Finding a Church to Belong In: Christopher’s Story

by Kupenda

Today, when Christopher enters his church, he enters a community that celebrates and includes him. But not long ago, a pastor told families to keep their children away from him.

Christopher, a child living with quadriplegic cerebral palsy, once loved attending the church near the home he shared with his mother. However, during one church service focused on prayer and the belief that people can be freed from evil spirits, the pastor publicly declared that Christopher was “not ordinary” because of his disability. He warned families that Christopher might expose other children to harmful spiritual influences. His words reflected harmful beliefs prevalent in many low-income communities that associate disabilities with evil spirits, curses, or spiritual punishment.

The consequences of the pastor’s words extended far beyond the church service. Neighbors began avoiding Christopher and his mother, leaving them increasingly isolated within their community. Eventually, the rejection became so severe that they relocated to another area, where Christopher began attending a different church.

Thankfully, his experience there has been very different.

In 2025, Enable the Children, a program of World Hope International, trained 35 pastors from several denominations using Kupenda’s disability stigma reduction model for Christian leaders. The training helped participants develop a more accurate understanding of the medical causes of disability, confront harmful beliefs and practices, and recognize the dignity and potential of children like Christopher. Over the past eight years, Enable the Children has used Kupenda’s model to train more than 1,000 faith leaders across Sierra Leone and Liberia.

As church leaders gained knowledge and challenged misconceptions, attitudes toward Christopher began to change. After experiencing isolation and rejection, he has found a church community where he is truly valued and accepted.


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