International Fellowship for the Handicapped
Bring in the poor, the blind, the lame..... that my house may be full. Luke 14:21-23
What is International Fellowship for the Handicapped?
IFH is a mission to the people all over the world who have the kinds of disabilities which cause them to be socially stigmatised.
Why International Fellowship for the Handicapped?
- At least 10% of the world's population is disabled.
- Most institutions for disabled people cater mainly for their physical needs.
- 99% of Christian mission is directed to able-bodied people and many churches and para-church organisations do not include one single disabled person.
- God cares about disabled and disadvantaged people.
Main Aims:
Evangelism - To reach disabled people with the Gospel of Christ.
Integration - To integrate them into church and society
Motivation - To create an awareness among the leaders of the church and para-church organisations of the needs of disabled people and their responsibility towards them.
Statistics
According to the World Health Organisation there are 650
million people with disabilities in the world - about 11% of
the world's population.
If all these people came together and formed one nation it
would be the third largest nation on earth next only to
China and India
Special Qualities of residents of this
nation:
- Least Educated
- Highest Unemployment Rate
- Least access to transportation
- Most broken marriages
- Least Evangelised
Tribute to John Wilkinson
John Wilkinson was one of the founding trustees of International Fellowship for the Handicapped. He was born with cerebral palsy in 1946. His parents refused to have him put into an institution and took him home to care for him. They soon realised his intelligence and potential. He only ever thought of others and his selfless, caring and adventurous nature were an example to all, whether disabled or able-bodied. He was totally without vanity. He decided to devote his life to the service of Christ in 1969. He was a Trustee of IFH until his death in July 2010. Read the poem written by John.
