Episode 389 - Disability-Inclusivity with Dr. Laurie Thompson

The Nothing Is Wasted Podcast

Davey Blackburn and Aubrey Sampson

Religion & Spirituality, Christianity

4.9 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 7 August 2025

⏱️ 83 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

How can we learn to trust God when our prayers for healing go unanswered? What does it truly mean for the Church to become a place of belonging and welcome for individuals with disabilities?Dr. Laurie Thompson has deeply engaged with these questions—both personally and academically. At just 14 years old, a devastating car accident left her permanently disabled, marking the beginning of a lifelong journey of wrestling with faith, suffering, and inclusion. Now, as a college professor and academic advisor, Dr. Thompson empowers the next generation to understand that people with disabilities represent the largest minority in the United States—and that our Churches must become more inclusive, welcoming spaces for those navigating life with disabilities.In her latest book, **Disability-Inclusivity: Creating Awareness to Change the Current Trajectory**, Dr. Thompson explores how the Church can become a transformative community for those with disabilities—simply by making intentional adjustments that foster inclusion, dignity, and belonging.In this conversation, Davey sits down with Dr. Thompson to discuss the need for a robust theology of suffering, how to confront the lies that often accompany seasons of pain, and how the Church can reach and embrace people with disabilities through meaningful shifts in mindset and practice.If you’re passionate about creating spaces of true belonging, this episode offers practical insights to help your community become a place of gospel-centered inclusion for those who are often overlooked. Instagram: instagram.com/laurieleet Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laurie.thompson.98096721 Books: Laurie's Story: Discovering Joy In Adversityhttps://amzn.to/41b6TE4 Disability-Inclusivity: Creating Awareness to Change the Current Trajectoryhttps://amzn.to/4fb62Jk Wondering where to get started on your journey towards healing? Join Davey on our next FREE, live Zoom call and find out how you can begin to take back your story and how Nothing is Wasted can help. Sign up today at: www.nothingiswasted.com/starthere Looking for help in navigating the valley of pain and trauma? Our Nothing is Wasted coaches can help: www.nothingiswasted.com/coaching Want a pathway through your pain? The Pain to Purpose Course can lead you through all you've been through: www.nothingiswasted.com/paintoppurpose Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Welcome to the Nothing is Wasted podcast, where we meet you in your pain and help you discover a pathway through.
0:10.2	No matter what you've faced or what you're walking through now, we believe your story isn't over.
0:15.7	Each week, you'll hear powerful conversations with people who've partnered with God to reclaim their stories of trauma, loss, and heartbreak.
0:23.7	And we'll chat with Christian experts who offer wisdom and practical tools for healing.
0:28.8	This is a place of hope, redemption, and the reminder that even in your darkest moments, God is still writing your story.
0:36.5	Because with him, nothing is wasted. I'm your host,
0:40.6	Davy Blackburn. Well, hello, friends. Welcome back to the Nothing is Wasted podcast. I'm so grateful
0:46.3	that you have chosen to join us this week for another incredible conversation. One this week
0:51.5	that is with a new friend of mine named Dr. Lori Thompson. Let me tell you about
0:56.3	Dr. Lori Thompson. She is a part-time professor for Anderson University's Christian Studies
1:03.3	Department, and that's Anderson University in Anderson, South Carolina, not Anderson University
1:08.5	and Anderson, Indiana. There are two Anderson universities,
1:12.7	both really unrelated from each other. But what's really interesting in both in close proximity,
1:18.6	I think this is just kind of providential, I feel like, just not a coincidence. Both proximity to
1:24.3	places that I lived and really like networks that I've been a part of.
1:30.0	So I used to live in Greenville, South Carolina when I was on staff at a church called New Spring
1:33.6	church down down there with my late wife, Amanda. And, uh, and then I played baseball at
1:39.9	Southern Wesleyan University. So we played against Anderson University all the time in South
1:43.5	Carolina. Many the new spring church has Church has a large kind of involvement in partnership with
1:49.1	Anderson University. It's actually where New Spring Church started in its early days. And then again,
1:54.9	they've just continued a really strong partnership there. There is a real movement of God going on
1:59.0	at Anderson University right now. I happen to know
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Davey Blackburn and Aubrey Sampson, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Davey Blackburn and Aubrey Sampson and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.