Peran Gereja dalam Memberdayakan Penyandang Disabilitas di Gereja Toraja Jemaat Kaero

: This paper explains congregation understanding about people with disabilities and how the church empowers them. This paper using a qualitative method with the inductive approach—data sources from literature research, observations, and interviews. The findings of this research are people with disabilities were very difficult to accept the situation. However, the people with disabilities can rise and think positively after getting mentoring from church. Chruch assembly to organize service programs like material help and pastoral care, and then empowers. Now, people with disabilities will be getting self-sufficient and participate in serving the church. Keywords: service, church, empowerment, and disability Abstrak : Tulisan ini bermaksud menjelaskan pemahaman jemat tentang penyandang disabilitas serta bagaimana gereja memberdayakan para penyandang disabilitas. Data-data dikumpulkan melalui studi kepustakan, observasi dan wawancara. Hasil penelitian ini menemukan bahwa penyandang disabilitas awalnya sulit untuk menerima keadaannya. Akan tetapi mereka dapat bangkit dan berpikir positif karena mendapat pendampingan dari gereja. Majelis gereja menggiatkan program diakonia baik berupa bantuan materi, pendampingan pastoral dan pemberdayaan. Kini penyandang disabilitas mulai menjadi pribadi yang mandiri dan terlibat aktif dalam pelayanan. Kata kunci: Diakonia, Gereja, Pemberdayaan dan Penyandang Disabilitas