Preach magazine - Issue 32 - Disability Autumn 2022 | Page 44

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DISABILITY

Weakness is God ’ s way : three voices and one church

by Charmaine Yip
Disability can highlight how different God ’ s ways are to ours . We tend to see power in capability , but God often shines through disability so that he gets the glory . These are three accounts of people at Christ Church Bromley who inspire us with their joy , hope and courage in the face of disability .

Associate Vicar : Matt Lloyd

Matt Lloyd has been Associate Vicar of Christ Church Bromley since 2018 . Matt was a sporty man in his fourth year of curacy when , in 2013 , an unexpected spinal cord abscess resulted in lower-limb paralysis . Suddenly everything changed .
Nine years on , Matt reflects that one of those changes is that he is more comfortable expressing his weakness . ‘ It ’ s obvious when people meet me that there ’ s a struggle ; it ’ s liberated me to not have to pretend .’ This has resulted in a greater empathy for those who suffer . ‘ Whereas before I didn ’ t move as naturally towards those who are suffering because I didn ’ t know what to say , I hope I ’ m a bit better at doing that now .’
Matt ’ s disability also makes him long for a more inclusive church . His vision comes from 1 Corinthians 12 , where Paul describes the weaker parts of the body as being indispensable . ‘ Those with disability feel they are weaker and have less to contribute . Quite the opposite . How we help the disabled in our church family be part of it … that ’ s God-honouring .’
There ’ s lots to be thankful for , but there are harder moments too . While
THOSE WITH DISABILITY FEEL THEY ARE WEAKER AND HAVE LESS TO CONTRIBUTE . QUITE THE OPPOSITE . HOW WE HELP THE DISABLED IN OUR CHURCH FAMILY BE PART OF IT … THAT ’ S GOD-HONOURING .
Matt Lloyd , Associate Vicar of Christ Church Bromley with his family .