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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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Our Family Story – Three Generations of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
“We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, His power and the wonders He has done.” Psalm 78:4 “My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in your weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 “This sickness is not unto death but for the glory of God.” John 11:4 Left […]
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The Difference Between Inclusion and Belonging
We often hear the words ‘inclusion’ and ‘belonging’ when talking about welcoming more people with disabilities into our churches and ministries. But the difference between these two is not always clear. As it’s December, let me use a Christmas example to try and explain. Most of us will have different Christmas traditions, such as a […]
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Stop, Wait, Go – but have we forgotten anyone?
We’ve all done it, or had it done to us, at some stage. Many parents have accidentally forgotten their child somewhere (home, school, shops). Many of us have accidentally forgotten to invite a friend or family member to a party. It’s not that we do it intentionally, nor does it represent a lack of love […]
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