The Joy of the Lord is my strength

9 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. 4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”  John 9

Yesterday was a incredible day at New Hope Church. We honored our Disability ministry by having them help lead worship and watching a cardboard testimony video of actual participants from this ministry which described how 'Flawless' they are because of what Jesus has done for each of them. When we think of disabilities we often project pity toward this group and we fail to see how disabilities impact each of us in this life.

Now some statistics on disabilities.According to the CDC, there are 53 million people living in this country with a disability. This translates to 1 out of every 5 people that have a disability.The most common functional disability type was a mobility limitation – defined as serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs -- reported by one in eight adults, followed by disability in thinking and/or memory, independent living, vision, and self-care.

The researchers found that the highest percentages of people with disabilities are generally in Southern states, for example Alabama (31.5 percent), Mississippi (31.4 percent), and Tennessee (31.4 percent). The report did not determine why differences occur by state; however, states in the South tend to have some of the higher rates of chronic diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes, which may also be associated with disability.The report also revealed that non-Hispanic black (29 percent) and Hispanic (25.9 percent) adults were more likely to have a disability than were white non-Hispanic (20.6 percent) adults.

Those with lower education levels, lower incomes, and those who are unemployed were also more likely to report a disability.For the past 25 years, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has made a positive difference in the lives of those who have disabilities by ensuring better access to buildings, transportation, and employment. Access to preventive health care is also critically important for those with disabilities,” said Georgina Peacock, M.D., M.P.H., Director of CDC’s Division of Human Development and Disability. “Many of the health issues that people with disabilities face may be addressed by making sure they have access to health promotion programs and health care services, including preventive health screenings, throughout their lifespan.”

In the Gospel of John there were some people who wondered why a certain person was born blind. Jesus's response was as follows, "3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him."  As I look at this population of those with disabilities I see a group of people who are ready and able to work, if only they could find an employer willing to look beyond their barriers and at their strengths and abilities.

I love New Hope Church for several reasons: (1) we honor those with disabilities, (2) we have a incredible children's ministry, and (3) we have opportunities for growth through our Life groups and Adult Sunday school classes and through Sunday school teaching opportunities.

So, my friends, the joy of the Lord is my strength!