I am really excited about this new role as it gives me the opportunity to develop the excellent work that Tim Wood has already developed. I share the same passion as Tim has for ensuring that young disabled people are fully included in Church and Community life and that they are able to fulfil their God-given talents. I work 12 hours a week for Through the Roof — I usually work in the office on Wednesdays.

I am visually impaired and a keen sportsman, I enjoy running and have represented Great Britain in blind athletics. I now enjoy playing visually impaired tennis. I am currently the men’s national visually impaired tennis champion, a title I have held for two years in a row.

I attend St George the Martyr Church in Holborn in central London where I am actively involved in the community work of the church in the local area.

I would really like to hear your views on Integr8 and how we can develop the programme by reaching out to more young disabled people across the UK and abroad. I am currently reviewing the work that we have done so far and exploring ways in which we can take Integr8 on the road around the UK as well as online and social networking opportunities for young disabled Christians to meet and have fellowship. This is an ideal time for you to have your say on shaping the future of the Integr8 programme.

We are organising two short term mission trips to Guatemala and Uganda in July and August. In 2012 we will also be taking a mission team to Moldova. If you want to get involved with any of our mission then please do contact me at Through the Roof. My email address is alan@throughtheroof.org or contact me at our office on 01372 749955. I look forward to hearing from you all.

My hearing parents were wondering what is wrong with me when I was 8 months old, as they noticed that I stopped responding to them when they walked in a room and made a noise. I didn’t look up, just carried on playing with my toys.

At that point, they knew that I am profoundly deaf, and the confirmation result came through a brain scan at hospital, when I was 20 months old. The doctors and my parents didn’t know how I became deaf, but they think that my nerve had been damaged due to a high temperature.

One moment that I remember quite well was when I was five years old and my two brothers were playing football in the garden – I was so keen to play football and also other sports. I once dreamt that I want to become a PE teacher or professional football player…have my dreams come true?

Christian holiday changed my life

My parents are Christians and as I grew up, they told me about Jesus and I went to Church with them. Although I went to Church with my parents every Sunday, I didn’t really feel God’s love and I didn’t know how to communicate with God. When I was about 13 years old it all changed, when my parents encouraged me to go on a Christian holiday with hearing people in Barnstaple, Devon.

I wasn’t keen on this idea as I didn’t know how I would fit or communicate with hearing people, but my parents had an idea to ask a hearing friend called Becky who had known me when I was a little girl, to come along with me. In the middle of the week, I was upset and lonely because I found it hard to make friends and I felt that nobody cared about me. So I decided I’d had enough and wanted to go home. I told Becky about it, but she encouraged me to stay for one more meeting, see how it went and then go home the next day if I still wasn’t happy. I agreed and went along, but the meeting really changed my life.

At that meeting, I learnt about Jesus, how He died for my sins and how much He loves me. By at the end of the talk, they offered everyone the opportunity to follow Jesus and I decided to follow Him. I was expecting her to pray with me, but instead I was taken to another room with the leaders to pray for me. I felt quite nervous, wasn’t sure whether I would be able to lip-read them all while they are praying. There was a deafened person there and I asked if I would have to lip-read everyone’s prayers, but this person just told me to focus my heart on God and He would speak to me.
For years, I had been going to Church and never realised God could communicate to our hearts. I decided to close my eyes while they were praying and had a vision of someone coming towards me, saying;
“Don’t worry, I am always with you wherever you go, I love you so much.” Then He gave me a hug – I felt a sense of warmth and love in my heart.
Jesus made a big difference to me and gave me His strength, love and faith. During the rest of the holiday, I made new friends. I was so happy that I had met Jesus as I learnt to be happy and try my best to manage those difficult times with God’s help.

Playing sport with God

When I was 15 years old, I saw an interesting leaflet called ‘Fit for Life’. It was about doing Sports with God. Because I loved playing sports at that time, I was so keen and wrote for more information. They gave me a magazine and I keenly read the whole magazine until the last page which mentioned Christians in Sport (CIS) Camp in the summer. I decided to go the following year, although my parents were a bit concerned about me going there because there was nobody I knew and it was full of hearing people. I told them that there is no need to worry about me because I know that God is with me.

When I was sixteen, I went to CIS Camp – really enjoyed it very much, the best ever Christian camp with hearing people. There were two team leaders who were willing to write notes during meetings and it helped me to understand what was going on. One evening, I was able to share my testimony for the first time to my bedroom group and I felt that God helped me to communicate to them. So I went again in 1997, the director of the CIS said that I would be able to be a Team Leader the next year, but I thought ‘Impossible! I can’t do that because I have to communicate harder with those children!’ But he said that I had done it in the past two years and I could do it still! So I became a leader for the next three years. During that time I met a person called Heidi who could sign. It was a great relief for me and I was so happy to have someone to sign fully with me.
In the year 2000, for the first time ever, Heidi came with me for the full weekend and interpreted all the meetings. It was also my first time being on the stage to share my testimony to hearing people and it was a great feeling even when speaking with my voice to those people because I knew that God was with me and helping me to get the message across to them.
I look back to when I first went to CIS Camp, not knowing anybody. God gave me good things at the end, after my patience and hard work in a hearing world. It is amazing to see God’s plans and know that I am never alone because God is with me wherever I go. All those experiences at CIS Camp have really helped me now in leading and involving Deaf Youth 4 Christ team under another organisation called Go!Sign. In the last two years, myself and the team have been travelling around UK, setting up 3 events per year and it is still on-going.

Disastrous tackle stopped me playing football

I played football from when I was young up to the year 2000, with Chelsea Ladies Football Club but I had a problem with my knee for few years, from a disaster tackle from an opponent, who kicked behind me knee on purpose while I was about to score a goal. At that point, I know that I had to see the doctor and agreed to have a key-hole operation in Summer 2001 to sort out the cartilage.

After the operation, I was expecting to go back and play football again, but the doctor found out that my ligaments have been damaged quite badly and it impacted me knowing that I had to stop playing football. I quit playing for Chelsea and the Great Britain Deaf Team, and I was bit angry and upset with God, asking Him why it was happening to me.

Eventually, I had a major operation one year later and it was successful, although the doctor said I had two main choices – 1.Going back to football, but there will be a very high risk of getting injured again and possibly not being able to play other sports for the rest of your life or 2. Doing different sports with no contacts with people, which would allow me to play sport for a long time. It hit me hard knowing that my football career had ended.

Back on the team

God surprised me in 2004 because He called me to go back to playing football again, although I did have doubts and worries about getting injured again. But God showed me a couple of verses that encouraged me to go for it: “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.” (Isaiah 40:10), and on the day I had to make the decision whether I should play for GB, in the Deaflympics 2005: “Let the whole world know what He has done.” (Psalm 105:1).

I have trained very hard over the last six months and I thank God that he has protected me from injury and given me so many opportunities to witness to other people about Jesus – and fulfilled my dreams with a bronze medal at the Deaflympics in Melbourne, Australia. It was a wonderful experience playing for my country and also for God.

Looking back at when I was injured and recovering, I really thank God for that opportunity because it helped me to focus on God more and put Him first. It really helped me to rely on Him, even putting God before football although I liked to score goals for Jesus.

So now, still playing football for GB and England, and Fulham Deaf Ladies FC – I wasn’t expecting that at all, but I thank God for all His plans and for fulfilling my dream when I was younger. I have a Futsal tournament coming up in November for England, and also the next Deaflympics coming up in 2009 for GB, so things are getting crazier!

God has been with me all the way

Apart from football, my job is presenting and signing on programmes in the corner of the TV screen and it has almost been a year – funnily enough that is something I wasn’t expecting at all! To be honest, I have been avoiding it, but God planned me to go there and it’s full of challenges – so different from my old job of being a graphic designer.

Overall…during all those 27 years, there were ups and downs through many things in my life, but at the same time God has been with me all the way – what an exciting journey of my life…

My name is Sarah Kyles and I live with my mum in a house in Burton-On-Trent.

I have quite a busy week. On Monday I often got out with Becky my P.A., We sometimes go shopping, Becky helps me to choose clothes, or to buy birthday presents for my family. Sometimes I go to my brother Matthew’s house for tea and we watch a DVD together.

On Tuesday I go to a unit in Litchfield which is a workshop. I work all day packing screws and nuts in plastic bags I like going to the workshop.

On Wednesday I sometimes go out with Becky again if its nice weather we take a picnic to the park. On Wednesday evening I go to cell group with my church friends,and we worship and look at the bible.

On Thursday afternoon I go to the church charity shop, called Newstart, as a volunteer where I sort clothes, write stock tickets and other things. I like going.

On Fridays I am now going to Briars Barn in Polesworth. I do cooking, I sometimes look after the animals: goats, chickens, sheep and ponies.  I meet my friend Ellie who goes too. I have free time on Saturday and I like to do writing in my bedroom, watch DVDs and sometimes go out with my mum.

On Sunday morning I go to church with my mum and we see my brother Matthew there, and sometimes my sister Marie meets us if she isn’t working.

I like writing and people say my writing is very neat. I like cooking and I am good at preparing vegetables and I am quite good at reading too.

I find riding a bike difficult and I don’t like running fast. People like my mum and brother and sister have helped me with difficult things. Also Harry my Mencap Mentor has helped me to do shop work.

I like to go to church every Sunday to learn about Jesus. I like to read my Word for Today booklet every day and I like to watch my Jesus of Nazareth video too.

I like my life and think I should keep on doing new things, so should you!  Just because I have a Learning Disability it doesn’t mean I can’t try new things, we should all try new things.

Love Sarah Kyles

Nothing out of the ordinary so far – except that Joshua is now working as a missionary in Japan and has severe cerebral palsy – it affects all 4 limbs and so he uses an electric wheelchair!
His vision is to bring glory to God by being a witness to the disabled in Japan and to equip the local church to do the same.  Joshua has had struggles in learning the language, finding a carer to be with him in Japan and finding accessible accommodation but he has already seen many answers to prayer and is loving the adventure.

• You can find out more about Joshua, Jesus and Japan at his website: http://jgrisdale.spaces.live.com/

However, over a twenty-five year period they have completed hundreds of races together where Dick runs, pushing Rick in a wheelchair. When Dick cycles, Rick is in a wheelchair seat, attached to the front of the bike and when Dick swims, he pulls Rick along in a small boat.

“Rick is the one who inspires and motivates me, the way he just loves sports and competing,” Dick said. Rick returns the compliment: “Dad is one of my role models. Once he sets out to do something, Dad sticks to it whatever it is, until it is done. For example once we decided to really get into triathlons, dad worked out, up to five hours a day, five times a week, even when he was working.”

The Hoyts don’t only compete athletically; Rick now works at Boston College’s computer lab helping to develop a system which can control mechanical equipment by a person’s eye-movements, when linked-up to a computer. They are also motivational speakers and Rick believes that he and his father offer a positive, good news message in a world that often dismisses disabled people.

“People just need to be educated. Rick is helping many other families coping with disabilities in their struggle to be included.”
“The message of Team Hoyt is that everybody should be included in everyday life.”

• Find out more at their website: http://www.teamhoyt.com/
• Follow this link to view a video of their work on youtube

In 1991 Michael fought Chris Eubank for the World Middleweight title and the referee ended it in round 12. Suddenly Watson collapsed inside the ring but there were no ambulances or medical staff at the venue. He endured 30 minutes without oxygen and spent 40 days in a coma after six brain operations to remove a blood clot left him partially paralysed. The time Watson spent without oxygen is one of the longest anyone has ever survived and if it hadn’t been for his supreme fitness, he would almost certainly have died.

Watson woke up from his coma and was told he would never speak or walk again. He spent many years at the hospital, slowly recovering some of his movements, and regaining the ability to eat, read, and write. In 1999 he started getting off the bed and was able to begin walking therapy. In 2003 Michael Watson made headlines and became an instant hero, when he completed the London Marathon after six days. Finishing the race by his side were Chris Eubank and his neurosurgeon, who has become a personal friend of his.

Before the accident Michael wasn’t a committed Christian. He believed in God but didn’t go to church as he was too busy, rushing around, enjoying the fast cars, expensive clothes and girls. One minute he was a top celebrity, in the ring going for the world title, the next minute, he was in hospital, confused and frustrated with strange people all round him.

From the moment he regained consciousness in hospital he turned to God. He became closer to God and found inner peace and strength. Michael didn’t feel anger towards Chris Eubank because he now believes in forgiveness – Jesus is his inspiration.