How Do I Find A Church That Welcomes Me? information about 'Through The Roof'

—News Release—- April 2021

How Do I Find A Church That Welcomes Me?

A map that gives an important message to disabled people.

Through the Roof have created a new online map to show churches and ministries that are positive about disability inclusion. It’s available now at their website www.throughtheroof.org.

Fiona Gosden, Church Inclusion Coordinator at Through the Roof, said, “I’m a Christian, and a wheelchair user. Many churches don’t realise how difficult it can be for disabled people to find a church to belong to. Having recently moved to Norwich, I’m looking forward to exploring new churches, and excited about using our own new map to help me! I’d love to know if I would receive a warm welcome at your church and find a community where I can belong and play my part in God’s kingdom—so please do visit the map, and submit your own church so we can tell others about you.”’

“When I first became a Christian, I was apprehensive about finding a church that I could belong to as a wheelchair user. Only Google maps existed then, and it didn’t tell me whether the churches would welcome me. This map does.”

Joining the map doesn’t mean your church has perfect access and gets everything right, it means that you are wanting to welcome disabled people and to respond by enabling them to be part of your church.

You can welcome disabled people to your church by taking these 2 steps:

1) Have a Roofbreaker (disability champion) in your church.

2) Join your church to The Online Map to show that you want to welcome disabled people.

Through the Roof will support Roofbreakers by…

· Providing a FREE 2 hour Zoom Disability Awareness workshop

· Giving access to our free downloadable ‘Church Toolkit’

· Helping you to discover more of the benefits of having a ‘Roofbreaker’ in your church through ongoing support, monthly emails, events, Facebook and Roofbreaker Networks.

Join the map here: www.throughtheroof.org/sign-up-to-join-the-map/

——– Ends ——-

29^th April 2021 – For immediate release

Photos to accompany this story are available from: Dropbox – Online Map News Release – Simplify your life or by request

Notes: Through the Roof trains and equips churches and other organisations to be inclusive of people with any disability. It publishes resource material, runs short term overseas missions, distributes refurbished wheelchairs in developing countries and runs accessible holidays, among other programmes. We make the Christian gospel accessible to everyone affected by disability – disabled people and their families.

For more information please contact:

Fiona Gosden (fiona@throughtheroof.org) Deputy Church Inclusion (Roofbreaker) Co-ordinator

Janet Eardley (janet@throughtheroof.org) Church Inclusion (Roofbreaker) Co-ordinator

Through the Roof

Alpha House, Alpha Place,

Garth Road,

Morden, Surrey, SM4 4TQ

Email:

Tel: 01372 749955

Please visit www.throughtheroof.org for information, news and resources to purchase

Through the Roof Charitable Trust Ltd. Is a UK Registered Company number 04201510 with offices at Alpha House, Alpha Place, Garth Road, Morden, Surrey, SM4 4TQ. It is also a Registered Charity Number 1087788.