The ‘Choir of Angels’ signs the way to inclusion (Luke 5 Award)
Our latest ‘Luke 5 Award’ goes to a children’s choir who decided to learn sign language to help include a member of their church.
The ‘Choir of Angels’ from Sacred Heart & St. Francis parish, Gorton, Manchester, was nominated for the award by Minna Moffatt-Feldman. Minna told us, “I am deaf. I use British Sign Language and speech. I cannot follow hymns or music or speech fully … This [the ‘Choir of Angels’] is a group of children aged 7-16. Without my lead, they have taken it upon themselves to incorporate signing into their songs so I can be included.”
As a result, Minna says she has truly “felt included and become more interested in the sung words and their meanings. Before, I missed out on this part of worship and at times felt sad… It is wonderful how the choir have encouraged the whole parish to be involved and open up awareness even more – indeed the choir have been the role model.”
The Choir of Angels was stunned to receive the award – Minna had kept it a surprise!
The children told us …
Michelle, age 11 – It gives our choir a different touch and makes it way better. And if any other deaf people join, they will feel even more welcome and special. I can't wait to learn more.
Deborah, age 10 – I feel happy when I sign, especially with others. I think it is really cool that we are helping individuals in our parish, as well as doing something that we love. I am really surprised at how the language has grown and how it has become a normal thing in our parish over time.
Isabella, age 7 – Singing whilst signing is good because the deaf will feel included and know what we're singing to praise God. Also, people will know a bit of sign language; that good skill will make people proud of themselves.
Joseph, age 12 – I feel happy that sign language has been introduced to our parish because it helped us learn a new way to help people with a disability (deaf people). Sign language will also help us in the future because we might find more deaf people and they might not be able to lip-read.
Samuella, age 7 – I like signing while singing because it helps people who have hearing problems know what you are saying. I also like it because it will teach people a bit of sign language.
Hope, age 17 – Thank you, God, for showing a different way of getting your Word to be spread to everybody. For truly you are for everyone, and you accept anyone to be in your ever-growing family.
Minna is proud of them and grateful that they have become so aware of barriers faced by deaf people. The choir also use drums and other instruments, often played in a way that Minna can feel the vibrations. This whole experience has really encouraged the parish, who are now all asking to learn some sign language. It’s the plan now to teach them all, and the choir have really led the way. Congratulations, Choir of Angels!
For more information about the Luke 5 award, please contact Janet@throughtheroof.org.
Deaf awareness video
Meeting someone at church who is deaf may seem like a challenge. How could you communicate?
Our new free deaf awareness training video for churches or ministries is here to help! Revd Neil Robinson, Chaplain to the Deaf Community in Salisbury, presents this training resource in British Sign Language (BSL), with subtitles and voice-over.
Neil tells you what to do if someone arrives at your church who is deaf, including how to book BSL interpreters, and other communication tactics.
Neil’s top tips if a deaf person comes to your church for the first time include:
- Smile and show they are welcome! Don’t panic – just try to communicate.
- Ask if they can lip read – point to your mouth to show what you mean.
- Don’t assume all deaf people have the same communication needs – people may lip read or sign in BSL or use other forms of signing.
- Always look at the deaf person – speak to them directly, not to a person accompanying them.
- If a deaf person visits, never ever pray for them to hear without asking! They know their prayer needs and being deaf may be their identity.
Neil’s video of advice, encouragement and practical suggestions is available at youtube.com/TTRChangesLives. There’s also an inspiring video covering Neil’s life story, and more from all around TTR. You can download the video directly to use in your meetings or training by following this link.
The idea for this video came from the Deaf Ministry Roofbreaker Network, and it’s a great resource to share with your church or group.
The video covers the wider deaf population, including those who are hard of hearing, and also the Deaf community which uses BSL (British Sign Language) as the first or preferred language and has its own cultural identity. For more information, contact janet@throughtheroof.org.
Join us for our International Online Celebration
As part of our 25th anniversary celebrations, we're looking forward to meeting together for an International Online Celebration on Saturday 19th November from 10.30am to 12.
Chris and Denise Arthey are our main speakers for the event. Their motorcycle was hit head-on by a drunk driver veering into them at 80mph. Critically injured, they both lost their left legs above the knee. With support from family, friends and above all their faith, they've made a remarkable recovery. Chris now competes in para-sports and both are ambassadors in the field of prosthetic limbs. Their book, Highway 35, has been released and their website is www.chrisarthey.co.uk. Hear them share what happened and what can be learned during our online celebration.
Follow this link to register for your free place, and join us to hear messages of hope from Joni Eareckson Tada; Christian authors, Chris and Denise Arthey; and our Kenyan Partner, Pastor Davis. There'll be a great opportunity to meet friends old and new, and plenty of fun to share. Come along and get inspired -- this event is suitable for existing supporters and those wanting to find out more. We're looking forward to seeing you there!
[Photo of the Artheys holding hands and walking along a forest path is Credit: Blatchford]
Fiona on Premier (August 22)
Fiona Gosden was interviewed for TTR on Friday 19th on Premier Christian Radio. She spoke about the new Barbie dolls with hearing aids inspired by the actress Rose Ayling-Ellis, the vital importance of disability inclusion, and the work of Roofbreakers and Through the Roof. You can listen again at the link below...
Taking simple steps towards accessibility in Shrewbury
Earlier this month, Shrewsbury Roofbreakers joined the Revd Zoe Heming from 'Enabling All' to discuss simple first steps that churches of all denominations can take towards becoming more accessible to disabled people.
Here Phil Ramsbotham, Jeremy Yarnell-Davies and Annette Goodall, from the Shrewsbury Roofbreaker network, share their reflections...
Promoting empathy and understanding
Phil shared; “Alongside the talk given by Zoe, Roofbreakers participated in short exercises during the evening and contributed to discussions on a wide range of topics. These included personal experiences of disability, church during lock-down, perceptions of disability in society and the fact that disability is part of being human.”
Phil added “We also really enjoyed the opportunity to meet together for a light meal in person to socialise prior to the event!”
Jeremy explained an exercise: ‘Zoe circulated sealed envelopes to everyone in the group. (She told us later that each envelope contained details of what it is like to live with one of four named disabilities.)
Zoe asked us to think for a couple of minutes about what it might be like to get ready to go to Church, if we ourselves were living with one of the four named disabilities. Zoe asked each of us to come up with one word to describe how this might feel for us. [We then] shared our individual words. The words included "painful", "exhausting", "embarrassing". It was, for me, a very powerful exercise’.
Acceptance and Honesty
Another significant take-away for the team was the importance of coming to accept disability both personally and collectively; creating a culture where people are free to be honest about their disability and its implications for them.
Annette reflected; ‘one needs to accept disability as the norm without discrimination. All people still have the strength, heart, soul and mind to love God’
One small step for church is a big leap forward for disability access!
Jeremy added ‘If we were unable to do a certain thing in Church, for example provide a ramp, [we were encouraged] not to let this deter us from doing other things. That is, doing something - however limited - is always better than doing nothing’.
Exciting next steps and resources: Disability Awareness Sunday and Enabling All
During the evening, Zoe promoted the Enabling All Awards in the Diocese of Lichfield. These cover phases of training (embarking), goal setting (embedding) and recognition through an award scheme for positive disability inclusion both within the church and the community. Find out more here: https://www.lichfield.anglican.org/enabling-all--enabling-all-awards.php
Phil reflected “At the end of the evening, two Roofbreakers went away with the exciting prospect of suggesting to their church that they implement the Enabling All steps alongside participating in Through the Roof’s Disability Awareness Sunday in September.”
Find out more about Disability Awareness Sunday by following this link: “I feel alive! Valued for the disabled person I am" - Celebrate Disability Awareness Sunday - Through the Roof
With thanks to Phil Ramsbotham and the Shrewsbury Roofbreaker Network
“I feel alive! Valued for the disabled person I am" - Celebrate Disability Awareness Sunday
Disability Awareness Sunday
Let’s celebrate it in every church!
“I feel alive! Valued for the disabled person I am. At last, I feel that I am in a space where I can grow as the person God made.” This is what Sarah said about her sense of belonging at her church. She continued:
“They have accepted me for me (without the ‘what’s wrong with you’ conversation!). They have encouraged me to use my gifts, attend training, develop prayer resources; to dare to look at possibilities.”
Could your church do more to include disabled people and raise awareness?
Through the Roof invites you to mark Disability Awareness Sunday on a day of your choice. We've prepared Disability Awareness Sunday packs on two different topics - follow this link to request your pack.
This is a gospel issue:
- The last recorded survey suggests 90–95% of disabled people have never heard the gospel (Lausanne Committee for World Evangelisation, 2004).
- In the UK there are 14.6 million disabled people who need to know churches are supportive places, sharing God’s love (Family Resources Survey, 2021).
- Raise awareness and join Through the Roof to help ensure disabled people can fully belong and contribute as equal members of God’s family.
Follow this link to find out about how Through the Roof can help your church include disabled people.
“Sarah snuffs out exclusion in her church” (Luke 5 Award)
We’re delighted to present a Luke 5 Award for inclusion to Angela Yeoman and Carolyn Cast, churchwardens of Wiggenhall St Germans Parish Church, Norfolk.
They were nominated by Sarah Best, who says, “I have Down’s Syndrome and severe hearing loss… as I do things slowly people don’t always know how to talk to me, or don’t know it’s ok to wait for me to reply before asking another question, so I overload and can’t reply. I felt excluded because everyone had a job, and I didn’t even though I wanted to help.”
What made a difference for Sarah?
“Angie and Carolyn asked me if there was anything I would like to do as they wanted to include me. I am the ‘chief snuffer’, I snuff out the candles after the service. I also read the lesson sometimes, I like to do this. I am also part of the washing up team, we have a lot of fun while doing jobs”
“I am happy because I am helping and I feel part of a team.”
Sarah’s mum Lesley says, “Sarah enjoys being part of the life of the church. She is welcomed with enthusiasm by the church members, others have taken Angie and Carolyn’s lead and are very supportive. Sarah always has a big smile on her face when she is included”
Sarah and Lesley decided to nominate Angie and Carolyn for the Luke 5 award because “we want to say thank you publicly and also to be able to display the award so others will know we value the time and effort that is put into giving Sarah the opportunities she has been given and for future opportunities.”
Follow this link to find out more about the Luke 5 Award celebrating Christian disability inclusion.
'Let's Celebrate. Through the Roof is 25!' -- The Summer 2022 Vital Link Newsletter
Welcome to the Summer 2022 edition of the Vital Link newsletter.
Download your copy to:
- Join in our 25th anniversary celebrations
- Discover a new Luke 5 Award recipient
- Meet new team members
- Learn about upcoming Wheels trips, and much more.
Please contact us on 01372 749955 (or email info@throughtheroof.org) to get a copy in any other format.
You can also view the PDF in the JooMag viewer, which offers easy zooming and page scrolling...
Day 8 - Wheels for the World in Jinja, Uganda 2022
Thank you for all your prayer support over the last week for the Wheels for the World Jinja team -- it's been an amazing week, with over 200 consultations, and 113 wheelchairs fitted. Here's Rob's report from Day 8, the home visits day.
Day 8:
Today was a bit of a different day, visiting 3 health centres and 3 recipients at home.
The home visits were lovely to do but quite moving to see and hear about the desperate social situation of many.
The first lady had previously had a stroke and was just laid in a dark room for 2 years before her wheelchair. When we arrived she was sat outside watching the village children play! Her brother does not have to carry her to hospital appointments anymore. He also spoke of how his personal view of disability had been changed by seeing the distribution and others there with disabilities and hearing the talk on inclusion.
Seeing two sons with severe disabilities who had received chairs was quite moving for the whole team. They lived on a small yard at the back of a factory in an industrial area in two small sheds with their other brothers and parents. The boys were sat out in their chairs which was good. But hearing their dad tell of the hardships caused Pastor Joseph to step away to compose himself with emotion. He commended the man for loving his family so well. The father said how grateful he was for the chairs, and how many had come to take photos of his children's condition and made promises but none had come through for him until now. He said how he had become a Christian and how the joy of the Lord gives him strength.
The day ended with a team debrief and lovely shared meal with the local team.
Much to be thankful for!
Some stats from the whole distribution:
113 wheelchairs fitted.
67 people received crutches.
12 zimmer frames.
9 walking sticks.
6 wheeled waking frames.
6 advice only.
6 transit chairs for local hospitals.
The team fly back to the UK tomorrow. I am travelling onward to Moyo to the refugee camps for some project support with Hope Health Action.
Day 7 - Wheels for the World in Jinja, Uganda 2022
We've got an amazing Wheels for the World team hard at work in Jinja, Uganda until the 18th June -- they'll be distributing and fitting wheelchairs to local disabled people with the partnership of our friends at RILD. Here's Rob's update from day 7 --the final day of wheelchair distribution. Thank you for all your prayer support over the last week.
Day 7:
37 people seen with 23 chairs given from only 15 usable ones in the morning! Last day of wheelchair fitting today. Tomorrow home visits.
What is always hard on the last day is having to adapt chairs which are too big for smaller people. Or having to decide that we have no appropriate chair for them.
The people pre-assessed had come. But many more came just because they heard about it. Around 8 children came right at the end! This was very sad, but Kathy was able to do a therapy session with them and Carol was able to give some small gifts and talk to them as well. And some went even with an adapted walker as a seat to be pushed on!
One young man with cerebral palsy was a delight to see! His two brothers had brought him. He was fitted for an attendant propelled chair, which has to be pushed by someone. He kept point at the wheels and making motions of pushing a bigger wheel. We tried him in a self- propelling chair and he was so delighted he shrieked with excitement. Moving the wheel and the whole chair just a few inches back and forth gave him great delight. Suffice to say he kept the chair and was very happy!
A middle aged local taxi driver arrived with an elderly client. He was wide eyed and said to me “I have never seen so many people with disabilities together in one place. I didn’t even know people lived like this…”. A reminder that so many people are kept shut away and unable to move around.
Pastor Joseph took me aside and said so many people had been calling him to say thank you for their wheelchairs. One said they went to school for the first time in years thanks to their new chair! What encouragements!
Tomorrow we have some clinic visits to donate transit chairs, before some community visits to understand some of the local situations of 3 beneficiaries.
A hard day, but the team were sustained! Thank you for your prayers!
Some end of distribution stats:
Total for all days -
217 total consultations
116 chairs
67 people given crutches
12 walking sticks
9 frames (inc Zimmer and rolator)
6 wheeled walkers
6 advice only
6 chairs given to hospitals
- Follow this link to the next blog entry from the Jinja 2022 trip
- Follow this link to the first blog entry from the Jinja 2022 trip