Listening and Speaking Up
By Fiona Gosden, Deputy Church Inclusion Co-ordinator
Contact Details
Through the Roof, Alpha
House, Alpha Place, Garth
Road, Morden, Surrey,
SM4 4TQ
Phone:
01372 749955
Email:
[email protected]
Web:
www.throughtheroof.org
Our Vision
‘… is all people enjoying
life together, mutually
giving and receiving, as
God intended’
Our Mission
'… is transforming lives
through Jesus with
disabled people’
Through the Roof Charitable Trust Ltd is
a UK Registered Company number 04201510
with offices at Alpha House, Alpha Place,
Garth Road, Morden, Surrey, SM4 4TQ. It
is also a Registered Charity Number 1087788.
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Over the last few years, God has been speaking to
me about church inclusion for disabled people.
After I became a Christian at University, I quickly
connected to a fantastic church and I didn’t give
access much thought. I’m a wheelchair user, but I
can also get out of my wheelchair, so churches
that are not physically accessible were not really a
barrier. I began to notice access needs—for
example, I remember watching an assistance dog
during a service curious to see if the dog
responded in worship—but apart from a few
observations, I didn’t speak up. This changed
when I moved to Manchester and God spoke to
me clearly. I knew that I needed to act to remove
barriers then to make it possible for all people to
connect with God.
God first spoke clearly to me about inclusion at my
own church. I don’t need my wheelchair for the
service, so I leave it in the car. On this Sunday, my
husband suggested I use my wheelchair. I was
confused and didn’t feel I needed it. I realised why
God spoke to him later, as I was sitting in my
wheelchair and someone else in a wheelchair
introduced herself. It was her first time visiting. She
had been to other churches, but had not felt
included. We talked about how people don’t
mean to exclude disabled people, but often
disabled people have more obstacles to feeling
comfortable and welcome. She described how
more people talk to her when she isn’t in her
wheelchair, so often she would try and walk. This
is a challenge I’ve experienced everywhere. When
someone wheels into a room, people naturally
How could you speak up for the disabled
people in your church?
clear a path, making it difficult to mingle and meet
new people. Disability equality charity Scope
found that 67% of people feel “uncomfortable”
talking to disabled people. Isolation can be as
much of a barrier as physical obstacles. Churches
can include wheelchair users, not just by making
the building accessible, but by challenging why
they might feel uncomfortable talking to a
disabled person, and talking to them anyway!
I’m thankful God connected me to this lady, who
has made the church her home. I’m confident that
the joy of meeting her, and hearing her honesty,
prompted me to make a difference by equipping
churches to be more inclusive. How could you
speak up for disabled people in your church? Sign
up for our Roofbreaker programme by calling the
office, and we can support you.
Manor Time
By Jenny Edwards M.B.E.
Sixteen Through the Roof holidaymakers spent a
very special few days at the lovely Brunel Manor,
Torquay. We all gathered for four days of exploring
‘The Shepherd and his sheep’, starting with Ezekiel
34. This is well worth a read, you’ll discover the
wonderful love of a Saviour who will never let us
down.
We enjoyed our studies, but had all afternoons
free, so everyone visited the areas around Brunel.
It only took 3 minutes by car to be able to enjoy a
lovely walk in sunshine along famous
Babbacombe Beach. Having eaten very well, sung
a lot, prayed with and for each other, shared
communion and testimonies it was all too soon
time to say goodbye, with a promise of meeting
up for another time out with God next year (6 to
10 April 2020). It’s not too early to apply!
www.throughtheroof.org
Sharing a special few days
If you would like to share a similar time with us at
High Leigh Conference centre in Hoddesdon (23
to 25 August), we still have a few places available
and would love you to join us.
Please ring 01372 749955 for more information.