Speaker

Jessica Hurlbut is a pastor, a writer, an ultra runner, and a mom of five – two who struggle with autism, two adopted, and one typical teen boy.

Jessica spent nine years in the trenches of full-time ministry until 2012 when her daughter was diagnosed with level three autism. Four years later, Jessica’s son was also diagnosed with severe autism. This season Jessica refers to as her hidden years, where God did a great and humbling work in her life. During this time, the Holy Spirit called Jessica and her husband to adopt a sibling pair through foster care, and God opened their eyes to the great need for foster and adoptive parents in this country. This led Jessica to attempt to run 110 miles in 24 hours on National Adoption Day as a visual representation of the 110,000 kids in foster care who desperately need a forever family through adoption.

Jesus whispered to Jessica’s heart, “If you take care of my kids, I’ll take care of yours.”

Jessica blogs at jessicahurlbut.com, and she and her husband host a weekly podcast, The Full Spectrum Parent, the only faith-based autism parenting podcast.