By Safia Abdulrahman
The Engraced Ones, a Non Governmental Organisation, has called on churches to accommodate children and persons with intellectual and neurodevelopmental disabilities to promote inclusive worship and participation in worship centers.
The organisation made the call at the 2026 Inclusive Church Conference, themed “Every Soul Matters: Building Churches Where Everyone Belongs,” in Abuja.
The conference was held in collaboration with the Leprosy Mission Nigeria, Child Evangelical Fellowship, Inclusive Friends, CBM amongst others.
The convener, Mrs Bibora Yinkere, emphasised the need for churches to combine spiritual support with practical interventions such as inclusive education, therapy and advocacy, to improve the wellbeing of Persons With Disabilities (PWDs).
“The church must welcome, care for, and advocate for PWDs and their families providing spiritual support and practical inclusion,” she said.
Mrs Gbemisola Alade, a parent of a child with special needs stressed the importance of early identification of developmental challenges.
According to her, it can help children receive appropriate interventions and support.
Also speaking, Mrs Ruth Nyam, a representative of Child Evangelism Fellowship, called on churches to train children’s ministry workers, adopt appropriate teaching methods and provide inclusive programmes that would enable children with disabilities to participate in activities.
She encouraged parents and caregivers to celebrate children’s achievements regardless of how small they might appear to build confidence and promote dignity.
Another speaker, Pastor Pius Ogbu, Head of Programmed and Operations at the Leprosy Mission Nigeria called on christians to extend their ministry beyond church buildings and engage people in different spheres of life.
Ogbu, who cited Mark 16:15, said the responsibility to spread the gospel extended to every believer, irrespective of their position or area of service.
The conference highlighted conditions such as autism, Down syndrome, dyslexia, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and cerebral palsy, stressing the need for greater public understanding and support for affected individuals and their families.(NAN)
Edited by Folasade Akpan
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