SPRING 2025
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Transforming Lives Through Jesus with Disabled People
“ God is in charge of making me”
Disability Awareness Sunday is on 28th September this year. The theme is‘ Made in God’ s Image’ and our resources / video / content is written by author Emily Owen. Here she shares about her own journey with God making her in His image …
Hello! My name is Emily. I’ m a Christian, and I am disabled.
When I was 16, I was diagnosed with NF2-SWN, a condition which causes benign tumours to grow on nerves in my body. Since then, I’ ve had many surgeries, including ones which left me completely deaf, and with limited mobility.
I am delighted to be involved with the 2025 Disability Awareness Sunday material. This year’ s theme,‘ Made in God’ s Image’, is close to my heart, particularly since one of my surgeries damaged my facial nerve, and I struggled with being visibly different.
My confidence went through the floor. I didn’ t want to see anyone, or go anywhere. I existed in the ruins of my life, and I
In this issue:
“ I don’ t want my child to be like Greg.”
Plans for Hope Explored courses.
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Vital Link Spring 2025 | www. throughtheroof. org
John Garrett’ s‘ Life Story’ album. couldn’ t make it better. I couldn’ t click my fingers and run, and smile, and hear again. Physical changes, and their consequences, caused me to lose sight of myself.
‘ Who was I now?’ I didn’ t recognise myself. And God assured me, over and over, that I am made in His image:
‘ I will build you up again, and you … will be rebuilt.’ Jeremiah 31:4
God is in charge of making me. I don’ t have to do anything except let Him.
That doesn’ t mean it’ s always easy. Life can be hard. There are times when I’ d build myself differently. But ultimately, if I let Him make me and build me and shape me, if I look for His hand in and on my life, I am blessed.
He knows me. He knows the shape I am in. He knows that how I am now is not the same, in many ways, as how I used to be. He knows my joys and frustrations. He knows me inside out. He made me. And He builds me up, again and again.
I hope you can join us for Disability Awareness Sunday 2025 as we celebrate together being‘ Made in God’ s Image’.
Explore this theme in our free DAS 2025 resource pack, written by Emily.
To get your copy visit our website at: https:// bit. ly / DisabilityAwarenessSunday