Mercer University receives $1M grant to help neurodivergent children in worship
Mercer University’s School of Music will use a $1 million grant to develop resources helping neurodivergent children connect and thrive in worship services.
MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Mercer University is taking steps to ensure all children, regardless of how they learn or process information, can feel included in worship settings.
Mercer’s School of Music was recently awarded a million-dollar grant to support neurodivergent children in worship, aiming to enhance their experience through the power of music.
“The goal is to develop resources for communities of faith, to better include those children, who are going to be neurodivergent, who are going to process sensory data in a way that’s not necessarily expected, therefore have a really hard time connecting with the worship and the music, or the community,” said Nathan Myrick, assistant professor of sacred music at Mercer.
The grant will help fund research and resources focused on making worship services more accessible for neurodivergent children.
Myrick explained how important music can be for everyone.
“A good flourishing life is going to be strongly impacted by participation in a religious community. And so, one of the things that can figures rather or not that participation is good, is the way people are involved in belonging, and what kind of relationships are negotiated there. And music’s are a really key component to negotiating relationships,” he said.
Myrick says this program has the potential to change lives.
“They’re going to learn how to be a part of the community and how to connect with their families, with their pastors, with their leaders, friends. They’re going to learn about music, learn about themselves, and how to live well,” Myrick shared.
He also had an important message for all families.
“If you do have the skills to connect and have the confidence to say no, I do belong here, my place is here, these are my people. Then that can be something that you can transfer to all areas and walks of life as you mature and as you grow up,” said Myrick.
