Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share They See Angels: The Spiritual Insights of People with Autism | Ep.23
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
They See Angels: The Spiritual Insights of People with Autism | Ep.23
What if many non-speaking people with autism have far more to say than we’ve ever imagined — and some of it gives us a glimpse into the spiritual world?
In this episode of Sips of Grace, Pastor and author Joe Infranco shares powerful stories from his book Decoding Cody about individuals who communicate through spelling — a form of augmented communication that’s opening new doors for understanding.
Joe explains how spelling works, how research has evolved, and why so many people using this method describe remarkably similar experiences: seeing angels, encountering Jesus, and visiting a place they call “the Hill.”
Together we explore angels, discernment, near-death parallels, and what these accounts might reveal about God’s mercy, love, and the unseen world around us.
In This Episode:
• How “spelling” works — and why trust between the communicator and facilitator matters
• Cody’s breakthrough moment that changed everything
• What spellers are saying about “the Hill” — a place of worship, light, and friendship
• Angels, protection, and confirmations Joe has witnessed
• Thoughtful responses to Christian skepticism
• A moving story about seeing a loved one’s passing through heavenly eyes
Timestamps:
0:00 — Why Joe’s work matters and how it began
1:45 — What is “spelling” and how it’s changing communication
7:50 — The role of trust and relationship
10:10 — Meeting Cody: discovering competence and voice
18:40 — Are “filters” in autism opening spiritual perception?
24:30 — “The Hill”: shared visions of light, worship, and purpose
35:50 — Life on the Hill: friendships and assignments
38:10 — Angels, protection, and recurring spiritual patterns
44:10 — Non-Christians on the Hill? Near-death parallels and theology
48:40 — Mercy at life’s edge: hope for last-moment encounters with Jesus
52:40 — Pushback, discernment, and humility in the Church
1:04:30 — Comfort in loss: Cody’s vision at his grandmother’s passing
1:07:40 — What Joe is learning next and how we can respond
About Joe Infranco:
Joe served 18 years with Alliance Defending Freedom before stepping into pastoral ministry. In Decoding Cody, he documents the voices and spiritual insights of non-speaking people with autism — and what their witness means for the Church.
📘 Joe’s Book: Decoding Cody
🌐 Hidden Gifts Ministry: hiddengiftsministry.org
If this episode encourages you, please follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review — it helps more people find these stories of faith and grace.
Contact: [email protected]
Follow along: https://www.instagram.com/sipsofgracepodcast
#SipsOfGrace #Faith #Jesus #Autism #Spelling #Angels #TheHill #Testimony #NearDeathExperiences #AugmentedCommunication
View all episodes
By Sips of GraceWhat if many non-speaking people with autism have far more to say than we’ve ever imagined — and some of it gives us a glimpse into the spiritual world?
In this episode of Sips of Grace, Pastor and author Joe Infranco shares powerful stories from his book Decoding Cody about individuals who communicate through spelling — a form of augmented communication that’s opening new doors for understanding.
Joe explains how spelling works, how research has evolved, and why so many people using this method describe remarkably similar experiences: seeing angels, encountering Jesus, and visiting a place they call “the Hill.”
Together we explore angels, discernment, near-death parallels, and what these accounts might reveal about God’s mercy, love, and the unseen world around us.
In This Episode:
• How “spelling” works — and why trust between the communicator and facilitator matters
• Cody’s breakthrough moment that changed everything
• What spellers are saying about “the Hill” — a place of worship, light, and friendship
• Angels, protection, and confirmations Joe has witnessed
• Thoughtful responses to Christian skepticism
• A moving story about seeing a loved one’s passing through heavenly eyes
Timestamps:
0:00 — Why Joe’s work matters and how it began
1:45 — What is “spelling” and how it’s changing communication
7:50 — The role of trust and relationship
10:10 — Meeting Cody: discovering competence and voice
18:40 — Are “filters” in autism opening spiritual perception?
24:30 — “The Hill”: shared visions of light, worship, and purpose
35:50 — Life on the Hill: friendships and assignments
38:10 — Angels, protection, and recurring spiritual patterns
44:10 — Non-Christians on the Hill? Near-death parallels and theology
48:40 — Mercy at life’s edge: hope for last-moment encounters with Jesus
52:40 — Pushback, discernment, and humility in the Church
1:04:30 — Comfort in loss: Cody’s vision at his grandmother’s passing
1:07:40 — What Joe is learning next and how we can respond
About Joe Infranco:
Joe served 18 years with Alliance Defending Freedom before stepping into pastoral ministry. In Decoding Cody, he documents the voices and spiritual insights of non-speaking people with autism — and what their witness means for the Church.
📘 Joe’s Book: Decoding Cody
🌐 Hidden Gifts Ministry: hiddengiftsministry.org
If this episode encourages you, please follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review — it helps more people find these stories of faith and grace.
Contact: [email protected]
Follow along: https://www.instagram.com/sipsofgracepodcast
#SipsOfGrace #Faith #Jesus #Autism #Spelling #Angels #TheHill #Testimony #NearDeathExperiences #AugmentedCommunication