The Disabled are Equal in the Family of God

During the annual Week of the Disabled, the NCCK held a joint worship service in Neungdong

PROK Church. This was the 24th annual service, which has been held by NCCK for this special

week since 1989. The organizing committee took as its theme, ‘to review the reality of suffering

and discomfort within the lives of the disabled, and to look forward to reaching the goal of being

equal family members within God’s kingdom’.

There were about 150 who gathered for this special April 14 Sunday afternoon service. About

30 participants, coming from blind, deaf and mentally disabled communities, shared in worship

leadership.

Rev. Huh Won Bae (chair of NCCK Justice and Peace Committee) preached, with the title of his

sermon, “We are all members of God’s family”. He pointed out that in the time of Jesus, as

recorded by the Gospel writers, disabled people played an important role to play in revealing

God’s glory to society, and that today as well, those who are disabled are valuable workers in

God’s Kingdom and valuable members of God’s family.

After the service, a statement was read, emphasizing how important it is that in the family of God,

disabled people experience equality and belonging, and when they need it, receive

compassionate care.

The NCCK seeks the attainment of basic human rights for the disabled, and its mission is to open

the eyes of churches to prevent their trampling on those human rights, and to assist the churches

to seek alternative ways of achieving respectful and equal communities.