Differently
By Dr . Mike Townsend , Chair of Trustees
‘ Differently ’. This word was everywhere we travelled in India .
Am I different ? Special access is provided for ‘ differentlyabled people ’.
What do you think about that phrase ? It is not one I would use . In contrast to Nepal , access provision in India is excellent - despite some rather rough terrain . I found a positive attitude everywhere .
Helping Hands , a project employing disabled people in Nepal , had an outlet round the corner from one of our hotels . As I walked in , the shopkeeper said , " welcome . We met in Nepal !" We were also welcomed into a Tata funded tea village amongst the plantations . Most of the workers there are disabled and are the main breadwinners for their families .
Amongst Hindus , it is hard to share the gospel of Jesus . They so readily accept additional gods .
But what is sharing the Gospel ? At breakfast in Agra , an American strolled over and asked how long I had been blind . He then proceeded to tell me that he could help God heal me ! He was an evangelical missionary . How strange ! What is the Gospel ? Paul said , " I am not ashamed of the Gospel , because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes " ( Romans 1:16 ). ‘ Salvation ’ is the essence of the Gospel . This is a saving relationship with Jesus . As Paul describes it , " the glorious riches of this mystery , which is Christ in you , the hope of glory ." ( Colossians 1:27 ). So why would this missionary offer a disabled person a temporary fix rather than an eternal relationship ? Is there a ‘ different ’ gospel for ‘ differently abled ’ people ? Paul expressed his disappointment to the Galatians . " I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel - which is really no gospel at all ." Galatians 1:6-7 .)
There is not a different Gospel for different people . The Gospel , which Through the Roof lovingly offers , is a saving relationship with Jesus for everybody .
Tim and I went to a presentation at the London Central Hall in December . We were given the silver award for the best project for advancing the Christian faith for the Roofbreaker project . Thank you for partnering with us in sharing the gospel of ‘ Jesus Christ who is the same yesterday , today and forever ’ ( Hebrews 13:8 ).
As I said to the missionary , it is good to be an ambassador for Jesus even though I am an ambassador with a ‘ difference ’.
Gratitude Going Forward
Thank you for all of your support and well-wishes through 2017 – our twentieth anniversary ! Lots of you held individual celebrations to promote Through the Roof , and we all enjoyed a terrific service in Ashtead to commemorate the last twenty years . We ’ ve lots of exciting plans for 2018 and the future work of the charity , some of which are featured in this issue , and some which we ’ ll be talking about over the next few months . We still have a few of the celebration packs ready to use , so if you ’ d like to hold a celebration and raise awareness and funds for the charity , please get in touch .
Thank you for celebrating TTR ' s birthday !
www . throughtheroof . org