Through the Roof Ministries: Helping Everyone “Fit in” to Church
by Kelly Givens

We often complain about not “fitting in” in certain situations or with certain groups of people. Maybe we dress or speak differently, have different interests or ways of thinking. We long to be a part of a place or group of people who make us feel welcome, where we feel like our ideas, personalities and gifts are useful and encouraged. Certainly, churchgoers feel this desire—a new person comes into a local congregation and sees how he or she might "fit in" with the activities and worship going on at that church.

Imagine, however, literally not being able to “fit into” a church of which you long to be a part. You are wheelchair bound. You can’t get through the door, much less reach the water fountains or comfortably use the restroom. Or imagine you are deaf. You can’t hear the songs in worship or understand what the pastor is saying in his sermon. Now imagine that this happens over and over to you, at every church you visit.

These are the heartbreaking stories that Margaret Matasic, a doctor of physical therapy, heard repeatedly from her patients. Crippled after accidents, they often told her that they could no longer fit into their church. Reaching out to these people became a passion of Margaret’s, and eventually she went to the senior pastor of her church (The Chapel, a nondenominational fellowship in Akron, OH) with the intent to start a ministry. Margaret’s enthusiasm was contagious, and it wasn’t long before the entire church was behind her and “Through the Roof” was born.

Crippled following accidents, handicapped individuals told Margaret they could no longer fit into their church.

Margaret recognized that in order for her ministry to be effective, she needed the support of The Chapel staff. Head Pastor Knute Larson allowed Margaret to come to a staff meeting where she held a “disability awareness” training. She hoped this would show the staff in a tangible way just how difficult it was for the disabled to worship at their church. After fitting everyone with blindfolds, earplugs, wheelchairs, etc., Margaret asked them to do a series of simple tasks. “We had them go through the church, or go and get a cup of coffee, or go into a restroom, or try and get through…hallway doors [that] at the time were closed.” Her training was effective— staff realized just how hard it was for a disabled person to maneuver around. The Chapel soon began making modifications to their building, adding automatic door openers, adjusting the height of fountains, adding large print bulletins, and adjusting the pews to accommodate wheelchairs. Little changes that, over time, helped make the church a place where anyone could worship.

Margaret knew it wasn’t only the building that needed to be disabilities-friendly. She and her team spoke in front of the congregation, and they also invited people with disabilities to share their testimonies during worship. As the congregation became aware and convicted of the need for a disabilities ministry, they began to volunteer.  The disabilities ministries inside The Chapel now include multiple “Assisted Learning” classes, where volunteers “buddy” with a disabled person to help them join in on lessons. They have an interpreter in worship services and frequently hold large training events at their church, to help equip other churches for disabilities ministry.

Reaching out into the community, Through the Roof has a Fellowship of Friends outreach, targeted to local group homes and families in the community affected by disabilities. They sponsor fun activities like bowling or visiting local zoos and museums, which those with disabilities might not normally be able to participate in. Because of the work they are doing both within and outside the church walls, The Chapel has over one hundred people affected by disabilities attending their various classes and community outreaches.

Today Through the Roof functions as an auxiliary of the church; it has its own nonprofit status.  Margaret serves as Executive Director. The ministry has both a local and international focus, all centered on its mission: to make the message of the Gospel available to all people, “doing whatever it takes to bring people to Jesus.” To serve Ohio, Through the Roof currently offers an online Bible Study and a speaking ministry led by Shanda Grubb-Gobeli—a young woman with cerebral palsy. Internationally, Through the Roof sponsors a “Wheels of Hope” program that helps bring wheelchairs to those in impoverished areas, as well as mission trip program that reaches out to those affected by disabilities.

“Salvation is indeed the greatest need of every person,” Margaret affirms. “But the Great Commission includes more than evangelism. We believe it is also our responsibility to disciple and equip people with disabilities to use their gifts to expand the body of Christ.”