The Engraced Ones, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has called on churches to accommodate children and persons with intellectual and neurodevelopmental disabilities to promote inclusive worship and participation in church activities.
The organisation made the call at the 2026 Inclusive Church Conference, themed “Every Soul Matters: Building Churches Where Everyone Belongs,” held on Saturday in Abuja.
The conference was organised in collaboration with the Leprosy Mission Nigeria, Child Evangelism Fellowship, Inclusive Friends, CBM, among others.
The convener, Mrs Bibora Yinkere, emphasised the need for churches to combine spiritual support with practical interventions, such as inclusive education, therapy and advocacy, to improve the well-being of persons with disabilities (PWDs).
“The church must welcome, care for, and advocate for PWDs and their families, providing spiritual support and practical inclusion,” she said.
Mrs Gbemisola Alade, a parent of a child with special needs, stressed the importance of early identification of developmental challenges.
According to her, early identification can help children receive appropriate interventions and support.
Also speaking, Mrs Ruth Nyam, a representative of Child Evangelism Fellowship, called on churches to train children’s ministry workers, adopt appropriate teaching methods and provide inclusive programmes to enable children with disabilities to participate in church activities.
She encouraged parents and caregivers to celebrate children’s achievements, regardless of how small they might appear, to build their confidence and promote dignity.
Another speaker, Pius Ogbu, Head of Programmes and Operations at the Leprosy Mission Nigeria, called on Christians to extend their ministry beyond church buildings and engage people in different spheres of life.
Ogbu, who cited Mark 16:15, said the responsibility to spread the gospel extended to every believer, irrespective of their position or area of service.
The conference highlighted conditions such as autism, Down syndrome, dyslexia, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and cerebral palsy, stressing the need for greater public understanding and support for affected individuals and their families.
