Vital Link 84 Summer 2022 | Page 5

Disability Awareness Sunday in YOUR Church

Can your church join others around the UK in holding a Disability Awareness Sunday on 18th September ( or a date of your choice )?
Upton Vale Baptist Church in Torquay is looking forward to celebrating in an accessible way . They told us , ‘ In our Church a group for adults with additional needs called ‘ B2gether ’, meets every Sunday morning to share news , pray , chat about our faith , and do craft . This year we ’ re planning another accessible service partly led by B2gether .
Last year one of our members did the reading , another led prayers , and a couple shared how B2gether helps them grow in their faith and understanding of how much Jesus loves them .
B2gether members regularly do the readings and lead prayers in our services , and we are blessed to have songs signed in Makaton most Sundays . The congregation love and value the contribution of B2gether and are always blessed by them . One example of the impact made by our friends was when Claire , who has a learning disability , did the reading one morning . Afterwards we heard from a lady who has been a Christian for some time , that when she heard Claire bravely complete the reading before a large congregation , she said “ If she can do that , then I can get baptised ”! Recently Stuart , who is physically disabled and suffers from memory loss , carefully prepared to lead prayers , then arrived at Church to find he couldn ’ t access his script on his iPad . Seated at the front , he began apologising that he didn ’ t have his prepared script . Then he closed his eyes and prayed from the heart . We were all deeply moved by how God understands our hearts without the need for eloquent prayers .’
Can you host a Disability Awareness Sunday service ( or part of a service ) in your church ? A full pack with themes , key messages , children ’ s / all age activities , and supporting videos , will be available soon . Register to receive yours by emailing janet @ throughtheroof . org or by phone on 01372 749955 .

Upcoming International Missions

We are currently planning to run the following in-person wheelchair distributions and training trips ...
• Mozambique Wheels Distribution in Mocuba : 8 – 20 August 2022 with OMS and Helping Hands
• India Wheels Distribution in Kerala : 2 – 12 Nov 2022 with Sathyam Ministries
• Nigeria ( Lagos ) Church Inc trip 25 - 30 March 2023 , Wheels Distribution 31 March - 8 April 2023
• Uganda Wheels Distribution in Moyo : 3 - 13 April 2023 with Hope Health Action
In the event of Covid or other circumstances making it impossible to travel or run a quality in-person distribution , we ’ ll switch to a ‘ supported distribution ’, where we supply
Upton Vale Baptist Church is planning some great Disability Awareness Sunday activities . Visit www . throughtheroof . org to get your church involved
The Uganda 2022 Wheels Team - get in touch to sign up for future trips .
and ship high-quality refurbished wheelchairs from the UK , and a team of therapists and techies in the UK remotely advise a trained partner team in-country . If you ’ re interested in volunteering , or supporting these lifechanging trips , please contact our International Missions Manager , Shaun , by email on shaun @ throughtheroof . org or calling the office on 01372 749955 .
Each of our international missions trips changes the lives of hundreds of people , but with increasing shipping costs , they can cost thousands of pounds to run . Your generous donations make the work possible ! Please consider supporting TTR ’ s work by donating at www . throughtheroof . org , by phone on 01372 749955 , or sponsoring a wheelchair using the attached form .
www . throughtheroof . org