Small number , large impact
A small but large-hearted church congregation of 30 are making a big difference to the lives of disabled people .
The church fellowship in the rural village of Doveridge , Derbyshire , which has a population of only 1800 , raised an incredible £ 2,745 for the mission and ministry of Through the Roof , as they held a gift day for the work .
Tim Wood , Through the Roof ’ s Chief Executive , visited St Cuthbert ’ s church one Sunday morning to thank them for their generosity . Not only did Tim collect the cheque , but he met someone with the interest and skills to join a wheelchair distribution trip as a seating therapist .
Someone else was keen to support the work , and the Chair of the Inclusion Action Group in the Diocese ( Carl ) was present . The group works to advance disability inclusion in the 300 churches regionally . Another member of that group is Lynda who led the service , and co-ordinates our rural Roofbreakers network ( volunteer disability champions who live in rural areas ).
Those who attend St Cuthbert ’ s church – which has witnessed 900 years of Christian worship – clearly model the Kingdom principle of the mustard seed ( Matthew 13 : 13-21 ).
Through the gifts of money the congregation have generated , they will transform the lives of dozens of people living with disability , giving them mobility , the freedom to belong to their community , and the opportunity to fulfil their potential in God .
Emmanuel is one example of someone whose life the church can change . Emmanuel encountered Jesus
St Cuthbert ’ s church beautifully illustrates the parable of the mustard seed .
through our team and Christian partner . He is 11 and lives in Kenya ’ s remote highlands . Born with Macrocephaly , he was left by his mother at home , so his grandmother came to care for him . The wet floor of the mud hut was all he had to sleep on . Now , with a personally-fitted wheelchair , he can sleep off the ground and wants to attend school at the bottom of the hill where he lives .
Tim commented at St Cuthbert ’ s , “ I ’ m humbled by the warmth and generosity of the people of this church and village – making a difference to those in great need , by donating to Through the Roof ’ s work . It shows that God can use us , no matter how small in number .”
Future international mission trips
We ’ re planning the following trips over the next year .
If you ’ re interested in volunteering on one of these , or finding out about all our international opportunities , please contact shaun @ throughtheroof . org
24th January – 3rd February 2024 India , Kerala . Roofbreaker Church Inclusion trip , partnered with Sathyam Literature Service .
20th – 30th March 2024 Nigeria , Lagos . A Wheels for the World trip in partnership with Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation Nigeria ( OIFN ).
17th – 27th April 2024 Uganda , Jinja . Roofbreaker Church Inclusion trip in partnership with Petra Foundation Christ Ministries .
12th – 22nd June 2024 Rwanda . A Wheels for the World trip in partnership with FH Rwanda ( FHR ).
www . throughtheroof . org
Could you volunteer for a mission , like this one to Uganda ?