The?Ministry to Persons with Disabilities (MPWD) of the Church of Pentecost has organised an outreach programme in the Tema Metropolis, bringing together more than 150 persons with disabilities (PWDs) for fellowship, evangelism, encouragement, and the distribution of relief items.
The programme, held on Saturday, on the theme: “Come Out of Lo-debar”, sought to draw attention to the biblical story of Mephibosheth, who was brought from a place of despair into dignity by King David.
The outreach was aimed at sharing the gospel with individuals often overlooked in mainstream church activities, reminding congregations of their responsibility to ensure no one drifted away from the faith.
The National Executive Committee Member, Ministry to Persons with Disabilities (MPWD) of the Church of Pentecost, Deaconess Prof. Augustina Naami, explained that Lo-debar represented a place of hopelessness, much like the social exclusion many persons with disabilities still face today.
She said persons with disabilities were children of God, equal heirs of salvation, and deserving of full participation in church life and ministry.
Explaining the significance of the programme, Pastor Isaac Aboagye, MPWD Pastor responsible for the Western and Western North regions, with oversight duties in the Central Region, said Lo-debar symbolised a place of barrenness and rejection.
He noted that many persons with disabilities experienced similar emotional and social conditions, making the symbolic call to “come out of Lo-debar" deeply relevant.
Pastor Aboagye emphasised that the MPWD ministry, though officially launched in 2019, has long been engaged in supporting persons with disabilities through various interventions.
These include skills training programmes, assistive device distribution, educational sponsorships, and family retreats, where families of children with disabilities receive counselling, preaching, support and empowerment to care effectively for their wards.
He said the church aims to help PWDs to gain confidence, acquire employable skills, and step away from begging on the street to become productive members of society.
Pastor Joshua Korku Semador, the Northern Sector Pastor for the MPWD, said the outreach sought to model Christ’s love by bringing PWDs together, ministering to them, praying with them, dining with them, and offering them gifts.
The 150 participants, including adults and children, received foodstuffs, toiletries, snacks and Bibles, reflecting the biblical call in Isaiah 58:6-7 to care for the needy.
Pastor Semador encouraged other institutions and individuals to support the vulnerable, especially during the festive season, noting that the Bible calls for attention to the poor and marginalised.
The Executive Director of the Centre for Employment of Persons with Disabilities, Alexander Tetteh, described the partnership with the Church of Pentecost as an exemplary model of inclusion.
He applauded the church for both its spiritual and material support, noting that many PWDs were unable to access churches due to structural barriers and negative attitudes and expressed concern over the lack of enforcement of the Disability Act of 2006, which mandated accessibility in public buildings.
The Chairperson of the Ghana Society of the Physically Disabled for the Tema Metropolis, Reuben Abuanor, commended the church for its support, motivation, and preaching of hope.
He encouraged other religious institutions to establish ministries dedicated to PWDs, stressing that churches play a vital role in boosting confidence, providing encouragement, and supporting vulnerable persons.
He further called on the government and the media to expand disability advocacy and create regular disability-related programmes to promote inclusion across society.
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