Belonging
Reflections from our Chair of Trustees, Revd Trevor Hahn
Our Chair of Trustees, Trevor, shares stories about belonging: We have a new addition to our family:
Felipe, a 2-year-old Spanish rescue pointer dog. It has been challenging as he enters our household, including another( smaller, older) dog, Pepito. It takes time,
effort, and sacrifice to adjust for both Felipe into his new environment and family, and for us as we make changes, so Felipe is not only welcome, not only accepted, but so that he belongs and is part of the family.
One of my favourite gospel stories is of the healing of the woman who had been bleeding for 12 years who secretly reached out and touched Jesus( Luke 8:40-47). She had been ostracised from the community, not allowed to worship in the temple, utterly excluded; anyone who touched her would become unclean themselves, and yet she pushed through the crowd to touch Jesus. But that was not enough for Jesus! He stopped and talked with the woman.
Bear in mind Jesus was on His way to heal the daughter of Jairus, the Synagogue Ruler, who in fact died because of the delay. Why did Jesus stop? What was so important?
The woman was healed, she had her prayers answered, her faith had healed her. Yet, that was
not enough for Jesus. Why? Because Jesus wanted her to be reintegrated into society. He wanted her to be included in the community. Jesus wanted her to know that she belonged. He refers to her as a‘ daughter of Abraham’, including her in the patriarchs of faith, part of the chosen people, a child of God, someone who belonged.
It may cost us to follow Jesus’ example, but what blessings result. And God was further glorified when Jesus healed Jairus’ daughter too! Our founding chair of Through the Roof, Colin Reeves, died recently. He, like Jesus, heard the Holy Spirit and changed direction when he heard Joni Eareckson Tada speak, inspiring him to set up Through the Roof in the UK with Paul Dicken, with a vision that every disabled person may not only know Jesus but know they belong and have a part to play.
It takes time, effort, and sacrifice to ensure everyone is not only included, but belongs, as we are discovering with Felipe. But there is so much blessing as we see people and communities transformed and God’ s Kingdom expanding.
Who is God asking you to notice in the crowd? In your everyday life? How can you continue Colin’ s legacy? How can you promote belonging?
Please pray: for God’ s work of disability inclusion in the Church, so all are truly able to belong and serve in God’ s Kingdom. Thank God for leading TTR in this important work through the years.
Vital Link Spring 2026 | www. throughtheroof. org