Adventist Possibility Ministries - I am a Possibility - Make Room at the Table

South Caribbean Conference, Possibility Ministries partner with the Enterprise SDA Church for their Possibility Ministries program -I am a Possibility - Make Room at the Table. Adventist Possibility Ministries seeks to inspire, equip, and mobilize those who have a disability, suffered a loss, or are caregivers so they may serve God and community as expressed in the mission statement of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. A SUMMARY PURPOSE STATEMENT ADVENTIST POSSIBILITY MINISTRIES Adventist Possibility Ministries seeks to bring wholeness to all in a world that is broken. A sense of “wholeness” is not dependent on the elimination of one’s special need, but is a rediscovery of a person’s completeness in God. This ministry has a unique opportunity of not only proclaiming, but also emphasizing the value and dignity of each person. The Church is not only known by what it says, but also by what it does. Therefore, this ministry exists to coordinate and promote acceptance, support, and inclusion of people who have special needs and those who care for them. This global ministry of the Seventh-day Adventist Church encompasses ministry for and with those with different abilities such as the Deaf, blind, orphans, and those with mental health and mobility challenges. It also seeks to provide support for caregivers of those with special needs. At the heart of this ministry is the conviction that all have something to contribute and by contributing they have entered the journey toward wholeness. THE PURPOSE STATEMENT ADVENTIST POSSIBILITY MINISTRIES The mission of Adventist Possibility Ministries is built around the concept that while all are broken in some way, nevertheless, “All are gifted, needed and treasured.” This clearly suggests that the principle of inclusion includes receiving and sharing the benefits of participating in God’s mission. Through various means, this ministry brings to the forefront the recognition of the value and inherent dignity in every person. This is addressed through three areas of emphasis. AWARENESS The World Health Organization estimates that there are over one billion (15% of the world’s population) with some form of disability. A disability “is a complex phenomenon, reflecting the interaction between features of a person’s body and features of the society in which he or she lives.” WHO defines “disabilities” as, “an umbrella term, covering impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions.” (https://www.who.int/mediacentre/facts...) “An impairment is a problem in body function or structure; an activity limitation is a difficulty encountered by an individual in executing a task or action; while a participation restriction is a problem experienced by an individual in involvement in life situations.” (https://www.who.int/topics/disabiliti...) Adventist Possibility Ministries, while recognizing certain functional limitations, gives greater emphasis to the abilities and possibilities of the individual. Paul’s use of the imagery of the body to describe the fellowship of Christ’s believers is effective for explaining the importance of including all believers in church ministry. He begins by describing individual parts of the body as essential to the body’s ability to function as intended (1 Cor. 12:14–21). Barriers that exclude certain ones from the life and service of the church are dismissed. Paul reminds the reader, “In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary” (v. 22). A vital part of Adventist Possibility Ministries is to help bring a sense of awareness to others regarding the needs and involvement of these individuals. In addition, this ministry endeavors to raise awareness and support for the caregivers of these population groups. https://www.possibilityministries.org...