The unreached 94 per cent

Culture – in the evangelical church, we often talk about this in the context of mission and those of different cultures to the majority in our churches. We talk about being multicultural churches, referring mainly to race and sometimes to age-related "culture" such as youth.

In a country full of different cultures, many churches are working hard in their outreach to connect with many of them.

Some mission organisations specify working with certain "people groups," and others work more generally within the mission and culture sectors.

Cross-cultural mission is great.

Now, I want to ask: do agencies provide training and education focused around those with disabilities and additional needs? This is a question I've (gently) asked different agencies, and the answer I've always been met with is "no." It seems that, usually, this is because of the assumption that this area will be naturally covered; this is a poor assumption, because it's rarely the case.

Disability is a culture in its own right and has many "cultures" within it. It’s a culture and a "people group" that you can join at any time... and you have no say in joining it.

Disability is the only diversity that can encompass every other diversity; disability is present in every culture, seen in every age group.

If disability training was covered naturally, why is it that those with disabilities and additional needs are still one of the largest unreached people groups in the world? (And in the UK.)

The Lausanne Movement has in the past quoted 94 per cent as the percentage of disabled people who are disconnected from the gospel; its latest figure indicates that only five to ten per cent of disabled people ever hear the gospel – in their whole lifetime.

Disability needs to be intentionally thought about in mission, or it won’t be thought about at all.

We need to look at the accessibility of our methods, the language we use and whether a disabled person or someone with additional needs would be able to access not just our buildings, but the way we do things.

Most people will shy away from connecting with disabled people for fear of saying the wrong thing – or just not knowing how to connect. Scope’s survey says that 67 per cent of people feel uncomfortable talking to a disabled person. The church is no different.

Almost one in four working-age people are disabled in some way. That’s just "working age." When you take children and those who are retired into account, it’s a much higher figure.

Does your church reflect these figures in those who attend? Does it reflect these figures in every level of leadership?

The first step in intentionally reaching out to those with disabilities and additional needs is to talk to them.

Make sure you have a disabled person and a neurodivergent person on the outreach team.

Then get some training on how to be a place where everyone can belong.