Latest news with #Psalm23
Time Business News
7 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Time Business News
GuidingCross: Sparking Gospel Conversations Through Fashion
Fashion is one of the easiest ways to express who we are, and GuidingCross takes it further by integrating faith and personal style. Their apparel, from trendy shirts to Christian shorts, is designed to spark conversations about the Gospel in everyday life. People often notice unique designs or inspirational messages on clothing, and this curiosity opens the door to meaningful discussions about faith. A simple piece like Psalm 23 clothing—featuring 'The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing'—can uplift someone's day or lead them to ask about the meaning behind it. In today's busy world, starting a conversation about Jesus isn't always easy, but faith-based clothing creates a natural way to connect. GuidingCross understands that fashion can be an evangelistic tool, so each design is intentional and impactful. Whether you're heading to a coffee shop, the gym, or even a casual hangout, your clothing can represent your beliefs effortlessly. From comfortable Christian shorts for summer days to bold Psalm 23 clothing for a statement of hope, every piece acts as a silent yet powerful testimony. It's not just about looking good—it's about carrying a message everywhere you go. GuidingCross is redefining what faith-based fashion looks like. Gone are the days when Christian apparel meant oversized, plain shirts with minimal design. Instead, GuidingCross offers trendy pieces like Christian shorts, casual streetwear, and even Psalm 23 clothing, all crafted to merge Gospel messages with today's fashion trends. Their mission is to create apparel that's comfortable and stylish while staying true to biblical inspiration. Whether you want a minimal cross design, bold scripture text, or a subtle Psalm reference, GuidingCross has something for everyone. Their Psalm 23 clothing line, for instance, features verses that encourage peace and reassurance, making it perfect for those who want to carry faith into their daily lives visually. GuidingCross also understands the need for versatile fashion. From church gatherings to outdoor workouts, their products—especially breathable Christian shorts—fit into all areas of life. This balance of fashion and faith allows wearers to live out their beliefs authentically, demonstrating that expressing one's faith can be stylish, relevant, and modern. With GuidingCross, clothing becomes more than fabric; it becomes a vehicle for spreading light and love, proving that Gospel-centered fashion can be both trendy and spiritually meaningful. Sometimes, you don't need to speak to share the Gospel—your clothing can do it for you. GuidingCross designs Christian apparel that conveys messages of hope and faith visually, without requiring words. Whether it's a verse like Psalm 23 printed on a shirt or an inspirational quote on Christian shorts, each piece communicates encouragement. The Psalm 23 clothing collection is especially powerful. 'The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing' resonates deeply with both believers and seekers, offering comfort to anyone who reads it. This simple yet impactful design often becomes a conversation starter, as people are drawn to its message of peace and trust. Christian shirts with bold, faith-filled designs help normalize faith in everyday settings. Whether you're at the grocery store, a coffee shop, or an outdoor park, your wardrobe can represent your spiritual values effortlessly. Adding items like Christian shorts into your everyday rotation ensures you can express faith even in casual or athletic settings. GuidingCross apparel allows you to carry hope and inspiration everywhere you go. Every shirt or pair of shorts is not just clothing—it's an opportunity to remind someone of God's love, creating moments of connection and encouragement. GuidingCross believes faith-based fashion should be versatile and accessible. That's why they offer more than just Christian shirts—their range includes breathable Christian shorts, Psalm 23 clothing, and trendy accessories that complement any outfit. This variety ensures that everyone can find a way to incorporate their faith into their daily wardrobe. Graphic tees remain a customer favorite, featuring impactful scriptures and inspirational artwork. These designs are intentionally bold, so they stand out and spark curiosity. Pairing them with Christian shorts creates a comfortable yet purposeful outfit perfect for casual days or athletic activities. For colder seasons, GuidingCross offers hoodies and jackets, allowing faith-driven fashion to remain relevant year-round. The brand's Psalm 23 clothing line showcases the beauty of one of the most beloved passages in Scripture, making it an instant favorite for those who want to wear their faith proudly. Accessories like hats, bags, and wristbands also help believers share their message subtly but effectively. By focusing on detail and creativity, GuidingCross makes it easy for people to integrate faith into every aspect of their wardrobe. Whether it's a bold shirt or simple accessory, every item is designed to make an eternal impact. When it comes to Christian apparel, quality and comfort are just as important as the message itself. GuidingCross understands this balance, ensuring that their Christian shorts, shirts, and Psalm 23 clothing are made from durable, soft fabrics built to last. The brand uses modern printing techniques to ensure designs don't fade, peel, or lose their vibrancy over time. Comfort is also a priority because faith-based fashion should fit into your daily routine effortlessly. From breathable athletic shorts perfect for workouts to soft cotton tees ideal for casual wear, every piece is designed with real life in mind. Whether you're out for errands, meeting friends, or attending a faith-based event, GuidingCross clothing keeps you comfortable and stylish while sharing a positive message. Their commitment to quality means your faith-filled wardrobe can withstand frequent use without compromising on style or message clarity. When you invest in well-crafted Christian apparel, you're ensuring your message of hope, faith, and love continues to shine bright for years to come. GuidingCross delivers clothing you can rely on—fashion that's durable, meaningful, and effortlessly wearable. Faith is powerful, and fashion is a universal language. GuidingCross combines the two to create a movement where clothing becomes a tool for sharing hope and encouragement. By wearing Christian shorts, Psalm 23 clothing, and other faith-based pieces, you're joining thousands who choose to represent their beliefs through everyday fashion. This movement is about more than style; it's about community and impact. Every time someone sees a verse or faith-inspired message on your clothing, you have an opportunity to brighten their day and possibly change their perspective. GuidingCross apparel helps believers live out their values boldly while staying trendy and comfortable. The brand invites you to use your wardrobe as a testimony of light in a world that often needs it most. Whether it's athletic gear like Christian shorts, casual graphic tees, or scripture-inspired pieces like Psalm 23 clothing, every item you wear spreads positivity and encouragement. By joining the GuidingCross movement, you're not just upgrading your wardrobe—you're taking part in a faith-driven mission that transforms ordinary fashion into extraordinary purpose. Wear your faith, start conversations, and be a beacon of hope wherever you go. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
22-07-2025
- Health
In temples and churches, sensory rooms remove barriers for neurodivergent worshipers
MAPLEWOOD, N.J. (RNS) — From organ blasts and incense to forced hugs and hand shakes, for folks who struggle to process sensory input, houses of worship can quickly feel anything but holy. That was the case for Lark Losardo's son Percy, who in 2017 began attending Catholic Mass with his family at age 7. Percy, who is autistic, was often overwhelmed by the Brooklyn church's open space, noise and crowds. At first, when he needed to move around or stim (engage in repetitive actions to self-regulate), he'd leave the service with a parent. Eventually, in part because of the barriers to attending as a family, they stopped coming altogether. Then, in 2020, the Losardos moved to Maplewood, New Jersey. After watching online services at a nearby Catholic parish called St. Joseph's during the pandemic, Lark Losardo learned in 2024 that the parish was opening a sensory room equipped with regulation tools, including a weighted blanket, touch pillow, ear defenders and sound machine. Thanks to that room, today Percy is back in the pews, using the room to regroup whenever needed. "It speaks volumes,' Lark Losardo told Religion News Service. 'Not everyone needs this space, but just having it there sends a very clear message.' This content is written and produced by Religion News Service and distributed by The Associated Press. RNS and AP partner on some religion news content. RNS is solely responsible for this story. ___ Across the U.S., families like Percy's who once thought worship was off-limits are returning to faith communities thanks to a small but growing number of sensory rooms in religious settings. Located in underutilized classrooms, storage spaces and former nurseries, these rooms vary in size and appearance, but are all designed to offer a calm, predictable environment that can help with nervous system regulation. Disability advocates say the rooms signal that a community prioritizes the needs of neurodivergent and disabled members. At St. Joseph's, the Rev. Jim Worth said the new sensory room, which opened in December, isa natural extension of the parish's faith values. To him, the room is evidence that inclusion — a principle Worth linked to Catholic social teaching — isn't just given lip service. 'When you put intentionality behind something, it makes a world of difference,' said Worth. On a 60-degree day in late March, the church, located on a quiet residential street, had a front stoop featuring three signs: one quoting Martin Luther King Jr., another quoting Pope Francis, and a third welcoming anyone in the community to visit the Still Waters Sensory Room. Named after the biblical Psalm 23 passage — 'he leads me beside still waters' — the sensory room was converted from an unused confessional. It was designed by Together We Bloom, a Maplewood-based nonprofit that helps make events and spaces more accessible. The room's dark indigo walls match the comfortable chair glider and beanbag, each contributing to the soothing atmosphere. The total cost of the room was under $2,000 and was largely paid for by church funds, plus some donations. 'This sensory room has really changed everything for us,' said Pavitra Makam, a St. Joseph's parishioner and mother of two neurodivergent kids. 'Being able to worship together has been the biggest thing for our family.' Jay Perkins, who has been in the sensory room business since 2009, said it's often parents in need of a safe, supportive space for their kids who are spearheading the movement to build sensory rooms. When his daughter began exhibiting signs of aggression at age 4, places like libraries (too quiet), playgrounds (too loud) and trampoline parks (too crowded) were inaccessible. That applied to his Episcopal church, too. 'There are so few places where special-needs kids with sensory integration disorders can enjoy it,' said Perkins. The lack of accessible spaces for his family inspired Perkins to begin building the kinds of rooms his daughter would thrive in. In 2018 he officially launched his company, The Sensory Room, which builds high-end, durable sensory rooms from start to finish and trains people on how to use them. 'It's catching on,' said Perkins, whose company built roughly a dozen rooms in 2022 and 80 in 2023. Though The Sensory Room specializes in schools, Perkin's company has also built rooms for a Broadway theater and an airport, and three in evangelical churches. Most of his custom rooms, he told RNS, start in the $20,000 range. One of those projects was the $35,000 transformation of a storage room into a state-of-the-art sensory room at Encounter Church, an evangelical congregation about 30 minutes from Dallas. Completed in February 2024, the renovation included interactive tactile and texture panels, bubble tubes, mirrors, new carpet, paint and electrical work, and an LED-star ceiling complete with a digital shooting star. According to the Rev. Chris Binion, who co-founded the church with his wife, Tracy, the decision to create the room was prompted by the Holy Spirit. 'I was in a season of prayer and fasting, and I felt like the Lord asked me how to take care of his 'littles,'' Binion told RNS. He felt God was urging him to support kids with 'diverse needs,'including autism. 'We decided through the direction of the Holy Spirit to say yes, and move forward in this kingdom assignment." It's not just churches that are revamping spaces to focus on sensory integration. Temple Emanu-El, a Reform synagogue in Atlanta, has adapted two of its rooms to help folks process sensory input. A former cry room just off the main sanctuary was altered to become the Shalom Sanctuary, a small space with a large window facing the main worship space equipped with fidget toys, beanbags and headphones. The synagogue also received a $10,000 grant from the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta to improve the accessibility of a classroom. That renovation is almost complete, and the room, which features a wall of sensory engagement toys, flexible furniture and alternative seating (think large rubber balls), will be especially helpful for children who need sensory breaks during religious classes or events such as the annual Purim carnival, according to Rabbi Rachael Klein Miller, associate rabbi at the synagogue. 'Something important in Judaism is the idea that we are all created 'b'tzelem Elohim,' in the image of God,' said Klein Miller. 'And much of that is connected to the golden rule of treating people the way we want to be treated and finding space for everybody in the community.' According to Rebecca Barlow, a regional disability specialist in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, adding a sensory room to a house of worship doesn't automatically make it accessible to those with sensory needs. 'It's just one piece of a bigger machine that you're trying to build,' said Barlow, disability specialist for the Desert Ridge Stake in Mesa, Arizona. The first step to building that machine, Barlow said, is asking disabled individuals and their families what it would take to make church feasible for them. When she first became a disability specialist roughly five years ago, feedback was invaluable. 'The biggest thing was listening. The parents of these children know what they need,' said Barlow, who is the parent of a child with autism. Based on the families' input, she created a sensory room in her meeting house with new donated items. Knowing it would be used by kids who could become aggressive, she removed hard chairs and chalkboard lips that could pose safety risks. She also filled the room with the usual sensory items, added light-blocking curtains and included a night-light that projected a calming light pattern. Still, it took more than that to get families back in the door. "We, as parents of disabled children, often can become jaded, and we lack trust that our children are going to be cared for in a manner appropriate to how special they are,' said Barlow. To build trust with families, church leaders invited some members of the ward to serve as one-on-one aides for each child with a disability. The aides were trained in the homes of their assigned families and eventually accompanied the kids in the sensory room during church meetings. Barlow also introduced the kids to the sensory room ahead of time via pictures and tours, and ward members, too, received basic training on understanding disabilities and how to use the sensory room. In the few years since that sensory room opened, the model has gained traction. Barlow says the seven wards in her stake now each have their own disability specialists and sensory rooms, and she routinely takes calls from LDS church members across the country and the globe seeking to set up sensory rooms of their own. 'It feels like we're seeing a cultural shift toward understanding and accepting and integrating people with disabilities,' said Barlow. 'If we want to follow Christ, if we want to emulate him, if we want to be his disciples … they need to be foremost in our mind.'
Winnipeg Free Press
22-07-2025
- Health
- Winnipeg Free Press
In temples and churches, sensory rooms remove barriers for neurodivergent worshipers
MAPLEWOOD, N.J. (RNS) — From organ blasts and incense to forced hugs and hand shakes, for folks who struggle to process sensory input, houses of worship can quickly feel anything but holy. That was the case for Lark Losardo's son Percy, who in 2017 began attending Catholic Mass with his family at age 7. Percy, who is autistic, was often overwhelmed by the Brooklyn church's open space, noise and crowds. At first, when he needed to move around or stim (engage in repetitive actions to self-regulate), he'd leave the service with a parent. Eventually, in part because of the barriers to attending as a family, they stopped coming altogether. Then, in 2020, the Losardos moved to Maplewood, New Jersey. After watching online services at a nearby Catholic parish called St. Joseph's during the pandemic, Lark Losardo learned in 2024 that the parish was opening a sensory room equipped with regulation tools, including a weighted blanket, touch pillow, ear defenders and sound machine. Thanks to that room, today Percy is back in the pews, using the room to regroup whenever needed. 'It speaks volumes,' Lark Losardo told Religion News Service. 'Not everyone needs this space, but just having it there sends a very clear message.' ___ This content is written and produced by Religion News Service and distributed by The Associated Press. RNS and AP partner on some religion news content. RNS is solely responsible for this story. ___ Across the U.S., families like Percy's who once thought worship was off-limits are returning to faith communities thanks to a small but growing number of sensory rooms in religious settings. Located in underutilized classrooms, storage spaces and former nurseries, these rooms vary in size and appearance, but are all designed to offer a calm, predictable environment that can help with nervous system regulation. Disability advocates say the rooms signal that a community prioritizes the needs of neurodivergent and disabled members. At St. Joseph's, the Rev. Jim Worth said the new sensory room, which opened in December, isa natural extension of the parish's faith values. To him, the room is evidence that inclusion — a principle Worth linked to Catholic social teaching — isn't just given lip service. 'When you put intentionality behind something, it makes a world of difference,' said Worth. On a 60-degree day in late March, the church, located on a quiet residential street, had a front stoop featuring three signs: one quoting Martin Luther King Jr., another quoting Pope Francis, and a third welcoming anyone in the community to visit the Still Waters Sensory Room. Named after the biblical Psalm 23 passage — 'he leads me beside still waters' — the sensory room was converted from an unused confessional. It was designed by Together We Bloom, a Maplewood-based nonprofit that helps make events and spaces more accessible. The room's dark indigo walls match the comfortable chair glider and beanbag, each contributing to the soothing atmosphere. The total cost of the room was under $2,000 and was largely paid for by church funds, plus some donations. 'This sensory room has really changed everything for us,' said Pavitra Makam, a St. Joseph's parishioner and mother of two neurodivergent kids. 'Being able to worship together has been the biggest thing for our family.' Jay Perkins, who has been in the sensory room business since 2009, said it's often parents in need of a safe, supportive space for their kids who are spearheading the movement to build sensory rooms. When his daughter began exhibiting signs of aggression at age 4, places like libraries (too quiet), playgrounds (too loud) and trampoline parks (too crowded) were inaccessible. That applied to his Episcopal church, too. 'There are so few places where special-needs kids with sensory integration disorders can enjoy it,' said Perkins. The lack of accessible spaces for his family inspired Perkins to begin building the kinds of rooms his daughter would thrive in. In 2018 he officially launched his company, The Sensory Room, which builds high-end, durable sensory rooms from start to finish and trains people on how to use them. 'It's catching on,' said Perkins, whose company built roughly a dozen rooms in 2022 and 80 in 2023. Though The Sensory Room specializes in schools, Perkin's company has also built rooms for a Broadway theater and an airport, and three in evangelical churches. Most of his custom rooms, he told RNS, start in the $20,000 range. One of those projects was the $35,000 transformation of a storage room into a state-of-the-art sensory room at Encounter Church, an evangelical congregation about 30 minutes from Dallas. Completed in February 2024, the renovation included interactive tactile and texture panels, bubble tubes, mirrors, new carpet, paint and electrical work, and an LED-star ceiling complete with a digital shooting star. According to the Rev. Chris Binion, who co-founded the church with his wife, Tracy, the decision to create the room was prompted by the Holy Spirit. 'I was in a season of prayer and fasting, and I felt like the Lord asked me how to take care of his 'littles,'' Binion told RNS. He felt God was urging him to support kids with 'diverse needs,'including autism. 'We decided through the direction of the Holy Spirit to say yes, and move forward in this kingdom assignment.' It's not just churches that are revamping spaces to focus on sensory integration. Temple Emanu-El, a Reform synagogue in Atlanta, has adapted two of its rooms to help folks process sensory input. A former cry room just off the main sanctuary was altered to become the Shalom Sanctuary, a small space with a large window facing the main worship space equipped with fidget toys, beanbags and headphones. The synagogue also received a $10,000 grant from the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta to improve the accessibility of a classroom. That renovation is almost complete, and the room, which features a wall of sensory engagement toys, flexible furniture and alternative seating (think large rubber balls), will be especially helpful for children who need sensory breaks during religious classes or events such as the annual Purim carnival, according to Rabbi Rachael Klein Miller, associate rabbi at the synagogue. 'Something important in Judaism is the idea that we are all created 'b'tzelem Elohim,' in the image of God,' said Klein Miller. 'And much of that is connected to the golden rule of treating people the way we want to be treated and finding space for everybody in the community.' According to Rebecca Barlow, a regional disability specialist in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, adding a sensory room to a house of worship doesn't automatically make it accessible to those with sensory needs. 'It's just one piece of a bigger machine that you're trying to build,' said Barlow, disability specialist for the Desert Ridge Stake in Mesa, Arizona. The first step to building that machine, Barlow said, is asking disabled individuals and their families what it would take to make church feasible for them. When she first became a disability specialist roughly five years ago, feedback was invaluable. 'The biggest thing was listening. The parents of these children know what they need,' said Barlow, who is the parent of a child with autism. Based on the families' input, she created a sensory room in her meeting house with new donated items. Knowing it would be used by kids who could become aggressive, she removed hard chairs and chalkboard lips that could pose safety risks. She also filled the room with the usual sensory items, added light-blocking curtains and included a night-light that projected a calming light pattern. Sundays Kevin Rollason's Sunday newsletter honouring and remembering lives well-lived in Manitoba. Still, it took more than that to get families back in the door. 'We, as parents of disabled children, often can become jaded, and we lack trust that our children are going to be cared for in a manner appropriate to how special they are,' said Barlow. To build trust with families, church leaders invited some members of the ward to serve as one-on-one aides for each child with a disability. The aides were trained in the homes of their assigned families and eventually accompanied the kids in the sensory room during church meetings. Barlow also introduced the kids to the sensory room ahead of time via pictures and tours, and ward members, too, received basic training on understanding disabilities and how to use the sensory room. In the few years since that sensory room opened, the model has gained traction. Barlow says the seven wards in her stake now each have their own disability specialists and sensory rooms, and she routinely takes calls from LDS church members across the country and the globe seeking to set up sensory rooms of their own. 'It feels like we're seeing a cultural shift toward understanding and accepting and integrating people with disabilities,' said Barlow. 'If we want to follow Christ, if we want to emulate him, if we want to be his disciples … they need to be foremost in our mind.'
Hamilton Spectator
22-07-2025
- Health
- Hamilton Spectator
In temples and churches, sensory rooms remove barriers for neurodivergent worshipers
MAPLEWOOD, N.J. (RNS) — From organ blasts and incense to forced hugs and hand shakes, for folks who struggle to process sensory input, houses of worship can quickly feel anything but holy. That was the case for Lark Losardo's son Percy, who in 2017 began attending Catholic Mass with his family at age 7. Percy, who is autistic, was often overwhelmed by the Brooklyn church's open space, noise and crowds. At first, when he needed to move around or stim (engage in repetitive actions to self-regulate), he'd leave the service with a parent. Eventually, in part because of the barriers to attending as a family, they stopped coming altogether. Then, in 2020, the Losardos moved to Maplewood, New Jersey. After watching online services at a nearby Catholic parish called St. Joseph's during the pandemic, Lark Losardo learned in 2024 that the parish was opening a sensory room equipped with regulation tools, including a weighted blanket, touch pillow, ear defenders and sound machine. Thanks to that room, today Percy is back in the pews, using the room to regroup whenever needed. 'It speaks volumes,' Lark Losardo told Religion News Service. 'Not everyone needs this space, but just having it there sends a very clear message.' ___ This content is written and produced by Religion News Service and distributed by The Associated Press. RNS and AP partner on some religion news content. RNS is solely responsible for this story. ___ Across the U.S., families like Percy's who once thought worship was off-limits are returning to faith communities thanks to a small but growing number of sensory rooms in religious settings. Located in underutilized classrooms, storage spaces and former nurseries, these rooms vary in size and appearance, but are all designed to offer a calm, predictable environment that can help with nervous system regulation. Disability advocates say the rooms signal that a community prioritizes the needs of neurodivergent and disabled members. At St. Joseph's, the Rev. Jim Worth said the new sensory room, which opened in December, isa natural extension of the parish's faith values. To him, the room is evidence that inclusion — a principle Worth linked to Catholic social teaching — isn't just given lip service. 'When you put intentionality behind something, it makes a world of difference,' said Worth. On a 60-degree day in late March, the church, located on a quiet residential street, had a front stoop featuring three signs: one quoting Martin Luther King Jr., another quoting Pope Francis, and a third welcoming anyone in the community to visit the Still Waters Sensory Room. Named after the biblical Psalm 23 passage — 'he leads me beside still waters' — the sensory room was converted from an unused confessional. It was designed by Together We Bloom, a Maplewood-based nonprofit that helps make events and spaces more accessible. The room's dark indigo walls match the comfortable chair glider and beanbag, each contributing to the soothing atmosphere. The total cost of the room was under $2,000 and was largely paid for by church funds, plus some donations. 'This sensory room has really changed everything for us,' said Pavitra Makam, a St. Joseph's parishioner and mother of two neurodivergent kids. 'Being able to worship together has been the biggest thing for our family.' Jay Perkins, who has been in the sensory room business since 2009, said it's often parents in need of a safe, supportive space for their kids who are spearheading the movement to build sensory rooms. When his daughter began exhibiting signs of aggression at age 4, places like libraries (too quiet), playgrounds (too loud) and trampoline parks (too crowded) were inaccessible. That applied to his Episcopal church, too. 'There are so few places where special-needs kids with sensory integration disorders can enjoy it,' said Perkins. The lack of accessible spaces for his family inspired Perkins to begin building the kinds of rooms his daughter would thrive in. In 2018 he officially launched his company, The Sensory Room, which builds high-end, durable sensory rooms from start to finish and trains people on how to use them. 'It's catching on,' said Perkins, whose company built roughly a dozen rooms in 2022 and 80 in 2023. Though The Sensory Room specializes in schools, Perkin's company has also built rooms for a Broadway theater and an airport, and three in evangelical churches. Most of his custom rooms, he told RNS, start in the $20,000 range. One of those projects was the $35,000 transformation of a storage room into a state-of-the-art sensory room at Encounter Church, an evangelical congregation about 30 minutes from Dallas. Completed in February 2024, the renovation included interactive tactile and texture panels, bubble tubes, mirrors, new carpet, paint and electrical work, and an LED-star ceiling complete with a digital shooting star. According to the Rev. Chris Binion, who co-founded the church with his wife, Tracy, the decision to create the room was prompted by the Holy Spirit. 'I was in a season of prayer and fasting, and I felt like the Lord asked me how to take care of his 'littles,'' Binion told RNS. He felt God was urging him to support kids with 'diverse needs,'including autism. 'We decided through the direction of the Holy Spirit to say yes, and move forward in this kingdom assignment.' It's not just churches that are revamping spaces to focus on sensory integration. Temple Emanu-El, a Reform synagogue in Atlanta, has adapted two of its rooms to help folks process sensory input. A former cry room just off the main sanctuary was altered to become the Shalom Sanctuary, a small space with a large window facing the main worship space equipped with fidget toys, beanbags and headphones. The synagogue also received a $10,000 grant from the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta to improve the accessibility of a classroom. That renovation is almost complete, and the room, which features a wall of sensory engagement toys, flexible furniture and alternative seating (think large rubber balls), will be especially helpful for children who need sensory breaks during religious classes or events such as the annual Purim carnival, according to Rabbi Rachael Klein Miller, associate rabbi at the synagogue. 'Something important in Judaism is the idea that we are all created 'b'tzelem Elohim,' in the image of God,' said Klein Miller. 'And much of that is connected to the golden rule of treating people the way we want to be treated and finding space for everybody in the community.' According to Rebecca Barlow, a regional disability specialist in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, adding a sensory room to a house of worship doesn't automatically make it accessible to those with sensory needs. 'It's just one piece of a bigger machine that you're trying to build,' said Barlow, disability specialist for the Desert Ridge Stake in Mesa, Arizona. The first step to building that machine, Barlow said, is asking disabled individuals and their families what it would take to make church feasible for them. When she first became a disability specialist roughly five years ago, feedback was invaluable. 'The biggest thing was listening. The parents of these children know what they need,' said Barlow, who is the parent of a child with autism. Based on the families' input, she created a sensory room in her meeting house with new donated items. Knowing it would be used by kids who could become aggressive, she removed hard chairs and chalkboard lips that could pose safety risks. She also filled the room with the usual sensory items, added light-blocking curtains and included a night-light that projected a calming light pattern. Still, it took more than that to get families back in the door. 'We, as parents of disabled children, often can become jaded, and we lack trust that our children are going to be cared for in a manner appropriate to how special they are,' said Barlow. To build trust with families, church leaders invited some members of the ward to serve as one-on-one aides for each child with a disability. The aides were trained in the homes of their assigned families and eventually accompanied the kids in the sensory room during church meetings. Barlow also introduced the kids to the sensory room ahead of time via pictures and tours, and ward members, too, received basic training on understanding disabilities and how to use the sensory room. In the few years since that sensory room opened, the model has gained traction. Barlow says the seven wards in her stake now each have their own disability specialists and sensory rooms, and she routinely takes calls from LDS church members across the country and the globe seeking to set up sensory rooms of their own. 'It feels like we're seeing a cultural shift toward understanding and accepting and integrating people with disabilities,' said Barlow. 'If we want to follow Christ, if we want to emulate him, if we want to be his disciples … they need to be foremost in our mind.' Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . 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The Age
07-07-2025
- General
- The Age
‘He died trying to save Mystic girls': Camp director's last desperate bid to reach Bubble Inn cabin
Eight-year-olds Sarah Marsh and Renee Smajstrla, along with hundreds of other girls, descended on Camp Mystic this summer, ready to fish, play games, exchange bracelets and make lifelong friendships. They were nestled among the oak and cypress trees in Texas Hill Country on Friday, when torrential rain raised the Guadalupe River and floodwater swept through the nearly century-old camp. With it came death, devastation and destruction at a place that generations of campers have held dear every summer, decade after decade. As of Sunday, the central Texas flood has killed nearly 80 people, including at least 28 children – Marsh and Smajstrla among them. At least 68 of the people who died in the flood were in Kerr County, where Mystic is. The flood also left two beloved camp directors dead, one of Camp Mystic and another of the nearby Heart O' the Hills. Loading As rescuers continued their search through the flood wreckage, muddied cabins and felled trees on Sunday, 11 Mystic girls and one counsellor were still missing. A total of 41 people in the state remained unaccounted for after the flood, Texas Governor Greg Abbott said on Sunday afternoon. The tragedy shattered the beloved, once serene scene of summer camp in the Texas Hill Country, leaving hundreds taking stock of what was lost. In a Facebook post on Friday, Smajstrla's uncle, Shawn Salta, shared a photo of the eight-year-old from the previous day at camp wearing a hot pink top and a wide smile. 'We are thankful she was with her friends and having the time of her life, as evidenced by this picture from yesterday,' Salta wrote. 'She will forever be living her best life at Camp Mystic.' Hour by hour, the names of more children who died in the flood over the weekend were revealed – Janie Hunt, a nine-year-old whose mother described as 'brave and sweet'; Blair and Brooke Harber, sisters who attended a Catholic school in Dallas; Linnie McCown, an eight-year-old whose father drove to Mystic to try to find her himself. On Sunday, roughly 200 parishioners gathered at the First Presbyterian Church of Kerrville, which lost one of its members to the floods, Jane Ragsdale, the 68-year-old director and co-owner of the Heart O' the Hills camp. She had spent her entire life at the camp, which was her family's business. She climbed from junior counsellor to counsellor before becoming director about 25 years ago. The camp was in between sessions this week. Jack Haberer, retired pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Kerrville, said Ragsdale served on the board of elders, focusing on missions, and sang in the church choir. 'She was the one that lit up the room when she walked in. An effervescent personality,' Haberer said. 'Always a positive word, an encouraging word – always building people up.' Inside Ragsdale's church on Sunday morning, the service began with 'Hymns of Comfort' and a long silence. The readings included Psalm 23, 'Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me.' The pastor giving the children's message told the young faces before her, 'It's OK to be angry about what's happened. It's OK to be really scared. It's OK to be terribly sad.' The Reverend Jasiel Hernandez Garcia said he, too, had struggled to find the right words amid such ongoing tragedy. 'We lost extraordinary people, like our beloved Jane Ragsdale … Our hearts ache for all the children and people who have not been found as of this morning,' Garcia said. 'Our hearts ache for all the damage done to our community. Our hearts ache because we love.' To those who knew Richard 'Dick' Eastland, co-owner and co-executive director of Camp Mystic, it was no surprise that he was found alongside three girls he had tried to save from the rising water. 'He died trying to save Mystic girls,' said Cami Wright, 57, who attended the camp and later served as a counsellor. 'That was his whole life.' Eastland was the third generation of his family to manage Mystic. Though he'd worked at the camp for decades, he remembered every camper's name, Wright recalled. He taught campers how to fish, build fires and fold a flag, she said. On Sundays, he led the service at Chapel Hill, a site overlooking the camp. 'He was like a father to thousands of little girls,' Wright said. Before he was found, Eastland had been trying to rescue the campers in the Bubble Inn cabin, which sat about 150 yards from the river's edge. But the water, which came from the Guadalupe River in one direction and from a nearby creek in the other, came too fast. 'It made like a swirl right around those cabins like a toilet bowl,' said Craig Althaus, who worked on the property for 25 years. Eastland died in a helicopter on the way to a Houston hospital, according to Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, who said he was in men's Bible study with Eastland. Like him, others confirmed to have died had been trying to save their loved ones as the water rose quickly. Julian Ryan had been at his Ingram home with his children and mother-in-law early Friday when floodwaters poured into the house, his fiancee told Houston television station KHOU. Christinia Wilson said Ryan punched through a window to help get his family to safety, causing severe bleeding along his arm. His body was recovered hours later, after the waters had receded. 'He died a hero, and that will never go unnoticed,' Connie Salas, Ryan's sister, told KHOU. A friend, Kris Roberts, told the station that he was 'the kindest person' Roberts had ever met. 'I'll forever love him no matter what,' Roberts said. At Mystic, Sundays had always been riddled with traditions, including wearing white and praying at Chapel Hill, said Wright, who wore white herself to honour the victims, as did many alumni of Mystic who had been sharing updates among one another. Loading Sundays were also the day campers got to eat fried chicken, but only after they completed their 'chicken letters' – written messages to friends or family back home. Earlier on Sunday, Wright said she had heard that a friend of a friend had lost her daughter, who had been staying in Bubble Inn. Days earlier, the parent had received what Wright said was probably a chicken letter from their daughter: a last message from Mystic.
