“Only 5 to 10% of the world’s disabled are effectively reached with the Gospel, making the disability community

one of the largest unreached—some say under-reached—or hidden groups in the world.”

-Lausanne Movement

Amos Yong: The Bible, Disabilities and the Church

“Each person with disability no matter how serious, severe or even profound, contributes something essential to and for the body, through the presence and activity of the Spirit; people with disabilities are therefore ministers empowered by the Spirit of each, each in his or her own specific way, rather than merely recipients of the ministries of non-disabled people.”

There needs to be a change in mindset:

From recipients to ACTIVE participants in the body of Christ.

“The Spirit distributes gifts liberally and graciously so that people with disabilities are just as capable-if not more capable- of contributing to the edification of the community of faith and hence are necessary in that sense.”

Luke 10:21

“At that same time Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, and he said, “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike (or little children, other translation is infants, babes) Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way.”

How have I seen the Spirit Active?

Story of Clara.

Story of John.

Story of Lexi.

Story of John

Story of Lexi

International Challenges

Seeing no people within Mozambique who had disabilities for two years.

Teaching in Morocco

Door to door searching

Social differences

Shame and honor

BIG NEED OF SUPPORT

A Lesson from l’Arche

Community, openness and love.

The Story of Helen

Where do we see ourselves in Helen’s story?

Coming face to face with our own vulnerabilities.

Fear of being vulnerable.

Ideas for the Church: Story of church in Nashville

Acceptance

Inclusion (in a way that gives them purpose).

“When a child feels it does not belong to anyone, it suffers terribly loneliness and this is manifested in anguish. Anguish is like an inner agitation. which affects the whole body, transforming the digestive and sleep patterns, bringing confusion, destroying all clarity about what to do and how to act. It closes the child in on itself in feelings of uselessness and death, but also of anger and hatred, which are intolerable. A child that feels unloved, knows it is not loveable; it is not good; it is evil. Loneliness is quickly transformed into terrible feelings of guilt. But, when a children is loved, seen as precious, listened to, touched with reverence, then it is at peace. It knows it belongs. It is held, protected and safe. It opens up without fear.”

Jean Vanier. Community and Growth. 2nd Rev. ed. (New York: Paulist Press, 1989), 13.

Buddy System

Missing out on Abnormal Joy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kL75g7fAJ80

Musa is a teacher, minister and friend, not simply recipient.

He is complete.

Conclusion

Justo Gonzalez: We all view the mountain differently, we just need to be open to hearing from everyone.

Resources The Bible, Disability and The Church- Amos Yong

The Reason I Jump- Naoki Higashida

Santa Biblia: The Bible Through Hispanic Eye- Justo Gonzalez

Let all the Little Children Come- Phyllis Kilbourn

Commmunity and Growth- Jean Vanier

Befriending the Stranger- Jean Vanier

““Biblical and Theological Reflections on Disability.” In Mission as Transformation: A Theology of the Whole Gospel, edited by Vinay Samuel and Chris Sugden, 429-437. No.4 Vol. 15. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2009.

Bibliography “Biblical and Theological Reflections on Disability.” In Mission as Transformation: A Theology of the Whole Gospel, edited by Vinay Samuel and Chris Sugden, 429-437. No.4 Vol. 15. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2009.

Gonzalez, Justo L. Santa Biblia: The Bible Through Hispanic Eyes. Nashville, Tennessee: Abingdon Press, 1996.

Kilbourn, Phyllis. "Disabilities: Context and Consequences." In Let All the Children Come: A Handbook for Holistic Ministry to Children with Disabilities, 19-34. Fort Washington, PA: CLC Publications, 2013.

Smith, Courtney L. “The Importance of Spiritual Nurture.” In Let All the Children Come: A Handbook for Holistic Ministry to Children with Disabilities, 19-34. Fort Washington, PA: CLC Publications, 2013.

Vanier, Jean. Community and Growth. 2nd Rev. ed. New York: Paulist Press, 1989.

Yong, Amos. The Bible, Disability, and the Church: A New Vision of the People of God. Grand Rapids, Mich.: W.B. Eerdmans Pub., 2011.