Celebrating our 500th Roofbreaker !
Through the Roof marked a milestone in August when our 500th Roofbreaker signed up – at our exhibition stand at ‘ Creation Fest ’ in Cornwall . We were delighted that , over the four days of Creation Fest , 28 new people became Roofbreakers – meaning that we now have over 500 Roofbreakers ( disability champions ) in churches and ministries across the UK .
Jane Otieno from Teignmouth United Reformed Church in Devon takes the spot as the 500th Roofbreaker . She was also serving at Creation Fest with the ‘ Count Everyone In ’ team providing accessible sessions for people with learning disabilities .
We asked Jane why she feels it ’ s important for disabled people to be included at church . Jane says , “ Because every single person is loved by God and needs to have the opportunity to hear about His love and to grow in their faith .”
Jane is our 500th Roofbreaker – get in touch to join up now !
In Jane ’ s words , this is why she has become a Roofbreaker … “ It ’ s about me and other people in the church becoming aware of differences and needing to ask those questions to find out how we can do things better .”
“ There seem to be lots of things in the information you have got here that I don ’ t know , and I don ’ t think people at my church know about , so it will be good to share that with them .”
“ We often assume , for example , that every person that ’ s visually impaired wants this , or wants that , but they don ’ t all want the same things . It ’ s about asking those questions . Asking people what they want . It ’ s knowing each individual , that ’ s a really important thing .”
Welcome to the ‘ Roofbreaker Family ’ Jane – we look forward to supporting you and your church … and would like to encourage anyone reading this article to think about becoming a Roofbreaker in their church or ministry . More details are on the Through the Roof website : www . throughtheroof . org / roofbreakers .
Chairs to Ukraine
Wheelchairs being distributed to medical staff in Ukraine . Please keep praying for our partners .
In response to the increased need for wheelchairs in Ukraine , due to the conflict there , our generous supporters raised over £ 500 so we could help .
Our ‘ special delivery ’ of one-third of a 40-foot trailer of 47 wheelchairs , 20 Zimmer frames , 3 large bags of crocheted blankets and 1 box of paediatric orthopaedic boots was loaded and departed for the Netherlands . European trucking companies won ’ t go into Ukraine , so the load was transferred to a truck coming out of Ukraine to return with it . The consignment reached our partner Volodomyr Kostyshyn of Grace Baptist Church in Ternopil , Western Ukraine , in the summer . He was grateful to us for providing support in this way .
One of the wheelchairs blessed the Zagrotski family who have one biological child and 13 adopted children . Nine of the children are disabled and almost all have a neurological condition . Jaroslav and Natalia were grateful that their daughter ’ s new wheelchair will alleviate some of their struggles and enable her to attend school .
Other wheelchairs were distributed by medical professionals through local hospitals to those who had become disabled during the war . A few chairs even reached Sumy , in the east – one of the most war-afflicted regions , adjacent to the border with Russia . Do pray for our Partner Volodomyr , and his family , as they continue to assist their country ’ s disabled citizens , despite themselves living with the additional challenges of disability . www . throughtheroof . org