Introduction
Abilities Church Ministry
Associated Ministries
Abilities Ministry Toronto
AC International
Welcome to Abilities Church Ministry (ACM). We exist to give people with disabilities an equal voice and opportunity to worship and minister within the church. Our Worship Ministry is based in Toronto Canada at LivingHope Christian Church; and our Mobile Ministry is an independent and inter-denominational ministry that provides mobile events and services for the whole community. Our goal is to support mainstream churches to integrate people with disabilities into their congregations in order to promote an equally inclusive and fully integrated worship experience for everyone. Real inclusion is personal, mutual and intentional. ACM has been recognized as a leader in integrating people with disabilities within the church and community; receiving many endorsements and commendations from major community and faith based organizations. Our qualified team of professional and caring ministers, advocates, social workers and therapist are reinforcing a safe, healthy and integrated worship environment for all people. Everyone can do their part in either participating and/or supporting this groundbreaking, revolutionary and inspirational cause for the equal inclusion of children, youth, adults and seniors living with both physical and/or intellectual disabilities. Here are 4 great ways how to get involved and make a greater inclusive difference within your community:
People with disabilities should be given a priority within the church today because they were at the centre and heart of Jesus' earthly ministry
Contact Information
Tel: 647-393-5721 E-mail: abilitiesministry@hotmail.com
Copyright ©2012
Abilities Church Ministry
A fully inclusive worship experience for the whole community
The Myths, Mandate and Mission
The Myths
1. People with disabilities are cursed of God. This is false because according to John 9 disabilities are not a result of personal sins but rather for the purpose of displaying the works of God. According to Matthew 11 Jesus ministry was authenticated by people with disabilities.
2. Only some people have disabilities. This is false because experts tell us that every human being will be affected by either visible or invisible disabilities within their life time. Original Sin is the greatest disability that has physically, emotionally and spiritually disabled the whole human race. Their are physical, intellectual, sensory, learning, social, spiritual, emotional, mental health, chronic and aging disabilities that affect every human being.
3. People with disabilities are not qualified to minister within the church. This is false because God used over 10 people with visible disabilities in the Bible to transform their world including Moses, Sampson, Jacob, Ehud, Mephibosheth, Jeroboam, Naaman, O/T Priest, Zacchaeus and Paul. Also according to 1 Cor 1:27 God chooses the foolish and weak to confound or shame the wise and strong. According to 1 Cor 1:25-29 God always uses the weak to lead and teach the so called strong. God does not call many wise, mighty or noble. According to Matthew 18: 1-7 and mark 10:13-16 "the greatest in God's Kingdom are the least among us". Many people with intellectual or developmental disabilities have a child like faith and thinking which Jesus said is necessary to enter into His Kingdom. God's Kingdom does not belong to proud adults but to humble children. Luke 18:16. The greatest commandment is to love and people with intellectual disabilities have been referred to as people of love or people of the heart.
The Mandate
Every believer and church has a Biblical mandate from Jesus himself to invite and bring people with disabilities to all our social gatherings according to Luke 14:12, 21. We are not only commanded to comfort the feeble minded but also to become as weak to those that are weak.
The Mission
Jesus primary mission was to equally bring all people into God's Kingdom. According to Matthew 4:23-25; 15:30-32 Jesus gave people with disabilities a top priority during His earthly ministry. Our mission at the Abilities Church Ministry is to follow Jesus' example in treating the least among us as the greatest in God's Kingdom. The Abilities Ministry is strengthening the evangelism, discipleship and missions programs of the church in reaching all people equally and giving the whole Body of Christ an equal opportunity to worship and minister with the church.
Join us in giving people with disabilities an equal voice and place in the church and community as they inspire us through their courage, optimism, transparency, love and faith!
"Pastor Rick and we loved reading about the wonderful experience you had in building your church. We really appreciate the way you have positioned your church to include people with various disabilities in ministry positions. What better way could you find than having people concentrate on others instead of dwelling on their own problems. This is very healing and comforting... Our Saddleback Prayer Team will continue to pray that your church will keep on growing as you spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. God is blessing you for the good work you are doing..."
In His name,
Jim and Joan Dernocoeur
Assistants to Pastor Rick Warren
Saddleback Church
"I admire your goal to maintain balance between disabled and non-disabled people – it means that yours is truly a church that’s all about inclusion, not one where disabled people are “misfits” who can’t attend a “regular” church".
Carina Kwok
Communications Advisor
Billy Graham Evangelistic Association of Canada
"I am excited about the start and vision for growth of this much needed church opportunity. The Abilities Church is responding to the call of God. It is a sacred space that embraces and makes room for ability rather than accommodating and making special exceptions for disability. Here, disability is not a barrier, it is a pathway into the presence of God. It is about ministering with and to the whole community of God. It's not about 'your disabled and I'm not', it is all about dwelling and communing together in the Imago Dei. All have a place to belong, participate, be ministered too, and to minister - it is living Luke 4:18-21".
Neil Cudney
Director of Pastoral Ministries
Christian Horizons
"This year I was introduced to a church in Toronto called the Abilities Church. They claim to be the first real inclusive church in the world. They are impressive. Their staff and vision are excellent, and have all levels of ability. They model inclusion and invitation to all people. The Abilities Church’s goal is to have 50% of their participants having a disability. Their services are lively and show a part of the spirit of Christ that many churches miss. If you are in Toronto on a Sunday you should attend this church..."
Ed Epp
Executive Director
CBM Canada
Jesus' life, ministry and teachings demonstrate that inclusion is not a personal vision or calling for some people but rather a universal mandate, social focus and spiritual priority for the whole church and community!
Inclusion is a social and spiritual priority!
1. Book our speakers, band or choir to speak or sing at your church, community event or conference.
2. Worship and/or minister at one of our Abilities Church Ministry locations
3. Join our growing movement by starting your own Abilities ministry in your church or community
4. Support our cause/movement for inclusion through media coverage, VIP appearances or donations
There are visible and invisible disabilities that will affect every human being, therefore everyone should
be given an equal opportunity to participate in the worship and ministry of the church. Let's Integrate!
Abilities Ministry Toronto has been featured in the following media organizations
Participating organizations
Community Living Toronto, The Salvation Amy, Christian Horizons, Pace Independent Living, Participation House Durham, New Visions Toronto, Surrey Place, Surrex, Bloorview Kids Rehab, Community Living Pickering, Ajax and Whitby, Montage, Vita , L'Arche Homes, Variety Village
Present and Past Sponsors
Inclusion is a human right and a Biblical mandate!
3 Reasons why we should follow Jesus’ example in giving people with disabilities a priority within the church today
1. God used people with disabilities to authenticate Jesus’ ministry and church- Reassurance of Presence of God
Matthew 11:2-5 2 “When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples 3 to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” 4 Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor”.
2. God uses people with disabilities to affirm evangelism, discipleship and missions- Result of power of God
Luke 14:12-14; 2112 Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”21 Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.” Matt 4:23-25; 15:30-32 23 “Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. 24 News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them. 25 Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.30 Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them. 31 The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel. 32 Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.”
3. God uses people with disabilities to accomplish His works- Realization of purposes of God
John 9:1-3 1 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him
