We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to… Read more

Joni Eareakson Tada, who had a diving accident in 1967 at the age of 17 which left her a complete quadriplegic, has spoken about her experience in outreach missionary work. Joni and Friends is an outreach ministry that provides wheelchairs to those in need in developing countries. Amongst other specialized ministries, this organization reaches into… Read more

One large outreach ministry that is severely lacking in inclusion of disabled people is missionary work. When disabled people apply to be overseas missionaries, they are, for the most part, turned down. Missionary organizations have developed a criterion that matches the stereotypes of mainstream society. Missionaries are expected to be physically fit, physically strong, and… Read more

Outreach ministry to the disabled community needs to focus on inclusion on the local level of accessibility and inclusion in congregations. Outreach ministry to disabled people and their families cannot be confined within the limits of the walls of a Church building. Jesus told us to go forth to the people, to preach the Gospel,… Read more

Sirach 10:19a, states: “Who is worthy of honor? The human race. Who is worthy of honor? Those who fear the Lord.” This passage does not state, “except disabled people.” It states, “the human race.” Everyone is worthy of honour, without exception. Joni Eareackson Tada summarized this message quite well: If access is having a ramp… Read more

As the Gospel message is not often readily accessible to disabled people who earnestly seek to learn it, they may turn to organizations and non-traditional Christian communities such as Jehovah’s Witness and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who have created an active ministry dedicated to bringing the Gospel to disabled people. Both… Read more

The disabled community is one of the least who learn the Gospel. Depending on their location in the world, many are still “tucked away” from society. Disabled children often do not have the opportunity to attend school. Disabled adults are often a financial burden to their families, and they are deserted. In some developing countries,… Read more

The Church has over time and not necessarily on purpose, become exclusive. When a visitor enters the Church building, although they may be warmly welcomed, there is an invisible curtain that divides the member and the visitor – the “us” and “them.” Through Church history, exclusion has reigned dominate. It has only been in the… Read more

The Church needs to reclaim this valuable treasure that God has provided. Every effort toward inclusion of disabled people in the Church must be tapped into. There are many well educated disabled people in theology, but their knowledge is not accepted or shared as they are faced with discrimination by the Church and in positions… Read more

God, who said that He chooses who will be disabled and does so to use them for His own purposes has been ignored. In the Old Testament, we see God using disabled people such as Moses to show His strength and power to the world. Disabled people have a strong, united voice that needs to… Read more