Reaching

The imperative for Christ's church to address disability in post-colonial humanitarian and development work

Abstract

The international relief and development marketplace is competitive, with a mix of for-profit and nonprofit actors jockeying for large-scale contracts. The work is expensive and the resources to do it finite. While faith-based development organizations offer competitive and effective programs, those who do such work in the name of Christ have the added responsibility of following his model. Faith-based aid groups have the imperative–and the opportunity–in humanitarian programming to lead in pursuing inclusion for people living with disabilities. This article builds on the author’s personal experience of working for relief and development organizations, and his extensive time spent in post-colonial countries, among those who are living with disabilities and who are remaining out of reach of critical services.