The path to and through seminary looks different for every student. For Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS) student Seth Taylor, it requires an arduous amount of effort; it can be painstakingly slow; and it is always through uncharted territory. But his ministry to a group of people called the Speller Bros is a testament to God’s grace and a celebration of the all-surpassing worth of the gospel.

“I always knew about God because of my parents,” Seth shared as he spelled out his story. “Even before spelling, I listened to them read the Bible, and I learned all about Jesus. One day mom read to me the plan of salvation from a homeschool book. I realized I need to be forgiven, so I asked in my mind for Jesus to save me. He did, and now the Holy Spirit helps me try to live for Him, even though I still can’t talk.”

From a young age, Seth experienced the world very differently than those around him.

When he was a little under 1 year old, his parents, Andy and Laurie Taylor, learned that their son had severe autism and motor apraxia. Seth was unable to speak and had no way of communicating with others.

Over the next decade, the Taylors sought out many different therapies and methods of helping Seth, but nothing seemed to break through the barrier. Not until his 11th birthday, that is.

Around that time, Andy and Laurie learned about a woman who was able to communicate with her own autistic son through something called a letterboard; through it, he was able to spell out his thoughts.

Here was an opportunity to try something new, something that might change Seth’s world. It was a terrifying thing to get their hopes up for something else that might not work.

But the Taylors believe God is a God of hope.

Andy, Laurie, and Seth traveled to meet the woman who could teach them how to use the letterboard, and within a few days of working with her, communication opened up for Seth. Using the letterboard, an 8.5×11-inch laminated piece of paper, Seth demonstrated to his parents the fullness and complexity of his thoughts.

“The first time we saw him have open communication on the letterboard, Laurie and I were both overjoyed and sorrowful at the same time,” Andy said. “We thought that Seth was unaware of everything around him, but he was actually listening to everything we said.

“We were so happy that he now had a voice, but also sad that he had lived so many years trapped in his mind. There were lots of tears. Honestly, it was also scary at first. We didn’t know what he would say. Would he be mad or disappointed in us?”

Seth also remembers that moment very clearly, and he described in his own words what it was like to communicate with his parents for the first time.

“It was amazing,” he spelled. “It was so good for me to show them that I am smart even though my hands and body act crazy. They could get to know me, and my family was so happy. Spelling has opened up my life.”

A year later, around his 12th birthday, Seth experienced something even more life-changing than being able to spell: He asked Jesus to save him from his sins and through the gospel found eternal hope and forgiveness in his Lord and Savior.

The day he was saved, Seth spelled out to his mother the summary of Christ’s work on his behalf: “All done.”

Speller Bros and seminary

Over the years since then, Seth has grown in his faith and in his ability to communicate with people. Only recently he and his family discovered a community of other young men whose lives look very much like Seth’s. They are called, in Seth’s words, the Speller Bros.

Also autistic and non-speaking, these friends use letterboards to communicate at spell groups and community activities. Their proficiency at using a letterboard varies, and Seth explained that it takes a lot of time and energy to use. The practice of spelling also requires a partner to help, and for some of the Speller Bros, that means that communication can only happen at therapy with a therapist. Others, like Seth, are now able to spell at home with a family member.

With this newfound community, God answered Seth’s deep desire for friendship. However, he also placed a new desire in Seth’s heart: to share Jesus with these new friends.

As Andy recalled, “Seth told me on his letterboard, ‘Dad, I need to go to seminary.’” When he asked Seth why, his response was, “‘Because I need to learn about God so I can lead a Bible study for the Speller Bros.’”

At first Andy was overwhelmed by this request. Would it be possible? But he knew of a seminary that shared Seth’s heart for reaching the lost with the gospel. For almost three years, Andy has served on the board of trustees at Southeastern, so reached out to Provost Scott Pace to see what their next steps should be.

The first steps of theological equipping

This year, Seth started his first Go Certificate class at Southeastern — Theology I with Ken Keathley. Because of the format of the class and its online delivery, he was able to work through the content at his own pace.

He has completed the first course and moved on to hermeneutics with SEBTS President Danny Akin and Great Commission studies with Chuck Lawless. Through these classes, Seth is gaining a biblical and theological foundation as he prepares to lead a Bible study for the Speller Bros.

“I think God put the desire in my heart so they can know how much God loves them,” Seth said. “My first Bible study is about the man born blind (John 9).”

In addition to planning this study, Seth has been able to use what he is learning in his classes to articulate how God is at work in his life.

“I have a blog that has more subscribers than I thought would read it,” he said. “I wrote my testimony recently to share the gospel. I had just learned about the Holy Spirit in theology class, so I incorporated it in my story. I hope I have more opportunities to share.”

As Andy reflected on the events of the past months, he was struck by the way that God has been able to use Seth in his own unique circumstances.

“The last year has been amazing,” Andy said. “Seth has grown into his calling. To see his determination is humbling. Certainly, he is impacting the spelling community. But Seth is an inspiration and challenge to all who know him to lay down their excuses and allow the struggles of your life to be used to magnify the greatness of Christ.

“Laurie and I have said for years that Seth’s life has been the most sanctifying experience for both of us. Seth has helped us to see the Imago Dei in every person. His love for ministry is humbling. He could have become bitter with frustration and anxiety. But he leans on the Holy Spirit.”

Making disciples through spelling

As Seth seeks to minister to the Speller Bros, there is a lot to learn, and the journey is not easy.

“My mind cannot control my body, so I look like I’m only a shell of a person,” Seth shared through his letterboard. “I struggle to stay regulated, which can look like crazy, impulsive movements, strange sounds, and my lack of verbal speech. It is hard to do a lot of things, and I have a lot of people stare at me in public.”

Their perception of him, however, is not the full picture. “My mind is intact,” he explained, “so it’s been life changing to have a way to communicate. My mind loves God and wants to fulfill His plan for me.”

Andy said he thinks about Southeastern’s “GO” logo every day, and even more so now that Seth is a student.

“We often connect Great Commission impact with the recognizable areas of the world that need more gospel witness,” Andy said. “Who would have thought to see the Speller Bros as an unreached people group for ministry? But that is what Southeastern trains students to do every day.”

When asked how his Southeastern community could pray for him, Seth gave this request: “They can pray that we get the Bible study logistics worked out. Pray for more people to have spelling to unlock their voices. I know that I will be healed in heaven someday. However, if you pray for me to be healed in my life here, that would be great.”

For more stories about what God is doing in Seth’s life, visit his personal blog, Dispelled: Autism Exposed.