s hands and that we simply needed to be faithful to pray for WP and try to have gospel conversations with him when the opportunity presented itself. He calmed down and went on his way, but I found him again later alone and looking concerned. At this point, we took time to pray for WP’s salvation.
That same night, I was headed to WP’s room to tell him it was time to go to bed. By this time, God was convicting me about not having the kind of burden for WP’s salvation his little brother possessed. As I headed to his room, I decided to try to have a discussion with him if I could. As we started talking, something amazing happened. WP really tuned in to what I was saying. This does not happen a lot because he is easily distracted and more concerned with whatever is on his mind at a given moment. There has never been a doubt that WP understood the facts of the gospel. He has been in church two or three times a week all his life and forgets very little of what he hears. Yet, he never showed any kind of personal conviction or application of these truths to his own life.
As our conversation continued, he began to say “I know God needs to save me.” I was shocked. I immediately told him about the need for repentance of sin and faith in Christ. This is when God did something that would give us peace about our son’s salvation. WP said, “I am enraged by my past and already regret some plans I had for the future.” In the weeks that have passed since this occurred, this statement has echoed in my thoughts. In his unique mind, God brought about a profound understanding of the realities of repentance. WP then offered his own prayer of repentance and faith in Christ. I went and got his mother and brothers to share what had taken place. We cried and thanked God for His work of salvation in WP. Since that time, he has been baptized and we are excited to see how God will use his life for the kingdom of God.
I share this story during Autism Awareness Month to encourage those who might undertake the work of ministering to autistic individuals and their families. The encouragement is that salvation is of the Lord. He will work out things to His good pleasure. Our work is to be faithful in proclaiming the truth in our families and churches. In our case, God used years of faithful teaching in Sunday School, VBS, church services and youth group to lay a foundation; then He used the burdened heart and prayers of an eight-year-old little brother to be the catalyst to bring about His glorious saving work.
Autism made some parts of the journey difficult, but I believe the way God created WP’s brain helped him to grasp the concept of repentance in a way that has floored even seasoned pastors and Christians. Please continue your work of preaching, teaching and proclaiming the gospel to all people, including those who are autistic. God is still working and will use your faithfulness for His glory.
