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

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

An elderly Ugandan lady, smiling, sat in a wheelchair, by a mud hut.

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

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.

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, and if you can, consider donating by visiting our Through the Roof Just Giving page at https://www.justgiving.com/charity/ttr . Or support us another way, by giving your time. Thank you!
Ugandan lady in yellow dress holding Gospel and some crutches.
Ugandan man with mis-shaped legs tucked under him, sitting on the ground, smiling.
Ugandan church stage with a choir wearing black and white. and a man in a suit with a microphone.
A little Ugandan girl sat in a wheelchair holding a Bible.
A Ugandan man with a beard, sat in a wheelchair, doing a 'thumbs up' sign.
A Ugandan boy, smiling, sat in a wheelchair, holding a Bible
A Ugandan boy with mis-shaped limbs, smiling, sat in a wheelchair, holding a Bible
An elderly Ugandan lady, smiling, sat in a wheelchair, by a mud hut.
An elderly Ugandan lady, smiling, sat on the floor in a mud hut with a female UK volunteer.
Two young UK volunteers on a boat trip: a man in a red life jacket and a woman in a blue life jacket.
A young Ugandan lady in a purple dress, smiling, sat in a chair, holding crutches.
A little Ugandan girl sat in a wheelchair with hands together in prayer, with other children praying behind her.
A young Ugandan girl sat in a chair with hands together and eyes closed in prayer
Two disabled Ugandan people, a man and a woman, sat in wheelchairs in a concrete building.
A disabled Ugandan woman in a yellow dress, sat in a wheelchair, with her leg supported out in front of her.
A young Ugandan boy playing on a coloured mat, next to a female UK volunteer.
A young Ugandan man, sat smiling in a wheelchair, holding a Bible.
A young Ugandan boy, smiling, holding a walking frame.
A young Ugandan girl in a wheelchair, laughing at a parrot puppet, held by a male UK volunteer.
A group photo of about 10 UK volunteers at an airport, with luggage and trolleys.

Online event: Learning Disability and the Body of Christ

Baptism of a person with Downs syndrome

What if church was a place where everyone, of every ability, could give and receive as part of one beautiful Body?

Join us as we hear one community’s journey toward belonging and mutuality, with practical insight into how total communication practices can create space for every voice. Through the stories of an adult and a child with learning disabilities, we’ll explore what this vision looks like in practice—and how you can begin building more inclusive, connected communities in your church.

'Learning Disability and the Body of Christ: A Journey for All Ages'

Online gathering: on Monday, 10th November from 7–8pm (on Zoom)

Speaker: Vitoria Schoeps, a Roofbreaker disability champion, who will be sharing the journey she and her church community in Swindon have been on. This will be a space to meet others, share stories, and explore how we can grow together.

Register: to receive access to the Zoom link at https://zoom.us/meeting/register/WdrOXXoOT1iHYCqPLDENNQ

2 people doing an activity with coloured paper.

We hope this event will be the launch pad for an ongoing network—a space to connect, share resources, and support one another. We've seen a growing number of people who share a passion for learning disability inclusion—whether through personal experience, family life, ministry, or community work. Some are just beginning the journey and seeking support or connection. We'd love to hear your ideas on what would be most helpful in your context.

Here are a few possibilities we’re considering:

  • Regular online events with a resourcing/training focus
  • A WhatsApp group for encouragement and support
  • An online platform for sharing everyday resources
  • Connection with a small group of “buddies” working in similar contexts or regions
  • In-person events (either formal awareness-raising or informal catch-ups)

We’d love for you to join us on 10th November and help shape the future of this exciting new network.

👉 Follow this link  to register and receive your Zoom link https://zoom.us/meeting/register/WdrOXXoOT1iHYCqPLDENNQ

Hope to see you there!

God bless

Katie and the Roofbreaker Team

 

Together on Pilgrimage The Windows of the Soul

A stained glass window showing a Nativity scene of baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph and animals, in a stable

As we go into the New Year, you are invited to join a Virtual Pilgrimage The Windows of the Soul, on 19th – 23rd January 2026. Using the imagery of church windows, it will be an opportunity to reflect on the following: 

  1. To the North, you are invited to reflect on the key values in your life.
  2. To the West, what is dying off or should be let go.
  3. To the South, the things that give joy and sustain you.
  4. To the East, the things that are new and developing.

Sign-up for this special journey on Zoom on Mon, Wed and Fri afternoons, 2-4pm on 19th, 21st and 23rd January 2026, Email: together@throughtheroof.org to register, or express your interest on the form below. 

A stained glass window showing two people hugging, platonically, with rays of sunshine around them.
This virtual Pilgrimage The Windows of the Soul will be led on Zoom by David Smith, a former physiotherapist, whose mobility was affected after a stroke. 

Previously a keen walker and cyclist, David became interested in pilgrimage and initiated Bible-based virtual spiritual journeys, to bless those with restricted movement. 

Find out more about David's virtual pilgrimages at:  https://pilgrimageoftheword.org.uk/ 

Complete this contact form to register interest in the Virtual Pilgrimage: The Windows of the Soul, or email together@throughtheroof.org : 

    About Through the Roof's groups, retreats and holidays

    Through the Roof (TTR) offers accessible, supported retreats and group events, as well as online small groups, as times of fellowship for disabled people and for all, in an atmosphere of joy and togetherness. These are opportunities to be refreshed spiritually through reflection, meeting with others and spending time being refreshed.

    Find out more about Through the Roof retreats and holidays, visit https://throughtheroof.org/holidays-and-retreats/

    Find out more about Through the Roof's regular online afternoon fellowship groups: Together in the Lounge, monthly on Tuesdays; and Together at Home, twice monthly on Thursdays.

    If you would like to find out more or join us for any of our other online groups or in-person events, please do email us at together@throughtheroof.org 

    Hope Through the Roof: Transforming Lives in Rwanda

    Group portrait of about 40 people in Rwanda, both men, women and children, outside a church building.

    In August 2025, a series of powerful events unfolded, transforming lives in Rwanda as part of the Roofbreaker initiative from Through the Roof, in partnership with a local charity FoH in Rwanda. These gatherings—in Kamonyi and Kayonza Districts—brought together parents, pastors, community leaders, and disabled people to share stories, learn, and build a more inclusive future.

    Breaking Barriers in Kamonyi

    The Roofbreaker training in Kamonyi opened with heartfelt prayers and a clear mission: to equip local leaders with the tools and compassion needed to support people with disabilities. Pastor Davis and his wife Ruth shared the biblical inspiration behind Through the Roof, reminding participants of the story where friends lowered a paralysed man through a roof to reach Jesus—a symbol of determination and love.

    Participants formed discussion groups to tackle pressing questions:

    • Cultural taboos: Families often hide children with disabilities due to shame. Churches and communities must challenge these beliefs and promote dignity and inclusion.
    • Legal protections: Rwanda’s National Council of Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) was praised for its grassroots structure and commitment to rights.
    • Church inclusion: Churches were urged to count, include, and empower people with disabilities—especially through sign language training and inclusive projects.
    • Self-reliance: Co-operatives and vocational training were highlighted as key to reducing dependence on foreign aid.

    The day ended with sign language lessons and a message of compassion from Pastor Jacques, reinforcing the importance of seeing every person as valuable.

    Parent Workshops: Stories of Strength and Faith

    The parent workshops in Kamonyi and Kayonza were filled with emotion, testimony, and transformation. Though planned for a modest number, attendance surged—proof of the deep hunger for hope and connection.

    One father, Bizimana Alex, shared how his child crawled until age four due to a disability. Despite the challenges, he spoke with pride and love, urging other parents to embrace their children fully.

    Nirere Vestine, a mother born with a disability, recounted her journey through trauma, motherhood, and resilience. Her child was also born with a disability, yet she expressed profound gratitude for life and the strength she found in the workshop community.

    Nyirahabimana Adeline, a visually impaired woman, received an audio Bible and shared how she had long struggled to access God’s Word. “This marks the beginning of a new chapter in my life,” she said, her joy palpable.

    Umuhoza Aline, a 14-year-old with low vision, had dreamed of owning an audio Bible. Her parents couldn’t afford one, but thanks to the training, she finally received it. “Now I can grow in my knowledge of God’s Word,” she said with a smile.

    Other parents—like Sophia, Ruth, and Marie—who couldn’t read or write, expressed joy at being able to hear Scripture for the first time. “Now our ears will hear what God’s Word says,” they said.

    Empowerment and Legacy in Kayonza

    In Kayonza, the focus shifted to legacy and empowerment. Pastor Davis challenged participants to think beyond material inheritance and consider lives they impact. Groups discussed how to:

    • Economically empower people with disabilities through education and vocational training.
    • Support visible disabilities with tailored assistance and protection.
    • Build relationships by changing attitudes and avoiding harmful language.
    • Fight exclusion by making churches accessible and welcoming.
    • Create lasting impact through education, inclusion, and advocacy.

    An East African man sat on a chair next to a Rwandan man seated, holding crutches, who is being presented with an audio Bible.

    The stories of Christella Shenga (who has a hearing impairment) and Simon Kwizera (physically disabled) stood out. Christella was thrilled to receive a Bible and committed to encouraging others like her. Simon, denied education by his family, found hope in the audio Bible and shared his desire to grow spiritually.

    The Chairperson of Rwanda Interfaith Churches was so moved that he donated two pigs to support people with disabilities and called for more regular training sessions.

    A Movement of Hope

    These events were more than workshops—they were a movement of hope, inclusion, and transformation. Audio and printed Bibles were distributed, sign language was taught, and meals were shared. Most importantly, hearts were changed.

    As one participant said, “This training has changed our mindset. We now see our children not as burdens, but as blessings.”

    If you want to inspire hope and change hearts and minds towards disability inclusion overseas, then please consider giving, volunteering or praying to support our International Roofbreaker events. 

    Group photo of about 30 people in Rwanda, both men and women, including wheelchair users.
    A man presenting an audio Bible to two young Rwandan children who may be blind. Their mothers stand behind them,
    Two groups of about six East African people in each, sat in circles on plastic chairs in a hall.
    A large group of East African people sat in rows of plastic chairs, listening to two speakers - a man and a woman.
    A group of 8 East African people sat in a circle on plastic chairs, outdoors, under trees.
    A skewed angle photo of 8 East African people sat in a circle on plastic chairs, outdoors, under trees.
    A man standing up, presenting an audio Bible to a Rwandan man in a wheelchair.
    A Rwandan man sat on a chair, presenting an audio Bible to another seated Rwandan man holding crutches.
    Group portrait of about 40 people in Rwanda, both men, women and children, outside a church building.
    A Rwandan man addressing a group of East African people sat in plastic chairs in rows, with an overhead projector screen behind him.

    Pray for Disability Awareness Sunday

    Close up of a person's hands, clasped together, resting on a book, next to a window.

    Can you join us in prayer?

    We invite you to join us to pray for disability inclusion and all the churches who registered to take part in Disability Awareness Sunday.

    Many churches in the UK and around the world are holding services and events: either on Disability Awareness Sunday itself, 28th September 2025, or on a different day, to celebrate disabled people in church and Christian life.

    We want to cover these churches and their Disability Awareness events in prayer and we’d love you to pray with us.

    The prayer continues, following on from a 24-hour prayer chain which took place from 12 noon (UK time) on 27th Sept till 12 noon on 28th Sept 2025. Our Together at Home group produced a main DAS 25 Prayer Guide with ideas for prayer, as well as some shorter and longer prayer guidance (see below).

    How do I join in?

    We asked people to sign up for a slot to pray, so that we could try to fill any gaps. Now, after the official Sunday, you can pray any time! But it's still really important.

    The original event was set up through the organisation '24/7 prayer', who run the Global Week of prayer each September. We just used the same sign up sheet to pray for Disability Awareness Sunday.

    Anyone can pray any time, anywhere!

    A screen shot of a webpage showing time slots for 24/7 prayer.

    Resources and prayer prompts

    We are providing short prayer prompts (see bullet points below) as well as longer prayer resources:

    1. A main DAS 25 Prayer Guide produced by our Together at Home fellowship group (find out more about Together at Home here)
    2. A longer prayer exercise in Lectio365-style, also produced by the Together at Home fellowship.

    Some short prompts are in the bullet points below. The prompts and resources should have been sent by email to everyone who signed up to pray. But you can access them at the links above.

    You do not have to use the prompts or resources – they are just a guide.

    • Pray for churches/people taking part in Disability Awareness Sunday, that God will bless and encourage them to celebrate and fully include disabled people.
    • Pray for the Biblical message to be shared that we are ‘Made in God’s Image’ (Genesis 1), which is the theme for Disability Awareness Sunday 2025.
    • Pray for Christians reach out and include disabled people on Disability Awareness Sunday, and to actively work towards disability inclusion as an essential ministry.

    ***************************************************************************

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

     

    What is Disability Awareness Sunday?

    Disability Awareness Sunday is a day to celebrate and ensure disabled people are fully included in church and Christian life. This year it is on Sunday 28th September 2025.

    Every year, our charity Through the Roof suggests a theme for Disability Awareness Sunday and produces a free resource for churches and ministries. You can access this year’s free resource at: https://throughtheroof.org/forchurches/disability-awareness-sunday/

    Why pray for Disability Awareness Sunday?

    Disability inclusion is not an ‘add-on’ to the Gospel, it IS part of the Gospel.

    Jesus called disabled people and asks others to do the same in Luke 14’s parable of the Great Banquet, where the Bible says:
    “Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the town. Bring in those who are poor. Also bring those who can’t see or walk.” (NIrV)

    All people, including disabled people, are made in God’s image, and are part of God’s plan. A church without disabled people is an incomplete church. So praying for Disability Awareness Sunday is a first step to more and more churches fully including disabled people.

    What are we praying for?

    For churches and communities who take part in Disability Awareness Sunday: a day to celebrate and ensure disabled people are fully included in church and Christian life. This year it was officially on Sunday 28th September 2025, but any (Sun)day can be Disability Awareness Sunday!

    • We pray for churches and people taking part in Disability Awareness Sunday, that God will bless and encourage congregations to celebrate and fully include disabled people.
    • We also pray for the Biblical message to be shared that we are all made in God's image. The theme for Disability Awareness Sunday 2025 is ‘Made in God’s Image’.
    • The most important thing about Disability Awareness Sunday is that Christians reach out and include disabled people. And that churches continue to actively work towards disability inclusion – e.g. by nominating a Roofbreaker or disability champion in their church.

    There are longer prayer resources at the links below with more ideas and prompts on how you could spend your DAS prayer time:

    1. A main DAS 25 Prayer Guide produced by our Together at Home fellowship group
    2. A longer prayer exercise in Lectio365-style, also produced by the Together at Home fellowship.

    You do not have to use the prompts or resources – they are just a guide.

    When are we praying?

    In the original prayer vigil, people prayed in the 24 hours from 12 noon (UK time) Saturday 27th September, till 12 noon on 28th September 2025. But now you can pray any time!

    This 24 hour period was chosen so we were praying before and during the official Disability Awareness Sunday period.

    Do I have to pray for a whole hour?

    No, even on the 24-hour prayer vigil, you could sign up for the same one-hour slot as someone else, if you agree to do 30 mins each.

    We just encouraged people to choose a slot not yet filled, so we cover all 24 hours. And it is fine to sign up for more than one slot, if you can!

    The hope was to have every slot filled, so we cover the event in prayer for 24 hours!

    How do I scroll up and down in the prayer signup sheet?

    There is no prayer sign up sheet now, but for next year, if we use the same 24/7 prayer sign up sheet, here are the instructions:

    You use your mouse (or swipe with your finger) to scroll down the prayer sign up sheet. There is no scroll bar at the side, but you can move down the sheet by clicking and dragging with your mouse (or with your finger on a phone/tablet).

    How do I select a time slot?

    Just click the box between the times you want to pray – by using your mouse or tapping with your finger on a phone/tablet.

    Do I have to put my name publicly on the list?

    No, you can sign up anonymously. Just click ‘Book anonymously’ in the box when you register.

    You will be asked to give an email address so we can send you information, but that is kept private and won’t be shared by the organisers. You do not have to create an account, as you can ‘Book as guest’.

    A pop-up box on a webpage to sign up for a prayer slot, askign for name, email, and if you want to book as a guest.

    Is there a virtual prayer room on Zoom/video chat?

    No, we have decided to invite people to pray independently, without the need to login to a video chat or Zoom room. However, individuals are welcome to set up their own virtual or in-person prayer rooms, if they want to pray together.

    I have a different question about the DAS day of prayer – who do I ask?

    The easiest way to ask a question is to email annette@throughtheroof.org

    What is the Together at Home fellowship group, and can I join?

    We would love new members of our online Together at Home Fellowship group, which is a virtual home group for Christians who meet on Thursday afternoons at least once every two weeks, 2-3pm UK time, to share community and pray or read the Bible together. Many of the group have lived experience of disability, but it is open to all.

    Please visit our Together and Home webpage for more details and email together@throughtheroof.org to request the Zoom link for future meetings. 

    How do I find out more about Through the Roof and church disability inclusion?

    Please do fill in this short form to Get Updates from us at Through the Roof, the Christian disability inclusion charity.

    Let us know on the form if you'd like information from Through the Roof about:

    News release: Three generations go to Uganda

    A little Ugandan child looking at a picture book while lying in a Ugandan woman's arms. The book is being shown by a UK volunteer and a Ugandan volunteer.

    Carol Dyer from Gosport is preparing for an extraordinary journey this September, travelling with her 18-year-old son Caleb and her 81-year-old father Neil Salter to Jinja, Uganda, with us as Christian disability charity Through the Roof. They are going on a mission for our Wheels for the World project which provides life-changing wheelchairs to disabled people who otherwise have no access to them – restoring dignity, independence, and hope.

    Different roles on the mission

    The family of volunteers will be working alongside a team of physiotherapists, occupational therapists, mechanics, pastoral carers, and administrators later this September. Together, they will select and fit refurbished wheelchairs for children and adults in desperate need.

    Three generations go to Uganda this year, all from one family. It is Caleb’s first trip, taking the role of blogger and photographer; where for grandfather Neil, it’s one of seven trips he’s made with charity Through the Roof, as a volunteer mechanic. Mum/daughter Carol, who is on the staff team of the charity, is the Team Leader for this trip. She is excited to return to Africa on the pastoral team for her fifth mission, Carol shares:

    “I get the best job, chatting to the disabled people given wheelchairs and telling them they are ‘fearfully and wonderfully made by God’ (Psalm 139). Often they do not know that. They are normally left at home, not going out to work or school. They arrive crawling or carried; a wheelchair brings them freedom.”

    Why take wheelchairs to Uganda?

    Globally, over 100 million people need a wheelchair but do not have one – with over 90% living in Africa or Asia. In contrast, thousands of wheelchairs in the UK end up in landfill each year. Through the Roof refurbishes these chairs and ships them to countries where they can make an immediate, life-changing difference.
    A man with white hair and a white cap showing a red and yellow puppet to a smiling Ugandan child in a wheelchair.
    For many in Uganda, the cost of a wheelchair is far beyond reach. Without one, people may be forced to crawl on the ground or be carried everywhere. The gift of a wheelchair opens doors – to education, employment, and full inclusion in community life.

    Hear how lives are being transformed

    On the last Wheels for the World trip to Jinja, the team met Winnie, a teenager with cerebral palsy who had never moved independently. Her new, customised wheelchair gave her posture support, comfort, and – for the first time – freedom to explore on her own. As she tried her chair for the first time, the crowd erupted into applause and she beamed with joy. Alongside the chair, she was given a Bible in her own language and prayed for, as the team encouraged her to know her value and God’s love.

    Tim Wood, CEO of Through the Roof, said: “Our Wheels for the World project transforms the lives, physically and spiritually, of 800 disabled people every year. We’ve got a great community here, and we’d love for more people to join us in transforming lives.”

    A young man with a blue crash helmet in front of a tree, smiling and holding his hands in a double 'thumbs up'.

    Through the Roof invites supporters to help by donating, volunteering, or spreading the word. Watch our project video at https://youtu.be/7kQSS2v5GxA, see mission updates on social media @TTRChangesLives, or visit our Wheels for the World webpage at https://throughtheroof.org/international-mission/wheels-for-the-world/

     

    Online events: Coming alongside people with dementia

    A close up of an elderly person's lap with their hand being held by another younger person's hand.

    Don't miss the Regional Online Roofbreaker events in autumn 2025, featuring a talk from 'Embracing Age' about coming alongside people with dementia so your church is a great place to grow old. 

    Meet with church Roofbreaker disability champions in your area and learn more about this important issue that affects so many. 

    You can register to receive the Zoom link for the appropriate event via the links below. If you can't make the event for your area, it's fine to come to a different event. (All events are 7–8pm and free of charge)

    A pie chart showing one half orange and one half red. Text reads 'On in teo of us will be affected by dementia in our lifetime. Either by caring for someone with the condition, developing it ourselves, or both. Alzheimer's Research UK FOR A CURE'

    Alzheimer's Research UK predict that 1 in every 2 people in the UK will be affected by dementia, either as a carer or by having the condition. So it's so important that churches can offer support.

    People with dementia experience a range of difficulties including problems with memory, reasoning and language, and changes in their behaviour and emotions. Every individual will be affected differently, and these difficulties will get worse over time.

    It is important to remember that people with dementia still have spiritual needs and still need to know that they are accepted and loved. A relationship with God can continue even when rational thought and verbal communication are difficult. Join us online to learn more.

    Faith Mendy – International Missions Manager

    Faith Mendy

    Faith Mendy is our International Missions Manager, responsible for managing all our international activities, networks and distributions. As a Reverend minister, a gospel artist and a mother of two young women, Faith has been involved in ministry, church planting, training and lecturing churches for 25 years with more of a focus onto mission work in the last 10 years.

    Faith is French born, living in London, from African background. She has the privilege of speaking 5 languages: a tool God has used to break many barriers to cultures, race but also evangelism. Faith came to disability inclusion through personal experience because her mother is now using a wheelchair. Her love for the Gospel of Christ and helping the less privileged is a passion God has placed on her heart, to which she dedicates her life.

    Summer 2025 Vital Link: Love That Moves

    Cover-screenshot_VL_summer25

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

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

    As the Sun shines (sometimes!) this UK summer, we focus on the second keyword in our 2025 theme: 'God' who is the Source of all life.

    • See God's image in action in news from the latest Wheels for the World mission in India 
    • Hear a new reflection on God's character from author Emily Owen: 'Love is His Name'
    • A reminder to show God's love and join in with Disability Awareness Sunday, 28th Sept. 2025
    • Ponder the meaning of 'Made in the image of God?' with Revd Ian Lasch, an autistic priest
    • Hear from Gillian, a Roofbreaker from Essex who is finding her voice
    • Meet Oscar, 19, who can now access Bible stories by himself with BSL
    • Read the results of our Future of Through the Roof survey
    • And a huge 'Thank you!' to Shaun, our former International Missions Manager!

    Download your PDF copy in this more-accessible format with alt text and reading order.

    Alternative formats

    Vital Link is available in many different, accessible formats:

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

    Contact us on 01372 749955 or email info@throughtheroof.org to request one of the above accessible formats.

    In-person retreat: Finding Hope Through Disappointment

    High Leigh Conference Centre by John H Darch, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

    We had a fantastic in-person retreat ‘Finding Hope Through Disappointment’, 10th – 12th September 2025 at High Leigh Conference Centre,  Hertfordshire, UK.

    The retreat took place in the beautiful grounds at High Leigh, described as a: 'historic Christian venue with tranquil surroundings: 40 acres of lawns, parkland and woodland' with en-suite bedrooms and spacious meeting halls and rooms.

    Our speakers were Neil and Sonya Chitty (our CEO Tim’s pastor and his wife). You can watch and hear a lively and engaging talk from them on Disability and the Church on YouTube. 
    A man and a woman at a podium, speaking. The man is seated and the woman is standing. There is a guitar in the background.
    The programme included worship; teaching sessions; arts and craft materials for personal response; fellowship with others; quiet time and space in beautiful surroundings; opportunities for prayer; and communion together.

    It was a powerful and uplifting experience, where everyone was able to share in their own way - whether in words, in art or creativity, or in quiet presence. The message rang through every session that God brings hope in every situation and season - however dark it may seem.

    We were blessed by hearing Neil and Sonya's own stories of how God helped them overcome feelings of bitter disappointment. Neil shared of his diagnosis of Bethlem Myopathy, a form of Muscular Dystrophy, which took many years for doctors to pinpoint. He had to recognise that he would never be able to run or play football like his friends, and face the stigma and social difficulties that, sadly, often accompany being a wheelchair user - including the challenge of finding a girlfriend, who would become the wife God wanted for him. Enter Sonya! God can overcome all barriers, so - despite many more disappointments along the way - the family have continued to use their gifts to bless the church and community. Their daughter led an amazing evening of worship on the last night of our retreat!      
    We all came away from the retreat with peace and serenity, knowing that God is with us in all things and will carry us through the storms of life. We look forward to future retreats and hope you can join us. All retreats will be advertised on our retreats page and you can email together@throughtheroof.org to contact the organisers of our Together Fellowship programme.