Does your church welcome people with disabilities?

Are people with disabilities welcome at your church?

“Of course,” you might say—no church would turn somebody away simply because they’re disabled. But it’s quite possible for a church to unintentionally make disabled visitors feel unwelcome. Structural features like wheelchair ramps and elevators are obvious ways to help, but things like keeping worship services punctual and making sure that off-campus activities are accessible to disabled churchgoers are also important.

How does your church fare in this regard? Would a disabled visitor feel welcome, able to fully participate in worship and church life? What does your church need to do better?

Share your thoughts!

6 Responses to “Does your church welcome people with disabilities?”

  • Vito L. Motola says:

    There are those in the church who are physically disabled, also there are those who are mentally disabled right in the church. It sad that those with a broken mind, needing the love and mercy of God, are not able to get it sometimes in the church, because his people will not let it come forth through them.

    God needs a body to work through, if the people will not allow the love and mercy to manifest, these people cannot be helped.

    True deliverance ministry is the love of God manifesting from one person to another to set the captives free. Please discuss the mentally ill on your website in the future, who are also disabled in the mind.

    In the church there are many who deal with mental health issues who are discriminated against right in the church. Some of those who discriminate are the leader of said churches. This is why God himself has had to raise up mental health agencies, because some in the church are not walking in the light of God, because they are not baring the fruit of love.

    Please pray for these people. That there will be ministries to truly set the captives free in the mind.

    If God has to, he will raise up the lepers, and the outcasts of the earth, and the church. Like the four lepers who entered into the city in Old Testament.

    Mental illness is like lepercy, hardly anyone wants to be around you when you have it, even some in the church.

    We should have the love to set these people free. Please discuss this on your website. I humbly thank you in advance. – Brother Vito.

  • I’m a physically disabled born again christian, and at my church other disabled people come once in awhile.

    When I want to go to other areas in the church I ask others to push me, but they don’t know how to unlock the brakes or where they’re located, and that’s so sad.

    Also, the activities there aren’t accessible like giving out tracks and going to different places to minister to others, they won’t pick you up to take you, and that’s really sad.

    I was absent for a month for various reasons and only 3 called to check on me, and that’s shameful.

    I attend there for the Word and the anointing and that’s all.

    The disabled should not be discriminated.

    From,
    Sis. Lynn.

  • Edgar B. Land says:

    That would be hard for a church softball team but, there are many other things that someone who is handicaped can do. it’s too bad many churches can’t afford ramps or elevators or, have the room to add them.

    • J. Deano says:

      What has to be asked is can they not afford ramps or elevators, or other accomodations or do they just prioritize incorrectly. Do those same churches have large budgets set aside for the softball team uniforms, or youth group trips to ski resorts and other activities such as a budget for fresh flowers every Sunday? A church should follow in the example of Christ and “heal” or help those in need first and foremost.

  • Paul Brake says:

    Welcome disabled? Just read what the Word of Gop says?

    James 5: 14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

    Mark 16: 15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

    Jesus Christ is the same yesterday today and forever. He is still the healer today. He is still the miracle working God. What is lacking is OUR faith, for if we have faith then we can claim His divine healing and be fully restored.

    My mother in law got a blood infection. Within a couple of hours she was in a coma, hooked up to life support machines. She was in another province so it took us a while to get there. When we arrived she was swollen and her arms and legs and face had turned black. The flesh was necrotized. The doctor said she had a 2% chance of living and if she did, she would loose all four limbs and most of her face and be on live support machines till she finally dies. We waited till that evening at 11:30, took out the Bible, took out the oil, prayed for her and anointed her. The next morning at 6:30 we got a phone call that she was awake. Within 2 days they turned all the machines off. Over the next few weeks she recovered completely loosing only the tips of her little fingers because the doctors refused to wait for them to regenerate, and convinced her, with her little faith, that it must be done. The charge nurse on the floor said that between two consecutive blood tests her infection went from lethal to non-existent and they had never seen that in the history of the University Hospital in Edmonton.

    Jesus Christ is the same yesterday today and forever. Bring in the halt and sick and lame, blind, deaf and dying, and pray for them and annoint them with oil that they might leave leaping and jumping and praising God.

  • Christine says:

    No–they’re not.

    They have everyone stand for much too long. (although I stay seated except for the greeting part) And the services are getting longer and longer–until I am about ready to collapse.

    They don’t care for anyone’s comfort. Whether it’s too cold–or even worse the music is too loud. They just do what they want to do–and if you don’t like it you can leave.

    I swear they put on a show. They turn out all the lights–turn on the spotlights and it feels like a concert or show and NOT a church service.

    Sorry for the negativity–but I miss the feeling of being at a church service and going to church today was too much for me physically–so soon I am probably going to have to stop going altogether. (sigh)