The Forest Parish: Finding God in the Wild and at Home

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This article is written with Easy English principles. It uses shorter sentences, simple words, and clear ideas. It is designed to be accessible for young readers and people with learning disabilities, while keeping the heart of an important message.

​THE FOREST PARISH

​Finding God in the Wild and at Home

​What is the Forest Parish?

​Imagine a huge forest with no walls. This is the Forest Parish. We believe that God is like a Shepherd, and the whole world is His church.

​Since the beginning of time, people everywhere have looked at the trees, the stars, and the animals. They felt in their hearts that Someone made them. This feeling is a gift from God. He put a "seeking instinct" inside everyone.

​In this forest, everyone is welcome. It does not matter what country you are from or how your brain works. God made every kind of mind, and He loves them all.

​The Five Big Truths (The Solas)

​These are the five "roots" that keep our faith strong:

  1. ​Grace Alone: God loves us and finds us because He is good, not because we are perfect.
  2. ​Faith Alone: We don't have to do "big jobs" to be saved. We just have to trust the Shepherd.
  3. ​Jesus Alone: Jesus is the only bridge that takes us home to God.
  4. ​The Bible Alone: We follow the "Red Letters" (the words of Jesus) to show us the way.
  5. ​For God’s Glory Alone: Everything we do—even small things—is to show how great God is.

​The Hearth and the Home

​The "Hearth" is the fireplace in the middle of a home. It is warm and safe.

​In our homes, we follow the Red Letters of Jesus by being kind and peaceful. Sometimes our homes are very quiet. We sit in Quaker like Silence to listen to God in our hearts.

​But sometimes, our homes are loud and messy! Raising a family can be busy. There might be a lot of noise, especially in a neurodivergent family where people see and hear things differently.

  • ​God is in the quiet.
  • ​God is also in the mess.

​When we help each other during a loud or "messy" time, we are doing Works of Mercy. This makes God very happy.

​Every Kind of Mind

​Some people think in pictures. Some think in numbers. Some people like loud music, and some people need total silence. This is called Neurodiversity.

​God made your brain exactly the way it is. If your brain works differently, it is not broken. It is a "sacred language." You see parts of God’s world that other people might miss. In the Forest Parish, we don't wear "masks." You can be exactly who you are.

​The Big Party at the End

​At the end of the story, God gathers everyone together. The Bible says it is a "Great Multitude."

  • ​There will be people from every tribe.
  • ​There will be people speaking every language.
  • ​There will be every kind of mind.

​No one will be left out. The mess will be gone, but the love will stay. We will finally be out of the woods and safe at home with the Shepherd.

​A Simple Prayer

​Dear God, thank You for the forest and the fire. Thank You for making my brain the way it is. Help me to be peaceful at the hearth and kind in the mess. Amen.

Follower of Jesus, non-conformist, preacher, poet, blogger, graduate of Highland Theological College, Husband, Father, Son, Brother, Friend, Learning Assistant (ASN) Outdoors. Late diagnosed Autistic.

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