Right Side Up: Reorienting Our Vision of Disability and Community

Challenge the way you see a disability - and transform the way you love people. In orphanages overseas, Amanda had walked past back corners where children with disabilities were left hopeless and forgotten. Until her son Rusk was born with Down Syndrome. Then everything changed. One in four people have a disability, yet over 80% of churches have no disability ministry. While 99% of pastors believe people with disabilities feel welcomed, more than half of parents say their children have been excluded. The disconnect is real, and the cost is heartbreaking. Through ten powerful biblical stories - from Blind Bartimaeus to the Great Banquet - this husband-and-wife team reveals God's heart for people with disabilities. Brice, a professor at a Christian college, offers scriptural depth and theological insight. Amanda shares raw, honest testimony from the trenches of parenting two sons with Down syndrome. Together, they show that those we marginalize are the very ones Jesus sought first. Each chapter includes practical steps, reflection questions, and prayers to guide churches, families, and individuals toward true inclusion. Whether you're a pastor, parent, caregiver, or someone who wants to love better, this book will challenge how you see community - and transform how you create it. From the back corner to a reserved seat at the table, discover what it means to turn your world Right Side Up. About the Authors Brice and Amanda Wurdeman are raising seven children, with their two youngest bringing a few extra chromosomes – and a lot of extra joy – into the family. After serving overseas for 15 years, their hearts remain deeply rooted in adoption and helping families discover dignity, belonging, and hope.  Brice teaches students about missions at Ozark Christian College as the Director of Intercultural Studies, while Amanda keeps life running between holy chaos, doctor and therapy appointments, and baseball schedules. Married and best friends, the two are committed followers of loving Jesus, loud cheering for the St. Louis Cardinals, eating any ethnic food, and loyal fans of the Missouri Tigers. Through this book, they hope to turn perspectives right-side up by helping others to see disability through the lens of faith, value, and belonging. All proceeds from this book will help support individuals with disabilities in Haiti, helping to create opportunities for hope, care, and community.