News release: Through the Roof Celebrates 1000th Roofbreaker

Through the Roof recently registered its 1000th Roofbreaker, and calls on others to join this growing initiative, as we celebrate the UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities on 3rd December 2025.

What is the Roofbreaker movement?

Supported by three years of funding from Benefact Trust, Through the Roof provides resources, training and support to volunteer disability champions – or Roofbreakers (named after the Bible account in Luke 5) – to journey alongside disabled people in UK churches.

Despite the potentially destructive name, the purpose of Roofbreakers is to build up the Church – embracing everyone as made in God's image and enabling disabled people to be fully involved in building God's Kingdom.

Our 1000th Roofbreaker!

A smiling middle-aged man in a check shirt, stood next to a banner that reads 'Become a Roofbreaker: Enabling faith... Transforming lives through Jesus with disabled people.' The 1000th Roofbreaker to sign-up was Clive at the FIEC Leaders Conference in Blackpool.

Clive and his wife, Hannah, have a wonderful daughter, Chloe, who is 20 years old, and is a wheelchair-user with a learning disability. Clive said that Chloe has taught him many things in life – the most important of which is that we are ALL made in the image of God.

Clive and Hannah would love to see others in the Church engaging with the subject of disability inclusion, for each to be a community where everyone knows the reality that everyone is made in the image of God and ALL are fearfully and wonderfully made.

('Made in God's Image' was the 2025 theme for Disability Awareness Sunday, which can be celebrated on any Sunday! To access free disability inclusion resource for churches, follow this link to our Disability Awareness Sunday page.)

Transforming the Church

Through the Roof’s Chief Executive, Tim Wood, declared, "It is great to reach this significant milestone, but we can't stop there! We want to see a Roofbreaker in every church. Two men with a arm around each others' shoulders, stood by a banner that reads 'Become a Roofbreaker ... Enabling Faith ... Transforming lives through Jesus with disabled people'. In the UK, the number of young people under 18 is about the same as the number of disabled people. If we think about how much time, resources and energy goes into children and youth ministry and compare that to disability ministry – there's a huge difference! That's why we're so committed to supporting people who want to be ambassadors in their local context".

Jo Luck, Senior Grants Officer for Benefact Trust, said: “Through the Roof’s Roofbreaker initiative is transforming churches into truly inclusive communities. Reaching 1,000 Roofbreakers is a milestone worth celebrating – it reflects a growing commitment to ensuring disabled people are fully involved in church life. Everybody should feel empowered and have equal opportunities to thrive, and that’s why we feel privileged to support Through the Roof with this vital work.”

Tim concludes, "Through the Roof wants to ensure that we're all reaching out to those who get overlooked, to make sure everyone finds their place in God's family. We want to enable disabled people to use their gifts to disciple others and bless the Church. We'd love more people to join us in making a difference."

Be part of the change

Join 1000+ Roofbreakers so your church can be blessed by the full involvement of disabled people: visit https://www.throughtheroof.org/roofbreakers/ (social media @TTRChangesLives).

More about Through the Roof and Benefact Trust

Through the Roof trains and equips churches and other organisations to be inclusive of people across the whole spectrum of disability. Watch the video ‘Why every church needs a Roofbreaker’ on YouTube (@TTRChangesLives) to find out more.

Benefact Trust is one of the UK's largest grant-making charities and awarded a record £25.5 million to churches, charities, and communities in 2024. Its funds come from its ownership of the Benefact Group – a specialist financial services organisation. Follow Benefact Trust on social media @benefacttrust, or visit their website for more information.

Luke 5 award from Oscar who can access the Bible by himself!

Oscar is a 19-year-old young man with Down Syndrome, who is also Deaf. More importantly, he is a follower of Jesus.

Breaking down barriers

Oscar loves the stories of the Bible, but because he can't hear and is unable to read due to his learning disability, he had never been able to access the Bible by himself. He has always relied on it being read to him and explained to him in British Sign Language.

But now everything has changed… Oscar’s favourite Bible animation series, Superbook, has just been made available with British Sign Language translation!

This is life-changing for Oscar, and to celebrate the difference this has made in Oscar’s life, his mum Karen has helped him to nominate makers of Superbook for a Luke 5 Award for Disability Inclusion. Through the Roof were delighted to give the Luke 5 award from Oscar to Christian Broadcasting Network UK (CBN).

How it all began: lead up to the Luke 5 Award

CBN first piloted one episode of Superbook with BSL interpretation and asked for feedback. Members of Through the Roof’s Deaf Ministry Network gave feedback, and CBN responded magnificently in every possible way. The result is excellent, and Oscar’s mum’s reaction says it all…

“I'm so over-joyed with this - I feel quite tearful!... Oscar is unable to read so cannot access the Bible by himself. He relies on it being read to him and explained. Watching Superbook by himself has helped him to develop his faith and love for Jesus because it is so visual and engaging, causing his knowledge of the truth to grow.”

Karen goes on to say, “I asked him just now ‘Why do you like Superbook?’ He looked up at me and said ‘Because it’s about Jesus. I want to follow Him’ and went back to carrying on watching the episode!”

CBN's response: more translation and a video!

CBN were delighted with the Luke 5 award from Oscar, and very touched by his story. Luke Hancorn, Director of Mission Advancement at CBN, said:

“On behalf of the entire team here at CBN UK, I want to extend our heartfelt thanks for nominating Superbook for a Luke 5 Award. What an incredible encouragement it was to receive your message!”

“Reading Oscar’s story truly moved us, it touched every heart on our team. We feel so blessed and inspired to hear how Superbook in British Sign Language has played such a powerful role in his journey with Jesus. Stories like this are exactly why we do what we do.”

“We’re excited to share that we’re about to begin translation of Season 2 into British Sign Language – a milestone we’re celebrating with great joy.”

CBN were so thrilled that they made this fantastic video with Oscar and his Mum! Watch it now to hear from Oscar himself the difference BSL makes.

You can watch all of Series 1 of Superbook in BSL on YouTube @SuperbookUK. To find out more about the series, visit: www.superbook.uk

Please pray and advocate for all media to be made accessible to people with hearing loss – and other impairments – so that all have equal access.

If you'd like to be an advocate for disabled people in church, or just show that you're positive about disability inclusion, please consider becoming a Roofbreaker disability champion in your church or community.

If you are a disabled person who wants to celebrate a person or ministry that has supported you to be included more fully in Christian life, consider a nomination for the Luke 5 Award for disability inclusion.

Winter 2025 Vital Link Newsletter: When Hope Rolls In

Welcome to the Winter 2025 Vital Link newsletter from Through the Roof.

Our 2025 series concludes, exploring the Disability Awareness Sunday theme: 'Made in God's Image'.

This issue, we focus on the final keyword in our 2025 theme: 'Image'. So, as we prepare for Advent, we remember how God came down to Earth, bearing a human image, in Jesus.

Hear how Harriet in Uganda had her self-image restored by hope
See Deaf priest Neil Robinson preach in sign language (BSL)
Be reminded that it's never too late to celebrate Disability Awareness Sunday!
Meet our new staff member, Revd Faith Mendy, and new trustee, Amanda Say
Read our Chair of Trustees share how God 'looks at the heart', not our 'image'
Reflect on finding hope through disappointment, from our in-person retreat
Hear about TTR holidays, retreats & events, including our Jan. '26 virtual pilgrimage
Read author Emily Owen's final thought in the series on being 'made in God's Image'
And get all the latest International Mission updates - including a recipe request!

Download your PDF copy (with alt text and reading order, to support screen-reader use).

Note: There have been updates to dates for two Upcoming Wheels for the World trips, so the dates in the PDF are now revised to:

Dates: 20th–29th May 2026, Destination: Ghana (Accra), Partner: Royal House Chapel International.
Dates: 26th August–5th September 2026, Destination: Rwanda (Kayonza & Kamonyi), Partner: FoH Rwanda.

All other trips and events are still as per the dates in the Winter 2025 Vital Link PDF.

Please email Kathy Birch Kathy@throughtheroof.org to apply or get more information.

Alternative formats

Vital Link is available in many different, accessible formats:

large print, Word file, braille, audio link, CD.

As above, there is the PDF with alt text and adjusted reading order
Or read Vital Link onscreen with the Joomag viewer below:

When hope rolls in: Wheels for the World in Jinja, Uganda

In September 2025, our Wheels for the World team travelled to Jinja, Uganda, bringing mobility, dignity, and the love of Christ to over 250 individuals. Each day was filled with unforgettable moments of transformation and hope.

Faith Mendy, Though the Roof's International Missions Manager, shares how God brought 'hope on wheels' to disabled people in Uganda. Working with local charity partner, Petra Foundation Christ Ministries, many lives were transformed by gifting wheelchairs and Bibles.

Harriet's journey from surrender to renewal

In a modest church in Jinja, Uganda, a woman named Harriet sat quietly among the congregation. At 70 years old, she had lived with the effects of polio since childhood. Her mobility was limited, and the years had been hard. Though surrounded by children and grandchildren, Harriet had recently fallen ill and felt her strength fading. She believed her time had come.

From Harriet’s viewpoint, sat in her new wheelchair...
I came to church that Sunday with a quiet heart. At seventy, after living with polio since childhood and falling ill again, I felt my strength fading. Surrounded by family, I wasn’t afraid—I was simply ready. I wanted to dedicate my life to Christ, to prepare for what I believed was the end.

When the pastor mentioned a wheelchair distribution, I gently declined. What use is a wheelchair now? I thought. I’m ready to go.
But the following week, something changed. I met the Wheels for the World team—strangers who spoke with such warmth and welcoming, it stirred something inside me. Why do they care so much? I wondered. Their kindness made me reconsider.

That last day of the distribution I thought to myself that morning. Get yourself together and go, what do you have to lose. I went with a bit of dread, I received a wheelchair, a Bible, and a prayer. As I sat in that chair, I thought to myself, maybe I’m not done yet.

Days later, they visited me at home. I sang my heart out and danced, sitting on the wheelchair to honour them for how they had given me hope. I thanked them in my language, my heart was full and I will carry them in my heart forever: “God has given me a new lease on life.”

Please pray: for Harriet, and all those who received mobility and the Gospel on the 2025 Jinja Wheels for the World mission.

Carol Dyer, who was our UK team leader in Jinja, shares stories of other lives transformed by the gift of hope...

Favour’s Story: A Little Girl with Big Courage

Five year old Ugandan girl in a wheelchair, praying with eyes closed, hands together, as other children pray behind her. On Day 2, we met five-year-old Favour, who lives with Spina Bifida. Her quiet strength moved everyone. With determination, she climbed into her new wheelchair—step by step, foot by foot—until she sat upright, beaming with pride. The crowd erupted in applause.

The next day, Favour joined Sunday school for the first time, clapping and singing joyfully. “Her courage was contagious.” Her story reminds us that every child deserves a place in the house of God.
Young Ugandan lady in a purple dress, walking with crutches, stood with a Ugandan male volunteer and a female family member.

Zeresi’s Journey: From Disappointment to Independence

Three years ago, Zeresi, then 14, was denied a wheelchair and given crutches instead. Leonard, a disabled volunteer, explained that using her legs would strengthen them. She returned this year transformed—stronger, mobile, and attending school. “Thanks to Leonard’s wise words, Zeresi is now a happy and much more mobile young lady.”

Christine’s Testimony: Faith in the Face of Trauma

Christine, a schoolteacher, was brutally attacked and left disabled. Despite years of pain, she radiates faith. We adapted a wheelchair for her, and prayed together. “Christine knows and loves God and she radiates Jesus.”

Why Support Matters

“All went home in a wheelchair or crutches—with God’s word in their hands.”
“It is in His strength that we serve.”
“Receiving a wheelchair will help them work and be part of their community.”
“Her presence showed us how vital it is to create spaces that welcome those with disabilities.”

Your donations and time can change lives. Will you join us?

Your prayers and support are vital

Please do pray for the work, as without God's leading, we could not help so many people. If you can, please consider donating by visiting our Through the Roof Just Giving page at https://www.justgiving.com/charity/ttr . Or support us another way, by praying or giving your time. Thank you!