By Uzoamaka Anita Asiegbu
Happy Sunday to you my people. My fellow citizens of heaven. Today is Church day for many Christians all over the world.
As a Christian, I am sure you have finished planning how you will enjoy heaven when you finally get there. Perhaps you have already envisioned yourself inside a heavenly mansion with hosts of angels attending to your every need.
You haven’t imagined how your heaven will be yet? Hmmm. Don’t dull o. Start now before all the plots of land in heaven will finish.
And while planning for heaven, let me intimate you on a few things that can hinder your access to your pearly mansions.
So, on my way to church today, I went past a lot of church buildings. Almost every building had a congregation. Some had about two different churches in one building alone.
I understand that we like to be considered a Christian dominated country, even when we also know that the Church has been turned into a profits-based company. We all claim to love God.
Unfortunately, many of us including our Church leaders might not make heaven even after living life more righteous than Christ’s.
You don’t understand? Answer these few questions and you will.
Does your church building have a ramp?
Do you have sign language interpreters in your Church?
Are your alters accessible to wheelchairs?
Are your church hall walkways barriers free?
Are your bathrooms accessible?
How steep are your stairs?
Do you have reserved car parks with concrete or asphalt flooring?
You don’t comprehend yet how these can stop you from making heaven abi?
Did you know there is an estimation of 25 million persons living with disabilities in Nigeria?
So, let’s assume about 13% of them are Christians or would have preferred to be Christians. But your church building is not accessible to wheelchairs. They come to church and do not understand a word that is said. The interior of your church is parked with little or no space for a wheelchair. Your steps are too steep that one gets exhausted before getting into the church, etc.
Those who wish to become pastors, priests, deacons, ministers, preachers, choristers, workers, evangelists, bishops, etc can’t do so because the alter is barred to them.
Do you now realize you and your church are stopping millions of persons from worshipping God? A church that is not inclusive is sinning against God. You are discriminating against your fellow humans. Or do you think people with these disabilities do not deserve to worship God in church?
Perhaps you think because you are in a rented building you are exempted. While searching for that particular place, you had benchmarks that guided your choice. Was accessibility for all persons including persons with disabilities one of them? Did you make efforts to improve on it for accessibility?
Or you say ‘But I don’t have anyone with disabilities in my church!!!’ Have you thought that probably they’ve come and discovered your church to be lacking and they left?
Have accessible buildings first and see what happens.
And today I heard something funny once again.
Pastor is asking Church members to stand up if they want to make heaven. Sit down if they want to make hell. So those on wheelchairs that are unable to stand want to go to hell okwaya?
Let us be guided in this our race for eternal life o. In all we do, let us do the will of God. The will of God says go preach the gospel to all humans. Do not exempt some persons because of your lack of perception.
And if you are a Muslim, As-Salam-u-Alaikum. Just know that you are not exempted. The other half of about 13% of persons with disabilities in Nigeria can be Muslims and your mosques are probably not accessible to them too.
Why not take that decision today and make your religious house inclusion? God is not one that turns people away. Be like God.
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