How does the title of this book strike you? Sassy? Confrontational? Thought-provoking? Amy Kenny’s book is all of the above in the best possible way.

Amy Kenny is a strong advocate for disability justice. As a person with disabilities, Kenny has a first-person perspective on all the ways our society—including our churches—adopt abelist perspectives by default.

While Kenny raises a variety of theological and exegetical points, the strength of this book lies in her vivid first-person narratives. Reading this book is a practice in empathy—in learning to see through Kenny’s perspective. In the end, empathy changes more hearts than arguments.

The words “prayer request” in the title were especially striking to me. The Classical Pentecostal tradition I was raised in has enshrined “Jesus heals” as part of its self-understanding. My Body is Not a Prayer Request should challenge pentecostals in particular to adopt a broader perspective towards healing—something Kenny differentiates from curing:

Curing is a physical process; it’s individual, usually (fairly) rapid, and concentrates on eliminating disease. Healing is a sociocultural process. It focuses on restoring interpersonal, social, and spiritual dimensions. (9)

This book is a powerful window into the lived experience of a person with disabilities. All Christians, especially pentecostals, would do well to take heed.

Kenny, Amy. My Body is Not a Prayer Request: Disability Justice in the Church. Brazos Press, 2022.