On Sunday evening 2 October a service was held in a small West Berkshire town to celebrate what God has done through a nationwide ministry.
Thatcham Baptist Church hosted the 40th anniversary of Prospects – the Christian organisation serving people with a learning disability. It was also the last anniversary of the charity.
In May this year Prospects merged with Livability, itself the result of a merger between The Shaftesbury Society and John Grooms. The circumstances which led to this latest merger relate largely to the impact of government cutbacks in funding for social care. However, necessity has given opportunity to demonstrate the power of Christian compassion to impact individuals and communities in the face of discrimination and oversight.
From far afield
The thanksgiving service was attended by about 140 people from as far afield as Belfast, Bognor, Bridgend and York, with a good sprinkling of people with learning disabilities among them. The theme of the evening was: ‘You are worth more than many sparrows’ (Matthew 10.31) and this shaped the choice of songs. Two videos told the story of Prospects’ services, briefly charting amazing growth to the point where over 400 people were supported and 600 staff employed, and telling how the ministry developed to the point where it now reaches 3,000 people with learning disabilities month by month.
David Potter – who, with his wife Madeleine, founded Prospects – spoke twice during the evening. The first was by way of ministry to the people with learning disabilities who were present. The second was a reflection on the story of the charity as evidence of the fact that God values people with learning disabilities no less than any others. It carried a strong challenge that there are still more than a million people with learning disabilities who have yet to hear the gospel presented in a manner they can understand.
The torch has been passed to Livability; but the responsibility rests with all God’s people to go into all the world.
