Our values
The theology of disability embraced by Jesus Club Ministries is gospel-centred. They reflect our understanding of what God says about the vulnerable of society, including people with disabilities. The following statements and their corresponding Bible passages provide a biblical foundation for this ministry. All Bible references are from the ERV Bible.
Uniqueness:
We believe that every person is a unique individual, lovingly created in the image of God. We believe that people’s disabilities are an aspect of their lives, but do not define them.
- 2 Corinthians 5:16-17. From this time on we don’t think of anyone as the world thinks of people. It is true that in the past we thought of Christ as the world thinks. But we don’t think that way now. When anyone is in Christ, it is a whole new world. The old things are gone; suddenly, everything is new!
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Psalm 139:14. I praise you because you made me in such a wonderful way. I know how amazing that was!
Diversity:
We appreciate and value the diverse gifts, abilities, and personalities of adults with intellectual disabilities. Rather than expecting all people to conform themselves to a rigid program, we seek to cater for their specific needs.
- Romans 12:4-5. Each one of us has one body, and that body has many parts. These parts don’t all do the same thing. 5 In the same way, we are many people, but in Christ we are all one body. We are the parts of that body, and each part belongs to all the others.
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1 Corinthians 12:12-13. A person has only one body, but it has many parts. Yes, there are many parts, but all those parts are still just one body. Christ is like that too. Some of us are Jews and some of us are not; some of us are slaves and some of us are free. But we were all baptized to become one body through one Spirit. And we were all given the one Spirit.
Love:
Every person is loved by God. We seek to demonstrate Christ’s love for us by sacrificially loving each other.
- John 13:35. All people will know that you are my followers if you love each other.
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1 John 3:16. This is how we know what real love is: Jesus gave his life for us. So we should give our lives for each other as brothers and sisters.
Respect:
We recognise that people attending a Jesus Club are adults and we treat them with respect and dignity.
- Romans 12:16. Live together in peace with each other. Don’t be proud, but be willing to be friends with people who are not important to others. Don’t think of yourself as smarter than everyone else.
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1 Corinthians 12:21-22. No, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are actually very important. And the parts that we think are not worth very much are the parts we give the most care to. And we give special care to the parts of the body that we don’t want to show.
Choice & Control:
We seek to provide a caring environment where people with intellectual disabilities have the control to enact their own choices.
- Matthew 20:32. Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.
Our beliefs
There is only one true God, the almighty Creator and Sustainer of all things.
He knows what is best for our lives and deserves our worship as the only true God and He is most clearly seen in the person of Jesus Christ.
(Isaiah 44:6; Revelation 4:11; John 1:1-3; Hebrews 1:3; John 14:9-11; Colossians, 1:15-16; John 16:13-15; Matthew 28:19)
The Bible, as originally given, is divinely inspired, infallible, and is the supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct.
The Bible was written to reveal God’s character and plan and how we are to live in response.
(2 Timothy 3:14-17; Matthew 5:17-19; Colossians 3:5-17; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11)
All people have value and dignity; they are created in God’s image to live in relationship with their Creator and His creation but have become alienated from Him and others because of sin and are therefore justly subject to God’s condemnation.
(Genesis 1:27; Psalm, 145:17; John 15:12; Romans 3:9-23; Isaiah 53:6; Romans 1:18-20)
Jesus Christ, fully human and fully divine, was born of the virgin Mary. He was perfect and lived in complete obedience to God the Father. Because of God’s love for humanity, Jesus willingly died on the cross as a sacrifice, taking the punishment that we deserved for our sin.
Jesus provides the only solution to our sin and alienation from God.
(Matthew 1:18-25; John 1:1-14; Colossians 1:15-20; 1 Peter 3:18)
Jesus Christ rose bodily from the dead and ascended to heaven, where He reigns at the right hand of God.
John 20; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8, 12-58; Acts 1:9; Acts 2: 32-39; Hebrews 7:24-25
It is only by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ alone, that our relationship with God is restored and that we can be justified.
Romans 5:1; Ephesians 2:8-9; Acts 4:12; John 14:6; John 1:12
The work of the Holy Spirit is necessary for us to repent and have faith in Jesus Christ, bringing us into a right relationship with God and is at work in all believers.
God provides gifts to all members of His community to serve one another and advance His kingdom.
Titus 3:5-7; John 16:5-11; Romans 8: 5-9; I Corinthians 2: 10-15; John 14:16, 26; 1 Peter 1:2; Ephesians 1:17-19; Acts1:8; Ephesians 4:1-16; Ephesians 2:10; Hebrews 10:25; Philippians 4:6-7; Romans 8:26; Ephesians 6:17-18, 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, Matt 28:18-20
Christian hope and confidence are based upon God’s promise of eternal life to all who trust in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
John 3:16; 1 Corinthians 15:12-28; 1 Peter 1:3-5; 1 Thessalonians 5:8-11; Romans 8:38-39; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 10:9; 1 John 5:11-13; Philippians 3:12-14
The Lord Jesus Christ will personally and visibly return and will judge all people.
Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-5:11; 2 Thessalonians 1:9-10; Matthew 25:1-13