vital linkThe newsletter for Through the RoofNo.45 Spring 2009

CONTENTS

2 Integr8

3 From Joni Eareckson Tada

4 Wheels for the World

6 Fellowship DCF

Our MissiOnThrough the Roof’s mission is to make the Christian message of salvation through Jesus Christ available to people affected by disability.

Our VisiOnThrough the Roof’s vision is to see all disabled people be free to reach their full potential.

Through the Roof Charitable Trust Ltd is a UK Registered Company number 04201510, with offices at 2 Weston Road, Epson, KT17 1JG. It is also a Registered Charity ─ Number 1087788.

Vital Link is designed and printed by PDC Copyprint (Kingston) www.pdccopyprint.co.uk

COntaCt detailsGREAT BRITAIN OFFICE: PO Box 353, EPSOM, KT18 5WS Phone 01372 749955 email: info@throughtheroof.org Web: www.throughtheroof.org

NORThERN IRElANd CONTACT: email: ni@throughtheroof.org

D i s a b l e d C h r i s t i a n s F e l l o w s h i p formed in 1959, when Frances Poole started a group in Bristol. DCF has kept growing, with groups around the country, accessible holidays, tape and CD ministry and support for disabled

people and those affected by disability. This year is DCF’s Golden Anniversary, and to celebrate this great big number we’ll be holding two events.

You’re all invited to join us for a birthday celebration on the 6th June at King’s Church, Epsom. We’re delighted to announce that author and speaker Max Sinclair will be bringing the keynote address. Max was paralysed in a car accident and, despite a substantial recovery, is still a frequent wheelchair user. Max and his wife Sue travel widely teaching and sharing their experience of handling life’s crises. The party starts at 11am. All welcome! For more info ring 01372 749955.

There’ll be a second event on Sept 12th with speaker Jennifer Rees-Larcombe in Burton on Trent. We’ll have more details on the ongoing celebrations soon. Please see DCF news on page 6 for more on what’s going on with DCF.

Ashtead Charities Fair

Through the Roof has moved office! A sudden change in management at Global House meant we had to quickly find new accommodation. We’re now renting an office at the Wilson’s Service Centre in Epsom – a room that’s slightly smaller than our last, but still works well! For the first few weeks (late December 2008) we wrested with technical difficulties, and whilst there are still a few teething problems and an amount of time spent working out where the guillotine lives now, nearly everything is back to normal. Thank you for your patience while we’ve been re-finding our feet!

Phone numbers and email remain the same, but please do use our PO Box address if you’re posting anything. It’s PO Box 353, Epsom, Surrey, KT18 5WS.

through the roof on the Move

With the move and our new – cosier – office has come a lack of storage space. We’ve had to warehouse a lot of materials, and it was looking as if we’d have no space for donated wheelchairs in Epsom. Thankfully, Epsom’s Storage King stepped in. We’re renting a space for archive materials; resources, stock and other items, but Storage King has offered a free room for chairs. They’re even taking them in directly at the storage centre. If you live near Epsom and have a manual wheelchair you’d like to donate, please contact us. Thanks to the staff and management of Storage King Epsom!

in the Hall of the storage King

The folk of Ashtead, Surrey raised a further amazing £650 for the Wheels for the World Prison Workshop Appeal at the Worldwide Charities Fair, St George’s Christian Centre, Ashtead by selling goods and running a ‘guess the number of beans in a jar’ contest, with a prize of tickets to Jack and the Beanstalk kindly donated by Dorking Halls. Thank you!

Charities Fair

Can’t wait for your next Vital Link? It’s due out in June, but if that’s just too long to go without a dose of TTR news, we have a website full of bits, bytes, bobs, stories and regularly updated news and we’d be delighted to welcome you to it. Point your computer at www.throughtheroof.org and click away to your own contentment. Please do let us know if you have any comments or suggestions for the site. We’d love to hear your thoughts.

www.throughtheroof.org

If you’re a regular listener to Premier or UCB radio, you may well have been treated to the tones of Tim Wood floating across the airwaves and emanating from your kitchen wireless, set-top box or DAB device. Tim’s been interviewed by Marilyn Baker on the Insight programme on Premier radio, with Alan Whetherly talking about the Integr8 mentoring scheme (available on our website); asked for comment

on ‘the difficulties facing parents with disabled children’ broadcast on the Premier Drive show; in a live interview with Paul Hammond for UCB talking about ‘special and mainstream education’; and another interview with Marilyn Baker on the Insight programme for Premier radio with Abigail Smith talking about the integr8 trip to India.

TTR is still working on its Strategic Plans and incorporating many ideas that were suggested by supporters at the Team Day in September. We will keep you informed of progress. Contact us if you would like to see and comment on a summary of our draft plans when they become available.

Congratulations to Steering Wheels team member, John Aves, who has received an MBE in the New Years Honours list for his services to people with disabilities. His innovative work as a wheelchair technician has

helped improve hundreds of lives through The Duke of Cornwall Spinal Centre. He received the news while on our Kenya Wheels distribution, and is very pleased his work with the Spinal Unit has been honoured.

radio ttr

happy Birthday dCF!

Tim, shown here in a rare

non-interviewed moment

‘For i Know the Plans i Have For You...’ (Jer 29:11)

By Michael Jamison, Operations Manager

I have a confession to make. After many years of talking about it, my wife and I have still not made a will, despite the experience of having my own parents die without making one.

Many years ago a national Christian leader was talking about how he wanted his life to have meaning, and that now as he was well past the halfway mark he wanted his death to count as well.

Why do I mention these two things? Well, to ask you to please think about leaving a legacy to the work of Through the Roof. Over the years we have received legacies of between a few hundred to tens of thousands. But whatever the sum, it reflected the heart and passions of people’s lives and we are always humbled when we reflect on what people think of the work we do.

If you do want to include us in your will we have a leaflet available to help you with the wording. If you contact me at the TTR office, I will send one to you in total confidentiality.

leaving a legacy

Congratulations! Michael at work

John works with a client on the Nyeri distribution

Sue and Max Sinclair

From the CEO’s desk by Jacky Oliver

Shall we keep this, recycle or throw away? This was a frequently asked question in the run up to our office

move, as we were forced into a (much needed!) clean out of our old store cupboard. As we head towards the spring this is also a question we are asking ourselves as a charity, looking at our current activities and preparing a new five-year strategy. We have also added another question…

7.2.

In this Issue:

• Meetamentor

• JoiningwiththeSa

ints

• AbigailonPrem

ier

• Changelivesth

issummer

YOUTHZone@Vl

Meet a Mentor‘Hi, I am Heidi Buckell and I live in Hertfordshire. I have Cerebral Palsy which affects my speech and walking.

One of my biggest achievements in life, apart from gaining a degree in Social Sciences, was moving out from my family home and living on my own. I also have a brilliant church family and am a member of my local Baptist Church. I work full-time for West Hertfordshire NHS Trust within the Risk Management Department and have now been there for five years. Before working for the NHS Trust I had a part-time job which gave me time to set up my own disability awareness project and involves me giving talks to organisations about disability. It was through doing a talk that I came into contact with Tim from Through the Roof. He invited me to be involved with the mentoring project and I am now trained and ready to mentor a young disabled person to enable them to reach their full potential.’

If you know a young person with experience of disability who might benefit from support from a mentor like Heidi, let them know about our mentoring project – Influence. Contact TTR or visit our website for more information.

heidi, one of our Integr8 mentors

Joining with the Saints

Urban Saints are a Christian charity reaching young people with the good news of Jesus. As part of Through the Roof’s growing connections with the charity, Urban Saints have agreed to promote the Integr8 Intentional youth resource to all the leaders of its 600 groups around the UK and at its training conferences too, to encourage a greater inclusion of young disabled people in its groups and activities. Keep up the good work Urban Saints.

Do you know of any charities or churches that would benefit from our resources? Why not tell them what we can offer?

Our ‘International’ youth resource

Abigail on PremierAfter Abigail Smith had recovered from her education

trip to India with Integr8’s ‘International’ programme, our friends at Torch Trust wanted to hear all about her experience. Abigail was invited, with Tim Wood, to be interviewed by Marilyn Baker on the radio show ‘Insight’, broadcast on Premier on Sundays at 3.00pm. Abigail enjoyed reliving her experiences and you can see some of Abigail’s trip photos by visiting the Integr8 page she has set up on TTR’s Facebook page. We also hope to feature the interview on our website shortly.

Change lives this Summer

We are now recruiting team-members who have experience in education for young disabled people to join our trip to the beautiful country of Guatemala in Latin America. Not only can you make a positive difference to the lives of many disabled children but it can have an impact on ours too. This is what one of our team members said about her experience last year: “I enjoyed the trip 100%. For me it was a time of self discovery. I did things that prior to the trip, I didn’t think I could do and I developed a closeness to God that I haven’t felt in years, if ever. The encouragement I got from all the team members was so helpful. God was with us in all that we planned and did and I feel so privileged that I was part of God`s plan”. Application forms can be downloaded from the website or contact the office for more information.

What are the new things we feel God would have us do?As Joni mentions in her letter these times of change can be such an opportunity to move on.

Through the Roof has never felt more dynamic as we move into the future at the same time as we celebrate the past with the 50th anniversary of our DCF programme.

As we focus on this year, alongside you, our partners in Jesus, we trust for provision and progress as we work towards the fulfilment of God’s heart for all people who are disabled or affected by disability.

donationsThank you so much for all of your

donations and support – the work of Through the Roof would be impossible without your generosity. We aim to respond to every gift over £10, but often receive anonymous gifts, or gifts without reply addresses, and respond to them here. Many thanks for these anonymous gifts: a CAF voucher for £900, a CAF Voucher for £100, a CAF Voucher for £30 and three £20 Stewardship Deposits and for gifts from Lynne & Heather, C Williams, A Miller, C Chisholm and S Smith.

Tea, coffee, cocoa, Horlicks, Ovaltine, Bovril, or even a warm squash drink, they all taste delicious dispensed from our special 2009 DCF 50th Birthday Mug. Raise a mugful of your own favourite hot beverage, and join us in celebrating this special year, and all 49 special years before it.

Order your special commemorative mug today, only £3.50 (plus careful

packaging and postage at our standard rates), available from our website or by contacting the office.

50th Birthday Mug

dalesdown ‘09Through the Roof will be returning to

Dalesdown, West Sussex in April for another holiday for families with children with autism. We’re looking forward to another four days of fun and relaxation for families as well as fun and hard work for helpers! Please pray for the week, for energy for staff and volunteers, as well as that important time to rest, share and unwind for families. We’ll have a full report of all the happenings at Dalesdown in our June issue.

Stoneleigh dCF Christmas

Christmas may seem a long time ago now, but here’s how the Stoneleigh Through the Roof DCF group spent it. From Paula Smith.

About 30 guests plus helpers enjoyed our Christmas meeting. We ate plenty then made a simple but effective Nativity scene together from cardboard, coloured paper and glue. These Nativity figures were then taken into the worship area as we all sang “Away in a manger”.

The puppet group from Stoneleigh Baptist Church (made up of about 10 young people) then entertained us with songs and sketches to help us consider the Christmas message from the point of view of the angels. We sang more carols and the Pastor of the Church spoke to us about the journeys in the Christmas story, reminding us of Jesus’ journey to Earth to help us and encouraging us to come to God just as we are.

Stoneleigh’s Christmas Party

The dCF anniversary mug

A View of Guatemala

Tim visits contacts in Guatemala

Churches Inc

3.6.

Jenny’s letter

dear Friends…Cymbals clashed. Kettledrums boomed. The orchestra swept into its

closing crescendo, and the final chord was struck. The audience rose to its feet and clamored, “Encore!” The scene was the Los Angeles Pavilion; the occasion was a recent holiday symphony, and I, too, called for an encore. You don’t have to go to a symphony in order to appreciate encores. Remember that special weekend retreat last year with your Christian friends? The fellowship was fantastic, the speaker was super and, oh, how you wish the blessings could go on and on. And now, this year, you want God to do an encore.

From Joni Eareckson Tada

God, however, may not give it. But don’t take it hard. For although it’s true the Lord will never do exactly the same thing a second time around, He will do something better (Isaiah 43:18-19). God specializes in things fresh and firsthand. He is not satisfied with the updated and revised version—He’s always quick to create something new.

And He is doing something new at Through the Roof, too. His plans for our disability outreach this year will outshine the past, I’m convinced. His blueprint is hot-off-the-press and He’s preparing the team (including you) to make a difference for Christ among thousands of people with disabilities and their families. You have a part in it all, friend, as we head deeper into 2009. God bless you for being a part of the Through the Roof team with your prayers and gifts – together, let’s watch Him do something new!

Yours in His care,Joni Eareckson Tada

Tim Wood has now taken on the responsibility for TTR’s Churches inc programme and is currently consulting with colleagues on how we can make even more of a difference to enable churches and organisations to be good news for disabled people.

• TTR would love to hear your ideas and your thoughts about …

• Empowering more disabled people to speak and deliver training to churches

• Using the website as an opportunity to share positive examples of inclusion

• Resourcing supporters to spread TTR’s message in their situation

• Generating new interest from churches and Christians across different areas of the UK

We recently ran a trial of the Removing Barriers scheme and are making some improvements based on feedback from churches.

The Removing Barriers resource will be a questionnaire organised around four types of barrier that can restrict the full involvement of disabled people – Attitudes, Organisation, Information and Physical Access.

Removing Barriers will:

• Help your church or organisation to assess your current situation

• Help you identify what ‘reasonable adjustments’ could be made to improve the situation

• Provide information and signpost you to appropriate resources to help you make these improvements

• Enable your church or organisation to welcome and include disabled people more fully

Please note, following feedback, this will no longer be run as an award scheme. Please email info@throughtheroof.org to register your interest in this product and we will let you know when it becomes available.

In February, Through the Roof hosted ‘Untapped Resources’. The event encouraged charities and companies to recruit and retain disabled volunteers and

we’ll bring you a full report in the next issue. The event was supported and funded by GoldStar, a national initiative designed to promote and share good practice in working

with volunteers, mentors and befrienders from socially excluded or disadvantaged groups. For more information about GoldStar see www.goldstar.org.uk.

Untapped Resources?

Removing Barriers

This year, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of DCF, we’ll be running one very special on-the-seas holiday, rather than two overseas breaks. DCF will be taking to the seas on a cruise from the 15th to 29th August. We still need helpers to assist guests – if you’re interested in taking part and helping, or joining the cruise, please get in touch with Jenny at the Through the Roof office for further details.

dCF at sea

‘For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for his good pleasure’ Phil:2v13

When January dawned this year, once again I heard many people chatting about New Year resolutions, knowing full well that after a few weeks these goals would soon fade and life would be back to the ‘norm’. I promised myself that this year I would not make a resolution, but would stake a claim on the above verse, asking God to help me allow him to work in and through me this coming year. I am happy for I know that this is something annually I try to aim for and if I fulfil this there will indeed be blessings from heaven.

How does it work? God is so eager to shower His blessings on us so that we are able to bless others in abundance. In this unsteady economic environment, there is one thing that remains steady and unaffected by the pound, God’s love as a Father is intact and even when we strive to be a blessing to others it brings interest – and that is surely something worth aiming for!

Jenny, with Jane on the Wheels trip to Nyeri

Back in 2002, a call was made to the TTR office that would change the life of a family for six years, and add memories to Disabled Christians Fellowship that will remain with us for a very long time. It all started with a call from an anxious Mum – nothing unusual in that! We understood that her daughter Sharon would like to try a DCF holiday, and could we cope with the level of disability Sharon had! We said yes, and from then on Sharon, and her Mum and Dad, Chris and Geoff, became a very important part of the organisation, particularly in Hatton and Burton on Trent.

The first holiday in Worthing, Sussex, was a time of triumph and laughter! Anxious parents weren’t far away, but Sharon’s happy disposition spread a wonderful atmosphere throughout her time with us. From that first holiday, Sharon enjoyed others and gained the desire to start her own DCF group in the Trent Valley. Her determination and enthusiasm meant that soon, a thriving group met monthly, with Sharon and her many helpers maintaining the group’s focus and introducing others to the love of Jesus.

For the past few years Sharon and Chris gathered all the material for the Grapevine Magazine that keeps groups in touch with one another, only in the last few months had Sharon stopped as her health began to deteriorate. Her faithful parents kept us in touch as Sharon struggled with the last few weeks of her life on earth. How she longed to be with her

Saviour, so we cannot be too sad that our loss is Christ’s gain following her death on January 20th 2009. She is now with her Lord.

The smile, laughter and steady trust in her Lord will be a lasting legacy of Sharon to all who knew her within DCF and locally. Many people were affected by her amazing courage and strength in her Lord. Sharon is with her brother Haydn now, rejoicing with the angels – thank you Sharon for sharing your love and life with all of us at DCF and for Chris and Geoff for letting us share in the last few years of her life.

A Tribute to Sharon Key Sharon Key

Chris and Sharon

Wheels for the World gave 150 wheelchairs for our friends in Operation Mercy to distribute in Tajikistan. Find out more about Op. Mercy by visiting their website www.mercy.se. Philip and Jean Kirk of Op. Mercy wrote this report about their work…

‘Jean and I were in Tajikistan with Operation Mercy on short-term work when the wheelchair container arrived. There was much excitement as the whole office, ex-pats and local staff came to see and help stack the chairs, ordering them for the needs of recipients and the parts of the country they’d be travelling to. The blankets were amazing gifts too. The time, effort and thought of everyone who made this wonderful thing happen were so appreciated; it will change the lives and open up new prospects for so many users throughout the capital, Dushanbe, and the villages and other towns in Tajikistan. It was wonderful to know people cared enough to help others across the other side of the world, yet would never meet them to receive thanks for their giving and hard work. That sacrificial love given by so many brought tears to some of the team whenever it was spoken about. So a BIG BIG thank you to all of you!’

Operation Mercy in tajikistan

4. 5.

In November 2009, Wheels for the World travelled to Nyeri, Kenya for a very special distribution – here are some thoughts and stories from members of the team and some recipients of wheelchairs:

My highlights of the trip would be, one, creating a wheelchair from three damaged ones for a very large lady, who had waited all day hoping we would be able to provide a chair for her. Secondly, being able to give one of our African interpreters a lighter, more manageable wheelchair in return for all his efforts. I didn’t have time for too many conversations – I was too busy working on the wheelchairs!

John - one of the techies.

One highlight for me was the husband of Dorcas. He was so delighted by what we did for her that he brought his neighbour and her daughter - Purity - two days later. She had never gone anywhere in her 15 years. We gave her a wheelchair and a standing

frame. I didn’t even know we had any standing frames, but we found some. He said ‘God Bless You’ as if he really meant it from the heart.

Wendy

Thoughts from Nyeri

All the team together

Praying with a client

A mother and daughter waiting

to be seen

dorcas and Wheels team

Here are two of the letters we received from Wheelchair recipients in Nyeri, Kenya.

‘Hi, how are you doing? I hope you are all doing fine. I am doing fine too and am recovering. I thank God for granting me this golden opportunity to speak to you through words. The fact of writing this letter is to thank you for the good job you are doing and I really admire what you people are doing. You are of big help and a blessing to many people.

I can’t get the words to describe how happy and thankful I am. I am thankful for the wheelchair that you gave me through Nyeri Hospice. I had not yet gone for the surgery which I was to expect on my right leg for lacks of funds. I am believing that God is going to provide. Thank you a lot, and may God bless you accordingly.’

Your faithfulSimon W

‘Am Simon from Kenya. I work in an institution for the physically challenged called ol-kalou disabled children’s home. Last year a distribution team from u.k. came here for that purpose and did to us what I can only refer to as a GRACE, giving out wheelchairs and other walking aides to those who needs them. There remainders that were left to me to give to those whom I find needs them. I did as I was instructed to do by the team. Children benefited from them and I can assure you now a child somewhere happy simply because you love them though not in uk, and deep in me I feel I want to continue promoting you as a volunteer. In the midst of that love I too want to be. Much love from ol-kalou and I want to pass my greetings to the team that was in our institution last year. May the Almighty God bless you always.’

Simon K

letters from Kenya

Wheels in 2008In 2008, Wheels distributed 155 chairs in Kimilili, Kenya working

with IcFEM; 156 in Jordan with Operation Mercy and 320 in Nyeri, Kenya with Nyeri Hospice. We also gave 150 wheelchairs to Operation Mercy in Tajikistan (more about this to follow). At the moment the next Kimilili container of 166 chairs is in Mombassa awaiting clearance for our March distribution. Also packed into the containers are wheelchair cushions, children’s buggies, seating systems, rollators, physiotherapy mats, bibles etc etc and lots of blankets! Everything is given away with love, compassion and a great deal of work.

help Received in Tajikistan

The New Larger Container for Wheels Mobility Equipment in Northern Ireland

By John Brown, Trustee and NI Correspondent

Once again our supportive businessman, Stephen Robinson, assisted us inprocuring a storage site for our new, larger and much improved container. The storage container (at 40 foot, twice the length of our old one, with insulation throughout and electricity from Stephen’s supply) is based at Hilsborough, NI and is being filled with Wheels mobility equipment.

Billy Thompson designed the layout with marked areas for specific equipment. To transfer the bulging old container to the new one, Billy and volunteer Wenford McDowell moved the entire contents by van to the new site. I took the Barnabas seat and told the funnies to encourage the workers.

The funds to obtain and prepare the container were raised by Northern Ireland supporters. Carol Mills can now drop off equipment from her contacts for children’s and other aids, which are being rescued from other sources. Our thanks for Carol’s hard work!

We pray that the container will be an instrument of God’s love to those less fortunate in other lands. The Lord will provide.

Billy and Wenford set up the container

Contain Yourself

Mobility equipment is stored for transport

Wheels in the snowWe loaded a container with wheelchairs in

the snow yesterday - the vehicle got stuck on a hill and was rescued by the cavalry (a tractor of helpers wielding shovels!) The barn area was an ice-rink but our stoic loaders were brilliant. The barn’s padlocks were frozen solid, my husband, Malc, was panicking – he couldn’t open any barns or get the forklift started. Everything was so treacherous! Finally, he managed to thaw the padlocks, put grit down and clear a path for the lorry. The container arrived safely. It’s not all snowmen and sledging!

By Glenda Pike, from the Fordingbridge farm.

Belfast Bible College Welcome ttrFrom John BrownWe were please to attend Belfast

Bible College’s recent open day. The day raised students’ awareness of ministries available for service once they’ve completed their studies.

The Call of God to serve at home or the wider world comes to all of us in differing ways. We all face the challenge of expressing the love of Jesus. Whether near or far, it will always include those disabled people loved by God. So the work of Through the Roof and Wheels for the World is important all around the world.

We welcomed the help of new volunteer Mary Herron, who gave her full support at the stand, talking on how people with disabilities cannot be excluded from study or service.

In our photograph Mary is explaining how Wheels for the World is helping bring opportunities to hundreds of people in less privileged parts of the world to benefit from God’s love. Mary said, “I enjoyed the experience and look forward to learning more as I go along”.

Mary explains how Wheels

for the World brings

opportunities to hundreds

of people in developing countries

Wheels for the World gave 150 wheelchairs for our friends in Operation Mercy to distribute in Tajikistan. Find out more about Op. Mercy by visiting their website www.mercy.se. Philip and Jean Kirk of Op. Mercy wrote this report about their work…

‘Jean and I were in Tajikistan with Operation Mercy on short-term work when the wheelchair container arrived. There was much excitement as the whole office, ex-pats and local staff came to see and help stack the chairs, ordering them for the needs of recipients and the parts of the country they’d be travelling to. The blankets were amazing gifts too. The time, effort and thought of everyone who made this wonderful thing happen were so appreciated; it will change the lives and open up new prospects for so many users throughout the capital, Dushanbe, and the villages and other towns in Tajikistan. It was wonderful to know people cared enough to help others across the other side of the world, yet would never meet them to receive thanks for their giving and hard work. That sacrificial love given by so many brought tears to some of the team whenever it was spoken about. So a BIG BIG thank you to all of you!’

Operation Mercy in tajikistan

4. 5.

In November 2009, Wheels for the World travelled to Nyeri, Kenya for a very special distribution – here are some thoughts and stories from members of the team and some recipients of wheelchairs:

My highlights of the trip would be, one, creating a wheelchair from three damaged ones for a very large lady, who had waited all day hoping we would be able to provide a chair for her. Secondly, being able to give one of our African interpreters a lighter, more manageable wheelchair in return for all his efforts. I didn’t have time for too many conversations – I was too busy working on the wheelchairs!

John - one of the techies.

One highlight for me was the husband of Dorcas. He was so delighted by what we did for her that he brought his neighbour and her daughter - Purity - two days later. She had never gone anywhere in her 15 years. We gave her a wheelchair and a standing

frame. I didn’t even know we had any standing frames, but we found some. He said ‘God Bless You’ as if he really meant it from the heart.

Wendy

Thoughts from Nyeri

All the team together

Praying with a client

A mother and daughter waiting

to be seen

dorcas and Wheels team

Here are two of the letters we received from Wheelchair recipients in Nyeri, Kenya.

‘Hi, how are you doing? I hope you are all doing fine. I am doing fine too and am recovering. I thank God for granting me this golden opportunity to speak to you through words. The fact of writing this letter is to thank you for the good job you are doing and I really admire what you people are doing. You are of big help and a blessing to many people.

I can’t get the words to describe how happy and thankful I am. I am thankful for the wheelchair that you gave me through Nyeri Hospice. I had not yet gone for the surgery which I was to expect on my right leg for lacks of funds. I am believing that God is going to provide. Thank you a lot, and may God bless you accordingly.’

Your faithfulSimon W

‘Am Simon from Kenya. I work in an institution for the physically challenged called ol-kalou disabled children’s home. Last year a distribution team from u.k. came here for that purpose and did to us what I can only refer to as a GRACE, giving out wheelchairs and other walking aides to those who needs them. There remainders that were left to me to give to those whom I find needs them. I did as I was instructed to do by the team. Children benefited from them and I can assure you now a child somewhere happy simply because you love them though not in uk, and deep in me I feel I want to continue promoting you as a volunteer. In the midst of that love I too want to be. Much love from ol-kalou and I want to pass my greetings to the team that was in our institution last year. May the Almighty God bless you always.’

Simon K

letters from Kenya

Wheels in 2008In 2008, Wheels distributed 155 chairs in Kimilili, Kenya working

with IcFEM; 156 in Jordan with Operation Mercy and 320 in Nyeri, Kenya with Nyeri Hospice. We also gave 150 wheelchairs to Operation Mercy in Tajikistan (more about this to follow). At the moment the next Kimilili container of 166 chairs is in Mombassa awaiting clearance for our March distribution. Also packed into the containers are wheelchair cushions, children’s buggies, seating systems, rollators, physiotherapy mats, bibles etc etc and lots of blankets! Everything is given away with love, compassion and a great deal of work.

help Received in Tajikistan

The New Larger Container for Wheels Mobility Equipment in Northern Ireland

By John Brown, Trustee and NI Correspondent

Once again our supportive businessman, Stephen Robinson, assisted us inprocuring a storage site for our new, larger and much improved container. The storage container (at 40 foot, twice the length of our old one, with insulation throughout and electricity from Stephen’s supply) is based at Hilsborough, NI and is being filled with Wheels mobility equipment.

Billy Thompson designed the layout with marked areas for specific equipment. To transfer the bulging old container to the new one, Billy and volunteer Wenford McDowell moved the entire contents by van to the new site. I took the Barnabas seat and told the funnies to encourage the workers.

The funds to obtain and prepare the container were raised by Northern Ireland supporters. Carol Mills can now drop off equipment from her contacts for children’s and other aids, which are being rescued from other sources. Our thanks for Carol’s hard work!

We pray that the container will be an instrument of God’s love to those less fortunate in other lands. The Lord will provide.

Billy and Wenford set up the container

Contain Yourself

Mobility equipment is stored for transport

Wheels in the snowWe loaded a container with wheelchairs in

the snow yesterday - the vehicle got stuck on a hill and was rescued by the cavalry (a tractor of helpers wielding shovels!) The barn area was an ice-rink but our stoic loaders were brilliant. The barn’s padlocks were frozen solid, my husband, Malc, was panicking – he couldn’t open any barns or get the forklift started. Everything was so treacherous! Finally, he managed to thaw the padlocks, put grit down and clear a path for the lorry. The container arrived safely. It’s not all snowmen and sledging!

By Glenda Pike, from the Fordingbridge farm.

Belfast Bible College Welcome ttrFrom John BrownWe were please to attend Belfast

Bible College’s recent open day. The day raised students’ awareness of ministries available for service once they’ve completed their studies.

The Call of God to serve at home or the wider world comes to all of us in differing ways. We all face the challenge of expressing the love of Jesus. Whether near or far, it will always include those disabled people loved by God. So the work of Through the Roof and Wheels for the World is important all around the world.

We welcomed the help of new volunteer Mary Herron, who gave her full support at the stand, talking on how people with disabilities cannot be excluded from study or service.

In our photograph Mary is explaining how Wheels for the World is helping bring opportunities to hundreds of people in less privileged parts of the world to benefit from God’s love. Mary said, “I enjoyed the experience and look forward to learning more as I go along”.

Mary explains how Wheels

for the World brings

opportunities to hundreds

of people in developing countries

Churches Inc

3.6.

Jenny’s letter

dear Friends…Cymbals clashed. Kettledrums boomed. The orchestra swept into its

closing crescendo, and the final chord was struck. The audience rose to its feet and clamored, “Encore!” The scene was the Los Angeles Pavilion; the occasion was a recent holiday symphony, and I, too, called for an encore. You don’t have to go to a symphony in order to appreciate encores. Remember that special weekend retreat last year with your Christian friends? The fellowship was fantastic, the speaker was super and, oh, how you wish the blessings could go on and on. And now, this year, you want God to do an encore.

From Joni Eareckson Tada

God, however, may not give it. But don’t take it hard. For although it’s true the Lord will never do exactly the same thing a second time around, He will do something better (Isaiah 43:18-19). God specializes in things fresh and firsthand. He is not satisfied with the updated and revised version—He’s always quick to create something new.

And He is doing something new at Through the Roof, too. His plans for our disability outreach this year will outshine the past, I’m convinced. His blueprint is hot-off-the-press and He’s preparing the team (including you) to make a difference for Christ among thousands of people with disabilities and their families. You have a part in it all, friend, as we head deeper into 2009. God bless you for being a part of the Through the Roof team with your prayers and gifts – together, let’s watch Him do something new!

Yours in His care,Joni Eareckson Tada

Tim Wood has now taken on the responsibility for TTR’s Churches inc programme and is currently consulting with colleagues on how we can make even more of a difference to enable churches and organisations to be good news for disabled people.

• TTR would love to hear your ideas and your thoughts about …

• Empowering more disabled people to speak and deliver training to churches

• Using the website as an opportunity to share positive examples of inclusion

• Resourcing supporters to spread TTR’s message in their situation

• Generating new interest from churches and Christians across different areas of the UK

We recently ran a trial of the Removing Barriers scheme and are making some improvements based on feedback from churches.

The Removing Barriers resource will be a questionnaire organised around four types of barrier that can restrict the full involvement of disabled people – Attitudes, Organisation, Information and Physical Access.

Removing Barriers will:

• Help your church or organisation to assess your current situation

• Help you identify what ‘reasonable adjustments’ could be made to improve the situation

• Provide information and signpost you to appropriate resources to help you make these improvements

• Enable your church or organisation to welcome and include disabled people more fully

Please note, following feedback, this will no longer be run as an award scheme. Please email info@throughtheroof.org to register your interest in this product and we will let you know when it becomes available.

In February, Through the Roof hosted ‘Untapped Resources’. The event encouraged charities and companies to recruit and retain disabled volunteers and

we’ll bring you a full report in the next issue. The event was supported and funded by GoldStar, a national initiative designed to promote and share good practice in working

with volunteers, mentors and befrienders from socially excluded or disadvantaged groups. For more information about GoldStar see www.goldstar.org.uk.

Untapped Resources?

Removing Barriers

This year, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of DCF, we’ll be running one very special on-the-seas holiday, rather than two overseas breaks. DCF will be taking to the seas on a cruise from the 15th to 29th August. We still need helpers to assist guests – if you’re interested in taking part and helping, or joining the cruise, please get in touch with Jenny at the Through the Roof office for further details.

dCF at sea

‘For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for his good pleasure’ Phil:2v13

When January dawned this year, once again I heard many people chatting about New Year resolutions, knowing full well that after a few weeks these goals would soon fade and life would be back to the ‘norm’. I promised myself that this year I would not make a resolution, but would stake a claim on the above verse, asking God to help me allow him to work in and through me this coming year. I am happy for I know that this is something annually I try to aim for and if I fulfil this there will indeed be blessings from heaven.

How does it work? God is so eager to shower His blessings on us so that we are able to bless others in abundance. In this unsteady economic environment, there is one thing that remains steady and unaffected by the pound, God’s love as a Father is intact and even when we strive to be a blessing to others it brings interest – and that is surely something worth aiming for!

Jenny, with Jane on the Wheels trip to Nyeri

Back in 2002, a call was made to the TTR office that would change the life of a family for six years, and add memories to Disabled Christians Fellowship that will remain with us for a very long time. It all started with a call from an anxious Mum – nothing unusual in that! We understood that her daughter Sharon would like to try a DCF holiday, and could we cope with the level of disability Sharon had! We said yes, and from then on Sharon, and her Mum and Dad, Chris and Geoff, became a very important part of the organisation, particularly in Hatton and Burton on Trent.

The first holiday in Worthing, Sussex, was a time of triumph and laughter! Anxious parents weren’t far away, but Sharon’s happy disposition spread a wonderful atmosphere throughout her time with us. From that first holiday, Sharon enjoyed others and gained the desire to start her own DCF group in the Trent Valley. Her determination and enthusiasm meant that soon, a thriving group met monthly, with Sharon and her many helpers maintaining the group’s focus and introducing others to the love of Jesus.

For the past few years Sharon and Chris gathered all the material for the Grapevine Magazine that keeps groups in touch with one another, only in the last few months had Sharon stopped as her health began to deteriorate. Her faithful parents kept us in touch as Sharon struggled with the last few weeks of her life on earth. How she longed to be with her

Saviour, so we cannot be too sad that our loss is Christ’s gain following her death on January 20th 2009. She is now with her Lord.

The smile, laughter and steady trust in her Lord will be a lasting legacy of Sharon to all who knew her within DCF and locally. Many people were affected by her amazing courage and strength in her Lord. Sharon is with her brother Haydn now, rejoicing with the angels – thank you Sharon for sharing your love and life with all of us at DCF and for Chris and Geoff for letting us share in the last few years of her life.

A Tribute to Sharon Key Sharon Key

Chris and Sharon

From the CEO’s desk by Jacky Oliver

Shall we keep this, recycle or throw away? This was a frequently asked question in the run up to our office

move, as we were forced into a (much needed!) clean out of our old store cupboard. As we head towards the spring this is also a question we are asking ourselves as a charity, looking at our current activities and preparing a new five-year strategy. We have also added another question…

7.2.

In this Issue:

• Meetamentor

• JoiningwiththeSa

ints

• AbigailonPrem

ier

• Changelivesth

issummer

YOUTHZone@Vl

Meet a Mentor‘Hi, I am Heidi Buckell and I live in Hertfordshire. I have Cerebral Palsy which affects my speech and walking.

One of my biggest achievements in life, apart from gaining a degree in Social Sciences, was moving out from my family home and living on my own. I also have a brilliant church family and am a member of my local Baptist Church. I work full-time for West Hertfordshire NHS Trust within the Risk Management Department and have now been there for five years. Before working for the NHS Trust I had a part-time job which gave me time to set up my own disability awareness project and involves me giving talks to organisations about disability. It was through doing a talk that I came into contact with Tim from Through the Roof. He invited me to be involved with the mentoring project and I am now trained and ready to mentor a young disabled person to enable them to reach their full potential.’

If you know a young person with experience of disability who might benefit from support from a mentor like Heidi, let them know about our mentoring project – Influence. Contact TTR or visit our website for more information.

heidi, one of our Integr8 mentors

Joining with the Saints

Urban Saints are a Christian charity reaching young people with the good news of Jesus. As part of Through the Roof’s growing connections with the charity, Urban Saints have agreed to promote the Integr8 Intentional youth resource to all the leaders of its 600 groups around the UK and at its training conferences too, to encourage a greater inclusion of young disabled people in its groups and activities. Keep up the good work Urban Saints.

Do you know of any charities or churches that would benefit from our resources? Why not tell them what we can offer?

Our ‘International’ youth resource

Abigail on PremierAfter Abigail Smith had recovered from her education

trip to India with Integr8’s ‘International’ programme, our friends at Torch Trust wanted to hear all about her experience. Abigail was invited, with Tim Wood, to be interviewed by Marilyn Baker on the radio show ‘Insight’, broadcast on Premier on Sundays at 3.00pm. Abigail enjoyed reliving her experiences and you can see some of Abigail’s trip photos by visiting the Integr8 page she has set up on TTR’s Facebook page. We also hope to feature the interview on our website shortly.

Change lives this Summer

We are now recruiting team-members who have experience in education for young disabled people to join our trip to the beautiful country of Guatemala in Latin America. Not only can you make a positive difference to the lives of many disabled children but it can have an impact on ours too. This is what one of our team members said about her experience last year: “I enjoyed the trip 100%. For me it was a time of self discovery. I did things that prior to the trip, I didn’t think I could do and I developed a closeness to God that I haven’t felt in years, if ever. The encouragement I got from all the team members was so helpful. God was with us in all that we planned and did and I feel so privileged that I was part of God`s plan”. Application forms can be downloaded from the website or contact the office for more information.

What are the new things we feel God would have us do?As Joni mentions in her letter these times of change can be such an opportunity to move on.

Through the Roof has never felt more dynamic as we move into the future at the same time as we celebrate the past with the 50th anniversary of our DCF programme.

As we focus on this year, alongside you, our partners in Jesus, we trust for provision and progress as we work towards the fulfilment of God’s heart for all people who are disabled or affected by disability.

donationsThank you so much for all of your

donations and support – the work of Through the Roof would be impossible without your generosity. We aim to respond to every gift over £10, but often receive anonymous gifts, or gifts without reply addresses, and respond to them here. Many thanks for these anonymous gifts: a CAF voucher for £900, a CAF Voucher for £100, a CAF Voucher for £30 and three £20 Stewardship Deposits and for gifts from Lynne & Heather, C Williams, A Miller, C Chisholm and S Smith.

Tea, coffee, cocoa, Horlicks, Ovaltine, Bovril, or even a warm squash drink, they all taste delicious dispensed from our special 2009 DCF 50th Birthday Mug. Raise a mugful of your own favourite hot beverage, and join us in celebrating this special year, and all 49 special years before it.

Order your special commemorative mug today, only £3.50 (plus careful

packaging and postage at our standard rates), available from our website or by contacting the office.

50th Birthday Mug

dalesdown ‘09Through the Roof will be returning to

Dalesdown, West Sussex in April for another holiday for families with children with autism. We’re looking forward to another four days of fun and relaxation for families as well as fun and hard work for helpers! Please pray for the week, for energy for staff and volunteers, as well as that important time to rest, share and unwind for families. We’ll have a full report of all the happenings at Dalesdown in our June issue.

Stoneleigh dCF Christmas

Christmas may seem a long time ago now, but here’s how the Stoneleigh Through the Roof DCF group spent it. From Paula Smith.

About 30 guests plus helpers enjoyed our Christmas meeting. We ate plenty then made a simple but effective Nativity scene together from cardboard, coloured paper and glue. These Nativity figures were then taken into the worship area as we all sang “Away in a manger”.

The puppet group from Stoneleigh Baptist Church (made up of about 10 young people) then entertained us with songs and sketches to help us consider the Christmas message from the point of view of the angels. We sang more carols and the Pastor of the Church spoke to us about the journeys in the Christmas story, reminding us of Jesus’ journey to Earth to help us and encouraging us to come to God just as we are.

Stoneleigh’s Christmas Party

The dCF anniversary mug

A View of Guatemala

Tim visits contacts in Guatemala

vital linkThe newsletter for Through the RoofNo.45 Spring 2009

CONTENTS

2 Integr8

3 From Joni Eareckson Tada

4 Wheels for the World

6 Fellowship DCF

Our MissiOnThrough the Roof’s mission is to make the Christian message of salvation through Jesus Christ available to people affected by disability.

Our VisiOnThrough the Roof’s vision is to see all disabled people be free to reach their full potential.

Through the Roof Charitable Trust Ltd is a UK Registered Company number 04201510, with offices at 2 Weston Road, Epson, KT17 1JG. It is also a Registered Charity ─ Number 1087788.

Vital Link is designed and printed by PDC Copyprint (Kingston) www.pdccopyprint.co.uk

COntaCt detailsGREAT BRITAIN OFFICE: PO Box 353, EPSOM, KT18 5WS Phone 01372 749955 email: info@throughtheroof.org Web: www.throughtheroof.org

NORThERN IRElANd CONTACT: email: ni@throughtheroof.org

D i s a b l e d C h r i s t i a n s F e l l o w s h i p formed in 1959, when Frances Poole started a group in Bristol. DCF has kept growing, with groups around the country, accessible holidays, tape and CD ministry and support for disabled

people and those affected by disability. This year is DCF’s Golden Anniversary, and to celebrate this great big number we’ll be holding two events.

You’re all invited to join us for a birthday celebration on the 6th June at King’s Church, Epsom. We’re delighted to announce that author and speaker Max Sinclair will be bringing the keynote address. Max was paralysed in a car accident and, despite a substantial recovery, is still a frequent wheelchair user. Max and his wife Sue travel widely teaching and sharing their experience of handling life’s crises. The party starts at 11am. All welcome! For more info ring 01372 749955.

There’ll be a second event on Sept 12th with speaker Jennifer Rees-Larcombe in Burton on Trent. We’ll have more details on the ongoing celebrations soon. Please see DCF news on page 6 for more on what’s going on with DCF.

Ashtead Charities Fair

Through the Roof has moved office! A sudden change in management at Global House meant we had to quickly find new accommodation. We’re now renting an office at the Wilson’s Service Centre in Epsom – a room that’s slightly smaller than our last, but still works well! For the first few weeks (late December 2008) we wrested with technical difficulties, and whilst there are still a few teething problems and an amount of time spent working out where the guillotine lives now, nearly everything is back to normal. Thank you for your patience while we’ve been re-finding our feet!

Phone numbers and email remain the same, but please do use our PO Box address if you’re posting anything. It’s PO Box 353, Epsom, Surrey, KT18 5WS.

through the roof on the Move

With the move and our new – cosier – office has come a lack of storage space. We’ve had to warehouse a lot of materials, and it was looking as if we’d have no space for donated wheelchairs in Epsom. Thankfully, Epsom’s Storage King stepped in. We’re renting a space for archive materials; resources, stock and other items, but Storage King has offered a free room for chairs. They’re even taking them in directly at the storage centre. If you live near Epsom and have a manual wheelchair you’d like to donate, please contact us. Thanks to the staff and management of Storage King Epsom!

in the Hall of the storage King

The folk of Ashtead, Surrey raised a further amazing £650 for the Wheels for the World Prison Workshop Appeal at the Worldwide Charities Fair, St George’s Christian Centre, Ashtead by selling goods and running a ‘guess the number of beans in a jar’ contest, with a prize of tickets to Jack and the Beanstalk kindly donated by Dorking Halls. Thank you!

Charities Fair

Can’t wait for your next Vital Link? It’s due out in June, but if that’s just too long to go without a dose of TTR news, we have a website full of bits, bytes, bobs, stories and regularly updated news and we’d be delighted to welcome you to it. Point your computer at www.throughtheroof.org and click away to your own contentment. Please do let us know if you have any comments or suggestions for the site. We’d love to hear your thoughts.

www.throughtheroof.org

If you’re a regular listener to Premier or UCB radio, you may well have been treated to the tones of Tim Wood floating across the airwaves and emanating from your kitchen wireless, set-top box or DAB device. Tim’s been interviewed by Marilyn Baker on the Insight programme on Premier radio, with Alan Whetherly talking about the Integr8 mentoring scheme (available on our website); asked for comment

on ‘the difficulties facing parents with disabled children’ broadcast on the Premier Drive show; in a live interview with Paul Hammond for UCB talking about ‘special and mainstream education’; and another interview with Marilyn Baker on the Insight programme for Premier radio with Abigail Smith talking about the integr8 trip to India.

TTR is still working on its Strategic Plans and incorporating many ideas that were suggested by supporters at the Team Day in September. We will keep you informed of progress. Contact us if you would like to see and comment on a summary of our draft plans when they become available.

Congratulations to Steering Wheels team member, John Aves, who has received an MBE in the New Years Honours list for his services to people with disabilities. His innovative work as a wheelchair technician has

helped improve hundreds of lives through The Duke of Cornwall Spinal Centre. He received the news while on our Kenya Wheels distribution, and is very pleased his work with the Spinal Unit has been honoured.

radio ttr

happy Birthday dCF!

Tim, shown here in a rare

non-interviewed moment

‘For i Know the Plans i Have For You...’ (Jer 29:11)

By Michael Jamison, Operations Manager

I have a confession to make. After many years of talking about it, my wife and I have still not made a will, despite the experience of having my own parents die without making one.

Many years ago a national Christian leader was talking about how he wanted his life to have meaning, and that now as he was well past the halfway mark he wanted his death to count as well.

Why do I mention these two things? Well, to ask you to please think about leaving a legacy to the work of Through the Roof. Over the years we have received legacies of between a few hundred to tens of thousands. But whatever the sum, it reflected the heart and passions of people’s lives and we are always humbled when we reflect on what people think of the work we do.

If you do want to include us in your will we have a leaflet available to help you with the wording. If you contact me at the TTR office, I will send one to you in total confidentiality.

leaving a legacy

Congratulations! Michael at work

John works with a client on the Nyeri distribution

Sue and Max Sinclair