Support for Churches

Equip your church to welcome every family and disciple every member—whatever their abilities.
We help churches become places where children, young people and adults with disabilities—and their parent-carers—can truly belong, grow and serve.

Turning Compassion Into Action

Support for Parent Carers

“Because every church can become a place where every person belongs and flourishes.”

We equip churches to welcome and disciple people with disabilities—and to walk well with their families. Our approach brings together practical inclusion skills and solid biblical foundations.

While our faith shapes everything we do, OAKonsult is not faith-restrictive. We partner with churches of every tradition and size across the UK and Nigeria, and we also deliver online.

What we offer

Inclusive Training (Disability Inclusion for Churches)

Practical, faith-rooted training that equips leaders and volunteers to make Sundays, mid-week groups and events welcoming for everyone.

What we cover (mix & match):

People-first language and a theology of dignity
Inclusive worship (sensory-aware services, visual schedules, quiet spaces)
Children & youth: supporting additional needs in groups and on Sundays
Belonging & discipleship: pathways to participation and serving
Ushers/hospitality: greeting, seating and service flow for all
Safeguarding considerations for additional needs
Signposting and partnering with local services

Delivery formats: 90-minute session • half-day • full-day • short cohort (3–6 weeks). Available in-person or online (Zoom).

Outcome: A simple access plan your team can start this month.

Beyond Suffering (Biblical Foundations & Pastoral Care)

A guided programme using Beyond Suffering: A Christian View on Disability Ministry, presented by the Christian Institute on Disability (Joni and Friends, USA). It offers a thorough biblical perspective on disability, suffering and the church’s response. The core curriculum comprises 16 lessons arranged in four modules:

(1) Overview of Disability Ministry

(2) Theology of Suffering & Disability

(3) The Church & Disability Ministry

(4) Introduction to Bioethics.

How we deliver BYS with churches and institutions:

A conference for leaders, teams and interested members
Training for parent carers within your congregation/community
Academic delivery as a 16-week curriculum or 3-week intensive for seminaries/Bible colleges and learning cohorts

Audience: Leaders, pastoral teams, small-group leaders, volunteers.

Outcome: A shared theology of inclusion and a clear pastoral pathway for supporting families.

What we help your church put in place

A model of disability outreach that fits your current church life and goals
Educational/practical resources to start special-needs groups, recruit volunteers and build a culture of acceptance
Advocacy for accessibility and inclusion across services and ministries

Outcomes you can expect

Confident volunteers with a shared language and plan
Sundays and groups that are more accessible (and feel it)
Clear signposting pathways (education, health and social care)
Stronger relationships with parent-carers already in your neighbourhood

How it works

Enquire — tell us about your church and goals.
Shape the plan — choose topics, format and dates; we tailor to your context.
Deliver & follow-up — we train your teams and agree next steps with you.

TESTIMONIALS

My vision for ministry among people living with disability got rekindled.

The course was a great eye opener. We went beyond just exhausting the course material but learnt for the purpose of transformation. The lesson was made very practical and interactive. It is a course that needs to be more widely adopted as we need to open up our hearts to this special ministry opportunity.

This course is power packed, with new discovery and acquisition of new skills in service. I think it’s perfect.

It was a beautiful course. It was a very good means of hands-on learning. There is so much to learn and to share! Many thanks to ‘Joni and Friends’ for this vision and for blessing the whole world.

Taking this course brought back the many scriptures about making disciples of all nations. I normally would add including children. However, with this course and its impact so great on me, I would add henceforth, including people living with disabilities. Thank you for this course. May God bless you for this effort.

I thank God for the course, I have been ministering to 5 children living with disabilities in my Bible club over the years. I am close to them and their families. I take care of them; I love them so much and they also love me. I have had a course on Disabilities during my MPhil, but nothing has given me the push as this course did. It has really opened my eyes on the know-how and the urgency to work.