Rachael Mackarel

Rachael has been a support worker with people with intellectual disabilities, their families and carers for the past 10 years and is part of the L’Arche Belfast community. Rachael completed a Master of Theology degree (QUB) in 2012 on the subject of teaching the Bible to people with intellectual disabilities, from which she developed the Studying God Together programme at Belfast Bible College. It was the first theological education course specifically designed to be accessible for people with mild to severe intellectual disabilities in the UK. The programme has evolved into Following God Together – a discipleship and fellowship group for adults with intellectual disabilities.

Rachael delivers seminars on how churches and parachurch organisations can explore the Bible with people with intellectual disabilities in a more dynamic and personal way. Rachael is married to Thanael and they have two sons, Reuben and Gideon.