Named for Jenna. Built for every family like hers.
The Jenna Initiative helps churches bridge the gap, equipping congregations to welcome every person, regardless of ability, into full belonging.
A sister, a story, a calling.
The Jenna Initiative is named for Jenna, a beloved sister who was born prematurely and lives with autism, cerebral palsy, and epilepsy. Like so many people with complex disabilities, Jenna deserves to be known, loved, and included in a faith community that can safely and joyfully hold space for her, and for her whole family alongside her.
That kind of place is harder to find than it should be. Many churches want to welcome families like Jenna's but simply don't yet have the training, tools, or volunteer capacity to provide the attentive care people with significant support needs require, or the room for parents and siblings to rest, worship, and be ministered to at the same time. It's a shared experience for countless families, and it's almost never about willingness.
Much of Jesus' ministry was spent with people who could not easily come to the temple. He went to them, and brought the love of God directly into their lives. The Jenna Initiative is built in that same spirit, coming alongside willing churches to expand what's possible within any budget, to build inclusive practices that stick, and to make sure every family knows there's a seat saved for them.
Based in Dayton, Ohio, and with pending 501(c)(3) designation.
The JENNA Values
Justice
Full belonging, not accommodation as an afterthought. Structural change, not charity.
Equity
Meeting churches and families where they are, regardless of budget or size.
Neurodiversity
Every mind reflects the image of God. Cognitive difference is part of creation's design.
Neighboring
Loving your neighbor as yourself, made practical and sustainable.
Acceptance
Full membership in the body of Christ, not a side room.
Rooted in Ohio, serving churches nationwide.
Based in Dayton, Ohio, we work with churches of every size and tradition, from small rural congregations to large multi-site communities, delivering assessment, training, and certification virtually anywhere in the country.
