Undefeated - Celebrating Paralympians and Campaigning on Global Injustice
A new campaign to secure better rights for disabled people around the world - and to inspire churches to celebrate the faith and excellence of Paralympians - was launched at the Baptist Assembly
The Undefeated Campaign is the brainchild of BMS World Mission. It revolves around material for a one-hour church service during the Olympics and Paralympics, as well as calling on churches to ask the government to prioritise the promotion of inclusion policies for disabled people on all foreign aid projects.
It was introduced by Mark Craig, BMS director of communications (right) and David Pile, the London Baptist Association's Olympic and Paralympic church engagement co-ordinator (left).
'You might wonder what a mission agency is involved in campaigning for the disabled,' Mark said.
'There are 1 billion disabled people in the world - if they all became one country, they'd be the third largest nation on earth. That nation would also have the world's highest rates of homelessness, unemployment, divorce, abuse and suicide.
'That makes it a mission issue for us.'
The material for the church services includes footage and interviews with Paralympians, a sermon outline, all age interactive material, and theology of disability. 'Make sure your church has something to say about the Paralympics,' added David.
The campaign card also calls on the Government to ensure disability is incorporated into the UN's post-2015 Millennium Development Goals (MDG) agenda, and to strengthen its encouragement for countries to adopt and practise the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
The campaign has the backing of Hugh Robertson MP, minister for sport and the Olympics.
He said, 'I wish BMS World Mission every success with Undefeated. Thank you for the work you are doing to engage the Church with the Paralympic Games.'
Undefeated is £6.