The Kohima Ao Baptist Church (KABA) “WE CAN” Ministry on August 7 held a special service with the differently abled persons in Kohima making the International Friendship Day more significant.
Addressing the family members and well wishers at the Heritage Hall Kohima, Youth Director, KABA Tiatoshi Longkumer expressed his emotions and love towards the differently abled persons and termed them as very special children created by God. Saying that the children were not disabled but was differently and uniquely abled for something different than the ordinary, Longkumer urged the families not to be discouraged because of physical disabilities of their child. The youth director also conveyed the message that the Kohima Ao Baptist Church would continue to support in whatever possible way for the welfare of the special child and for God’s glory.
While expressing gratitude to the families for coming forward and responding to the KABA “WE CAN” Ministry of support and care, Tiatoshi informed that since its inception in August 2013, the church has seen so many good things unfolding through this ministry, and expressed contentment that each year the number of children increases, which, he said was a sign of accepting the beautiful creation of God. Since 2014 KABA holds special service on the first Sunday of August each year in honour of the Differently Abled Persons, under the theme, “You are more worthy than the birds in the air” (Mt.6:26).
At present the church has 32 registered families having children with special needs, and two more unregistered children are also listed recently making it to 34, the youth director informed. Saying that the mission “WE CAN” is not only limited to the Ao community, Longkumer said that out of the 32 special children 20 are from other non- Ao communities and 12 were from Ao community. He encouraged the non-Ao families to freely get attached with KABA in caring for the child without any reservations. The youth director prayed that the Ministry would go a long way in making the world a better place to live in.
District IED coordinator Cecile, speaking at the function shared on some of the central schemes for the differently abled persons. Cecile also informed that the differently abled persons are provided with travelling concessions and allowances to cover the cost of visiting medical centres to undergo therapy and escort allowance for the person accompanying the child to the school.
Later, the church offered special prayer for all the special children and gave away cash and kind as gratitude for their presence. The function was led by Watila Pongen, convenor, Creative Art and Drama, KABA Youth Department.