You're Invited to the Banquet
At The Banquet Network, one of our three points in our mission statement is TO INSPIRE. Our hope is to inspire churches to embrace the call of Jesus in Luke 14 to invite the outcasts and marginalized of society, or as Luke 14:13 states, “the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind” to the banquet table. This is not an easy task that Jesus has given to us. And as church leaders and members take up the call of Jesus to invite individuals and families affected by disability to be a part of the full body life of the church, there will be opposition. Maybe you have heard statements like this:
“People affected by disabilities will be a distraction in our worship services.”
“They cannot contribute financially to the church.”
“We don’t have the resources to accommodate them and they are better off somewhere else.”
“Our church is reaching a certain demographic and disability ministry really doesn’t fit.”
Or maybe you have even heard someone come right out and say, “We just don’t want them here”.
Over the past month, I have been told directly, or have heard of someone else being told, these exact words.
The rejection of the disability community is real. We even see it in our own churches. We could become frustrated and angry that people in the church don’t seem to “get it” or care, and it would be easy to give up doing disability ministry at all due to the lack of support that, oftentimes, many individuals receive from church leadership. It is unfortunate. However, despite the difficulties, there is an amazing joy to be found in fulfilling the call of Jesus as we love and welcome these individuals to the table.
We want you to know that we get it, and we are here for YOU! The people that make up The Banquet Network (TBN) have faced the difficulties of creating and sustaining a disability ministry. They have experienced what it is like to have a son, daughter, relative, or close friend who has a disability and faces the hardship of being involved in a church. There are even those at TBN who have disabilities and personally know what it is like to feel unaccepted by the life of the church and struggle to find accommodations. Although, they also know the complete and absolute joy that it is to serve these amazing individuals and families and wouldn’t trade their experiences for anything.
Because of this, our writing staff is working hard each week to provide articles that will seek to inspire you to do the hands-on work of serving the disability community in your church, dream what your church might be able to accomplish through disability ministry, and encourage caregivers and individuals affected by disability not to give up on the Church due to feelings of rejection.
So, mark your calendars, set a reminder, write it on your hand, put a sticky note on the fridge, because you will want to check our newly updated and expanded TBN blog page, each Monday, as new articles are being released. We pray you are inspired and encouraged by our materials to go and share the hope of Jesus to an amazing group of people. You’re invited to The Banquet—Welcome!
By: Jim McCaffrey, Board Member