One of the major aspects of Jesus’ ministry on earth was His outreach to people with disabilities. He displayed extraordinary compassion to, made Himself available to, and cared for the needs of people who were disabled. The Enabling Ministry seeks to help the Bethlehem Church family be Just Like Jesus, by expressing the love of Christ to all persons with disabilities together with their families, through small, ordinary acts of kindness, expressed by one person to another.
1 in 5 people in America are disabled. Christ has commanded us to minister to, and with, them:
- “Then Jesus said to his host, "When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous." (Luke 14: 12-14)
- …then he said, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.' " 'Sir,' the servant said, 'what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.' Then the master told his servant, 'Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full. I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.' " (Luke 14: 21-24)
To be Just Like Jesus we must see people with special needs and disabilities Just Like Jesus sees them:
- …persons of worth and value, created in the “image of God” (Genesis 1:27)
- …”fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:4)
- …”indispensable members of the body of Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:22,27)
- …sinners in need of a savior just like the rest of us (Romans 3:22-24)
Ministry Goals
- To open the door to share the Gospel with people who are disabled, their families, and their caregivers.
- To integrate people with disabilities, and their families, into the life of the church and give them the opportunity to use their unique SHAPE to worship God, serve the body, and reach the world for Christ.
- To enable the church to serve as a witness or model to the community for meeting the needs of people with disabilities spiritually, physically and socially.
- To coordinate and support disability services across all church ministries – full inclusion.
Areas of Focus
- Creating Awareness
- Becoming Responsive
- Welcome the presence of people and families with disabilities.
- Removing architectural barriers - Anything that keeps someone from physically entering a building or fully participating in the life of the congregation.
- Removing attitudinal barriers - Attitudes such as fear, avoidance, pity, or exclusion that keep people with disabilities from feeling welcome in the congregation.
- Provide appropriate assistance and assistive materials
- Reaching Out
- Invite people from the community with disabilities to be a part of the congregation.
- Use the gifts of people with disabilities in the life and ministry of the congregation.
- Actively encourage people with disabilities to answer God’s call to ministry.
