What Are Invisible Disabilities and How Can Faith Communities Help? A Conversation with Wayne Connel

What does it mean to believe someone when their pain, illness, or disability is not visible? In this episode of Together 4 Good, Pastor Nate talks with Wayne Connell, founder of the Invisible Disabilities Association, about chronic illness, compassion, suffering, isolation, and the kind of community people need when life becomes hard in ways others cannot see.

This conversation is about more than disability awareness. It is about learning how to listen, believe, support, and show up for one another with the love of Christ.

What You’ll Learn:

What invisible disabilities are and why they are often misunderstood

Why phrases like “but you look good” can unintentionally dismiss someone’s pain

How churches and faith communities can better support people with chronic illness

Why compassion means suffering with people, not fixing them

How presence, listening, and belief can become meaningful care

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome and introduction to Wayne Connell

00:50 Wayne’s background in technology, broadcasting, and RadioShack

02:30 How Wayne met his wife, Sherri

05:00 Sherri’s diagnosis with MS and Lyme disease

09:45 The phrase “invisible disabilities” is born

12:00 Launching the Invisible Disabilities Advocate website

15:00 The book But You Look Good

17:00 Encourage, educate, and connect

20:00 Disability, chronic illness, and language

22:00 Faith, value, and being made in the image of God

24:00 Churches, suffering, and accessibility

28:30 Romans 5 and why we cannot skip suffering

34:00 Sitting with people in the ashes

36:00 Compassion means suffering with

39:00 Isolation, presence, and showing up

41:00 Why “How are you doing?” matters more than “How are you feeling?”

45:00 Listening, believing, and supporting people

47:00 Invisible disability as a mission field

49:00 Wayne’s calling and the work ahead

Like, subscribe, and share this episode with someone who needs a more compassionate way to talk about disability, chronic illness, faith, and community.

Connect with Bethany:

📍 Bethany Lutheran Church – Denver, CO

🌐 Learn more: www.bethany-denver.org

Connect with Wayne: https://invisibledisabilities.org/