Elevate Articles
Welcome! Whether you or a loved one has a disability, you are a leader of a church or Christian organisation, a ministry worker, or you are simply interested in disability issues, the articles and stories below have been written to equip, encourage, inspire and even challenge you.
JACK* A large, ‘successful’ church: good-looking successful people. And if you’re female, being blonde (whether by birth or by bottle) helps. If you’re popular in the media, so good. We love you! But you? You’re in a wheelchair? We’ve got a ramp, and a wheelchair loo [good for storing gear in] – what more could […]
Read More
Written by Coralie M. Bridle Introduction My eldest son, Samuel, gently led me into the world of sustained theological enquiry. In doing so he has made extraordinary contributions to my life without leaving the confines of his wheelchair. As catalyst for questions, he does not have the vocabulary to pose, he has beckoned me to […]
Read More
Written by Fiona Sherwin In recent years I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about inclusion and belonging. While the two terms are used synonymously at times, there are notable differences between them. Including others is an important practice. It’s an act of kindness and hospitality, but to include others only scratches the surface. When […]
Read More
Written by J. Immanuel Koks I can’t think of a time when the unity of the church here in Aotearoa and around the world, has been put under this much strain. It seems like a constant hammer pounds on a wedge between those who are sympathetic towards progressive concerns and those who sense the need […]
Read More
Looking for something in particular
Want to keep up to date with what’s happening within Elevate? Sign up to our e-Newsletter:
More articles
We Cannot Walk this Journey Alone
One of the maybe less-known ministries of Elevate is our Emmanuel Support Group, currently run by Penny and Nigel Shivas. This Auckland couple in some circles may be better known as “the parents of Olivia and Benjamin”. Emmanuel Support seeks to give spiritual, emotional and practical support to parents and families of a child, from […]
Read More
Do Not be Ashamed of the Gospel
“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or […]
Read More
The Value of Inclusive Christian Camping
My journey with inclusive Christian camping began in Australia back in late 2007. I had finished school and wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. Eventually my Mum saw an ad seeking cooks for a local Christian campsite – no experience needed. I enjoyed cooking, so, I applied. A week or so later I went […]
Read More