Disability awareness focus encouraged this September
Baptist churches have been encouraged to hold a dedicated service or event to celebrate Disability Awareness Week this September
The call comes from Disability charity Through the Roof which is suggesting churches consider a range of activities to mark week (15-22 September).
These include finding ways to meet with disabled people in their community, and holding a service on Sunday 22 September with a disability focus.
Through the Roof has prepared free church resource pack on the theme ‘Journey with Jesus’. The pack features the story of Baptist minister Andrew Miles, and tells of his life changing accident.
Andrew is a retired pastor and wheelchair-user from Derby who God has called as a hospital chaplain, using the empathy and understanding gained from his accident and lived experience of disability.
He says, ‘I think because I'm in my wheelchair, people are a little bit more ready to listen.
'I hope that by my journey, my faith, they can see that God has brought me through one of the most challenging times... and He stayed with me. And here I am still ministering, still preaching the Word, seeing lives changed.’
There are many barriers disabled people can face on their journey to join, or be fully included, in church fellowships, according to the charity.
‘Accessibility of church buildings isn’t the only barrier for disabled people – there are lots of invisible barriers too, such as challenges fitting in socially and feeling you belong emotionally,' its press release stated.
'That’s why we’re inviting churches on the ‘Journey with Jesus’ towards disability inclusion, to enable Access, Belonging and Commission of disabled people, to use their giftings in the Church.’
Disability Awareness Week will begin on Sunday 15 September 2024 with a launch service live-streamed on YouTube, led by Revd Helen Cameron, who will be President of the Methodist Conference.
Helen is one of over 700 ‘Roofbreaker’ disability champions with Through the Roof, who listen to disabled people in local churches and work together with them to enable full inclusion.
The charity hopes every church will nominate a Roofbreaker - individuals (or teams) in churches or ministries who listen to disabled people and work together with them to respond to the issues that arise, to enable full inclusion.
The charity’s call was supported by The Revd Jonathan Edwards, General Secretary of the Baptist Union of Great Britain (2006-13), a long time supporter of Through the Roof.
‘Local churches are, in my experience, normally eager to welcome disabled people,’ Jonathan said.
‘However it is valuable to have one time in the year when there is a special focus on our ministry to disabled people. It's a moment to pray and to reflect on whether we are doing all that we can to ensure that disabled people are welcome and fully included in our activities.’
On the charity’s call that every church should consider a ‘Roofbreaker’, Jonathan added, ‘I am a great fan of the Roofbreaker initiative. The men who brought their paralysed friend to the feet of Jesus were loving, determined and courageous. I believe every church needs at least one person who is willing to follow their example and be a true friend to disabled people.’
Through the Roof’s mission is to transform lives through Jesus with disabled people. For more information, visit throughtheroof.org or @TTRChangesLives on social media.
Baptist Times, 03/07/2024