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The Crossroads Project at Princeton Theological Seminary is a Lilly Endowment grant-funded initiative that seeks to help congregations expand worship and prayer practices with and for children with disabilities.
Our research and resource design process intentionally centers the lived experiences and wisdom of disabled children of color and their congregations. What we learn through these partnerships informs resources designed to support congregations broadly in worship and prayer with children with disabilities.
Led by Princeton Theological Seminary’s Office of Continuing Education, the project began in 2025 with a collaborative research phase. Princeton Seminary partnered with six congregations to learn about the experiences of children with disabilities in their communities, speaking with pastors, parents, Sunday school teachers, lay leaders, and the children themselves.
Today, the Crossroads Project is developing practical ministry resources for congregations that can make worship and prayer more meaningful and accessible for disabled children of color. The project’s resources are designed to support any congregation seeking to deepen its worship and prayer practices with children with disabilities.
This 90-minute virtual learning gathering is designed for congregational and lay leaders interested in disability, worship, and ministry. Each session will feature a practitioner-theologian or other leader sharing practical and theological insights, followed by opportunities for participants to reflect, connect, and learn from one another in smaller groups.
January 12, 2027 | Dr. Lakisha R. Lockhart
This interactive Disability and Children’s Ministry Resource Group session explores play as a theological practice through which disabled children of color are welcomed to the center of congregational worship and prayer. Participants will experience practical exercises, theological reflection, and peer learning while gaining tools and resources for ministry.
February 9, 2027 | Jessica Clarke
Support Disabled Children and Families in Worship Through Inclusive Participation, Leadership, and Practical Congregational Practices. This interactive Disability and Children’s Ministry Resource Group session explores Joyful Noise, a worship service developed by disabled children and their families in an Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) congregation in New Jersey.
March 9, 2027 | Dr. David C. Wang
This interactive Disability and Children’s Ministry Resource Group session introduces foundational principles of trauma-informed care and applies them to supporting children with mental health struggles and their families. Participants will explore trauma, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and practices that foster sensitivity, safety, and accompaniment in diverse congregational contexts.
May 4, 2027 | Angellica S. Sweat
Prepare to apply for a Disability and Children’s Ministry Resource Group Subgrant to support a small ministry project that expands worship and prayer for and with disabled children in your congregation. This practical session will help you turn a ministry idea or congregational need into a clear, focused, and feasible proposal.
Save the Date! October 27-29, 2027
We believe that every child belongs in the life of the church, not just as an observer, but as a full participant. Disabled children are often overlooked in ministry. The Crossroads Project is working to change that.
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Learn how one congregation is embracing a new model of worship that engages all members of their community.
This self-paced, online course helps leaders create ministry environments in which young people of all neurotypes can flourish.
More Resources Coming Soon!
Rev. Dr. Erin Raffety is a Senior Research Scholar who uses ethnographic methods to study Christian congregations and communities. Raffety is currently a Lecturer in the Princeton Writing Program where she teaches on disability justice and has worked on numerous grant projects as a Senior Researcher at Princeton Seminary where she studies Christian congregations. She is the author of two books, From Inclusion to Justice (Baylor, 2022) and Families We Need (Rutgers, 2023). She is ordained as a Teaching Elder in the PC(USA), is a proud parent of a daughter with multiple disabilities, as well as a disability advocate.
Febrianto is a Ph.D Student in Practical Theology at Princeton Theological Seminary. His research interest lies in the intersection of spirituality and social justice, focusing on Christian mysticism and how its theology and practice can foster the pursuit of justice in postcolonial contexts. Febri is originally from Indonesia and is married to Shyanee Anabella. In his free time, he enjoys walking and wandering around, playing sports, or doing nothing at home.
Nana Ama Agyemang Asante is a first year PhD student in Religion and Society. Her research focuses on the intersection of religion, politics, gender, and sexuality. Her work investigates how Ghanaian Pentecostal actors, in collaboration with North American Evangelical groups, are shaping the religious and political landscape in Ghana. Specifically, she seeks to understand how these partnerships influence indigenous conceptions of gender and sexuality, examining their impact on both church activism and broader Ghanaian society. Prior to doctoral studies, Nana Ama worked as a journalist in Ghana, where she managed numerous projects including the Ghana Women Expert Project, which tracks the number of women featured on radio and television as subject-matter experts.
Claudia Alvarez was born in Colombia. She holds degrees in Sociology and Feminist and Gender Studies from the Universidad Nacional in Colombia, as well as a Master of Divinity from Boston University School of Theology. Before moving to the U.S., Claudia held teaching positions at higher education institutions and was actively involved in reproductive justice and LGBTQ advocacy. She is particularly interested in how lived theologies articulate strategies for social transformation on behalf of women and queer people in the Global South. Her PhD project seeks to analyze how LGBTQ-affirming Pentecostal churches are queering the Pentecostal movement in Latin America, applying the lenses of World Christianity, new religious movements (NRM), decolonial critiques of secularism, queer ecclesiologies, and the intersection of Pentecostal and Liberation theologies.
Grace is pursuing a Master of Arts in Christian Education and Formation (MACEF) at Princeton Theological Seminary. Originally from northern Nigeria, Grace already holds a master’s degree in special education and has experience teaching students from kindergarten through college. Her passion lies at the intersection of disability, religion, and education. Grace is deeply committed to supporting young adults, especially those facing difficulties, and has been actively involved in both campus ministry and youth ministry in her local church.
Ruth Amwe’s research has centered on Africa and the Black diaspora, and at the intersection of world Christianity, gender, and society. She looks forward to collaborating with Chung on ways to advance conversations about women and gender in world Christianity. She most recently served as a postdoctoral fellow at the historic Trinity Church Wall Street in New York City and is a research associate at Stellenbosch University in South Africa. She is an invited reviewer for the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion and the International Bulletin of Mission Research, which has the highest circulation rate of any peer-reviewed journal in the field of mission studies and world Christianity; she is also the deputy managing editor of Utambuzi: Journal for the Study of the Religions of Africa and its Diaspora. Among her numerous leadership roles, Ruth serves as the North American representative of the International Sociological Association’s Research Council on the Sociology of Religion, as a steering committee member in the African Religions Unit for the American Academy of Religion (AAR), and as a member of AAR’s Status of Women and Gender Minoritized Persons in the Profession Committee.
Tynisha Coleman is a certified coach, program director, and Coordinator of the Crossroads Initiative, with more than a decade of experience developing leaders, strengthening teams, and designing leadership development programs across corporate, nonprofit, and higher education settings. She is the Founder of Exalt Consulting, where she partners with organizations to build leadership capacity, strengthen team effectiveness, and navigate periods of change and organizational growth. Previously, Coleman served as Assistant Vice Chancellor at Rutgers University, where she led leadership development and coaching initiatives, created scalable learning programs, and supported efforts to strengthen employee retention. Her work includes executive and team coaching, cohort-based learning, talent development, retreat facilitation, and leadership programs designed to align individual growth with organizational goals.
Abigail (she/her) is an ordained pastor in the Presbyterian Church (USA) and has served in a variety of roles in ministry, including associate pastor, youth director, chaplain, camp counselor, and most recently, as director of the IYM. Abigail is passionate about researching and designing programs that serve congregational leaders and transform Christian communities. A graduate of Valparaiso University, Princeton Theological Seminary, and a current PhD student, she is the co-author of the book Delighted: What Teenagers are Teaching the Church About Joy. Abigail and her husband, Thomas, have three kids—Dorothy, Solveig, and Frank—and live in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, where Abigail serves as a small group leader at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.
Fill out the form below to sign up for the Crossroads Project Newsletter where you’ll learn more about program updates and other ways to participate.
Contact Tynisha Coleman Coordinator, Crossroads Initiative
