{"id":29716,"date":"2026-01-15T19:15:21","date_gmt":"2026-01-15T17:15:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/clone\/?p=29716"},"modified":"2026-01-27T18:13:53","modified_gmt":"2026-01-27T16:13:53","slug":"belong-gathering-for-autistic-disciples-this-april","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/belong-gathering-for-autistic-disciples-this-april\/","title":{"rendered":"&#8220;Belong&#8221; Gathering for Autistic Disciples this April"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We are excited to announce the inaugural Belong \u201cun-conference\u201d!\u00a0Belong is a two-day gathering created by and for Autistic disciples of Jesus in partnership with our Allistic friends and family.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Who should attend: First and foremost, neurodivergent disciples\/would-be disciples. Also invited are those who personally and\/or professionally support the autism community.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>When: April 24-25, 2026\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Where: Heritage Church of Christ \u2013 Fort Worth, TX USA\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cost: $100 for 18+, $70 for under 18\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Web: Visit <a href=\"http:\/\/www.belongonthespectrum.com\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"www.belongonthespectrum.com\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">www.belongonthespectrum.com<\/a> to join our online community, ask questions and stay informed of the latest news, agenda updates and other information regarding Belong.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Register: <a href=\"https:\/\/dfwchurch.churchcenter.com\/registrations\/events\/3279872\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/dfwchurch.churchcenter.com\/registrations\/events\/3279872\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Click here to register<\/a>. Thank you to our host, the DFW Church of Christ.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/belong_logo1_1x1.png?resize=1024%2C1024&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-29718\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/belong_logo1_1x1.png?w=1024&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/belong_logo1_1x1.png?resize=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/belong_logo1_1x1.png?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/belong_logo1_1x1.png?resize=768%2C768&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/belong_logo1_1x1.png?resize=640%2C640&amp;ssl=1 640w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/belong_logo1_1x1.png?resize=320%2C320&amp;ssl=1 320w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Interested in sponsoring, participating in or volunteering for Belong? Below are some current areas of interest\/need:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Financial friendships \u2013 We welcome your tax-deductible donation to the DFW Church for Belong t-shirts, meals, supplies and other related expenses.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Autistic orators \u2013 We\u2019re finalizing our agenda so if you have autism and have a topic\/class you\u2019d like us to consider including in the program, send us what you have in mind!\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Awesome activity architects \u2013 Have you executed a successful Smash Bros tournament? Ever hosted a super \u201cspeed-friending\u201d event? Or do you just have the gift of organization? Let us know!\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Vital volunteers \u2013 We\u2019re asking our neurotypical partners, friends and family members to volunteer at the event so that those with autism can fully enjoy our time together. Have a heart to serve? We have a place for you at Belong!\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Perfect professional partners \u2013 Do you have a professional career that affords you the opportunity to work with those in the autism community? There is a growing number of you who are interested in attending or possibly participating in Belong. We\u2019re determining how best to incorporate this group so please let us know who you are and what you do!\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Please contact us directly at <a href=\"mailto:belong@dfwchurch.net\">belong@dfwchurch.net<\/a> if you\u2019re interested in any of these areas.&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We are excited to announce the inaugural Belong \u201cun-conference\u201d!\u00a0Belong is a two-day gathering created by and for Autistic disciples of&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":29718,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ghostkit_customizer_options":"","ghostkit_custom_css":"","ghostkit_custom_js_head":"","ghostkit_custom_js_foot":"","ghostkit_typography":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_hide_featured_image":false,"_jetpack_featured_image_duplicate_dismissed":0,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[71],"tags":[73],"post_folder":[151],"class_list":["post-29716","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-events"],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/belong_logo1_1x1.png?fit=1024%2C1024&ssl=1","author_info":{"display_name":"Sunday Awolowo","author_link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/author\/sawolowo\/"},"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/phsvEw-7Ji","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":30684,"url":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/the-joy-of-being-seen-a-review-of-the-belong-conference\/","url_meta":{"origin":29716,"position":0},"title":"The Joy of Being Seen: A Review of the Belong Conference","author":"Sunday Awolowo","date":"July 21, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"A review of the inaugural \"Belong\" gathering, created by and for Autistic disciples of Jesus.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Belong-Fellowship.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Belong-Fellowship.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Belong-Fellowship.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Belong-Fellowship.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Belong-Fellowship.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":28988,"url":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/belong-creating-community-for-disciples-with-autism\/","url_meta":{"origin":29716,"position":1},"title":"Belong: Creating Community for Disciples with Autism","author":"Sunday Awolowo","date":"September 23, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Whether you are a disciple with autism or not, we want to shine a light on this growing population and help raise awareness, acceptance a greater sense of\u00a0belonging\u00a0in the church for everyone.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Families&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Families","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/category\/families\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Belong-Logo-1mb.jpg?fit=1152%2C896&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Belong-Logo-1mb.jpg?fit=1152%2C896&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Belong-Logo-1mb.jpg?fit=1152%2C896&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Belong-Logo-1mb.jpg?fit=1152%2C896&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Belong-Logo-1mb.jpg?fit=1152%2C896&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3909,"url":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/lebanon-church-grows-through-deep-roots-class\/","url_meta":{"origin":29716,"position":2},"title":"Lebanon Church of Christ Grows Through &quot;Deep Roots&quot; Class","author":"dtadmin","date":"November 20, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"The church in Beirut witnessed 15 people come to Christ as a result of a class series teaching members how to effectively study the Bible with their friends.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/DeepRoots.jpg?fit=1200%2C849&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/DeepRoots.jpg?fit=1200%2C849&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/DeepRoots.jpg?fit=1200%2C849&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/DeepRoots.jpg?fit=1200%2C849&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/DeepRoots.jpg?fit=1200%2C849&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":30757,"url":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/all-arizona-conference-september-25-27\/","url_meta":{"origin":29716,"position":3},"title":"All-Arizona Conference September 25-27","author":"Sunday Awolowo","date":"July 30, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"We are so excited for this event, the first of its kind in Arizona, that we want to extend the invitation to disciples far and wide.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/IMG_20260729_103926.jpg?fit=1200%2C840&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/IMG_20260729_103926.jpg?fit=1200%2C840&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/IMG_20260729_103926.jpg?fit=1200%2C840&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/IMG_20260729_103926.jpg?fit=1200%2C840&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/IMG_20260729_103926.jpg?fit=1200%2C840&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5233,"url":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/new-church-planting-in-owerri-nigeria\/","url_meta":{"origin":29716,"position":4},"title":"New Church Planting in Owerri, Nigeria","author":"dtadmin","date":"July 24, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"God is most certainly moving mightily in the churches in Nigeria with the successful planting of the Owerri church on Sunday 8th of July, 2018. It was indeed a glorious day at the inaugural Sunday worship service as more than 270 people were in attendance including more than 100 visitors!\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/owerri_church_planting_nigeria.jpg?fit=843%2C475&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/owerri_church_planting_nigeria.jpg?fit=843%2C475&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/owerri_church_planting_nigeria.jpg?fit=843%2C475&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/owerri_church_planting_nigeria.jpg?fit=843%2C475&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5289,"url":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/christian-professional-conference-in-south-africa\/","url_meta":{"origin":29716,"position":5},"title":"Christian Professional Conference in South Africa","author":"dtadmin","date":"July 8, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"\"Faith at Work\" was the theme of a Christian Professional Conference hosted last month by the Johannesburg Church of Christ, South Africa.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/cpc_in_south_africa_with_SE_asian_disicples.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/belong_logo1_1x1.png?fit=1024%2C1024&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29716","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29716"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29716\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29719,"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29716\/revisions\/29719"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29718"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29716"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29716"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29716"},{"taxonomy":"post_folder","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_folder?post=29716"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}