When I Go to Church, I Belong: Finding My Place in God's Family as a Child with Special Needs

by Elrena Evans; Rebecca Evans

Publisher:

IVP Kids

, 2023

Overview

Illumination Award Gold Medal

Help Children Learn that Everyone Has a Place in God's Family

Church is a place where everyone should feel welcome—but not every child experiences it the same way. When I Go to Church, I Belong is a beautifully illustrated story crafted for children with disabilities and for everyone who desires their churches to be places of welcome and belonging.

Through the experiences of six children with special needs, author Elrena Evans invites readers to see through new perspectives and understand the beauty of diversity within God’s family. This heartfelt book is a celebration of inclusion, reminding us that while we all have our differences, we also share so much in common. With tender illustrations by Rebecca Evans and a thoughtful note from the author, this storybook opens conversations about what it means to belong.

Key Features

• Discover a heartwarming story of six children finding belonging in God’s family
• Learn about the importance of inclusivity and understanding for children of all abilities
• Enjoy vibrant and thoughtful illustrations by Rebecca Evans
• Explore deeper discussions around inclusion and community with a note from the author

This book inspires both children and adults to create a welcoming church environment where everyone feels they are an essential part of God’s family. It reinforces the Christian values of love, understanding, and inclusion while helping children recognize that there's a place for everyone in the church.

Help teach children about the beauty of diversity and the joy of shared experiences in their walk with God. Order When I Go to Church, I Belong today and share its message of belonging with the children in your life.

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Praise for When I Go to Church, I Belong

"Belonging is a fundamental need of every person. Belonging at church can meet that need in powerful and eternal ways. In When I Go to Church, I Belong, Elrena Evans assures children with disabilities of their place in their church family. In this picture book, children with special needs will find kids who look like them on its pages and hear their feelings given voice in the text. Caregiving parents will see their kids being welcomed, and the church body will discover new ways to follow Christ's command to bring all children into his loving presence. This book belongs on the shelf of every church library and every Sunday school classroom, so every child who enters the church will know they belong to Jesus."

"Belonging is a critical element of faith, hope, and community, and this book provides a wonderful opportunity for young children and their families to learn that the church is a place for all people to belong regardless of abilities. This book is a much-needed resource for advancing the cause of disability inclusion in faith communities."

"When I Go to Church, I Belong is a terrific social story for children with disabilities that captures both the joys and anxieties of participating in large groups like faith communities. It is simply and respectfully written, beautifully illustrated, with diversity everywhere. I can imagine children with and without disabilities will enjoy it and come back to it."

"It is the lived-out love of Jesus Christ that makes any church a place of belonging—and it's all the richer when that gospel-love is made accessible to families with children who live with disability. In this beautifully illustrated book, the young reader will discover the many wonderful ways God's people can make their church a true place of belonging . . . for everyone!"

"Throughout the book, we see a congregation that is committed to inclusion of all of God's children through their staffing, building, and other ministry decisions. The focus is on welcoming, not on the challenge of adapting. If I had seen a book like this as a child, I would have swooned. My sister would have, too. Yes, this book helps those with various disabilities find someone that can help represent them. But it also gives families a voice, as well as showing congregations different ways to expand the circle and draw more of God's beloved people into the community."

"When I Go to Church, I Belong by Elrena Evans is a beautifully told story that reflects the message 'come as you are.' . . . The illustrations are as beautiful as the story itself. They capture the sights, sounds, scents, and feelings of a community. When I Go to Church, I Belong is a must read and would be a great fit for any church or home library. It is a celebration of a life where everyone can belong. Highly recommended!"

Product Details

• Title: When I Go to Church, I Belong: Finding My Place in God's Family as a Child with Special Needs
• Authors: Elrena Evans, Rebecca Evans
• Publisher: IVP Kids
• Print Publication Date: 2023
• Logos Release Date: 2023
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Ebook
• ISBNs: 9781514006689, 9781514006672, 1514006677, 1514006685
• Resource ID: LLS:9781514006689
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2025-02-28T04:04:33Z

About the Authors

Elrena Evans (MFA, Penn State) is an author, an editor, a mother, a wife, a dancer, and a stand-up comedian. Her books When I Go to Church, I Belong and Special Grace: Prayers and Reflections for Families with Special Needs are both inspired by her experience as a mom of children with special needs. Elrena lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and their five children. She doesn't have a favorite ice cream flavor because she loves (almost) all of them.

Rebecca Evans is an author and illustrator who has worked on over two dozen children's books, including All Will Be Well. She also enjoys teaching art at her local Art Center, publishing artwork with magazines and multiple publishing houses, and sharing her love of literature and art with children. Rebecca lives in Maryland and enjoys spending time with her husband and their children, and working from her home studio.