The Story of Andrew Gribben

Andrew shares his personal journey, beginning with his family joining Grace Community Church in 2017. He describes the church as a ​“rescue mission,” a chaotic yet fitting environment that felt like rehabilitation, enabling personal and family growth influenced by the love of Jesus. He then delves into his profession in accessibility, explaining how he helps make systems like websites, apps, and games usable for as many people as possible, regardless of their abilities.

He illustrates this with examples, such as designing websites to be descriptive for visually impaired users and ensuring games can be controlled without touchscreens for those with physical disabilities. Andrew emphasises that his faith strongly influences his work, viewing it as an act of service, despite the frustrations of working with clients who may resist changes for accessibility.

Andrew also discusses his current endeavours, including helping with church sound and lighting, and his involvement with the Craigavon Talking Newspaper, a charity that records local newspapers for the blind community. He highlights the essential nature of this service for those who cannot access local information otherwise, and shares the exciting news of the charity securing its first permanent studio.

Looking ahead, Andrew reflects on the importance of rest, acknowledging his personal struggle with it, and announces his decision to pursue a part-time law degree, viewing it as an opportunity for a ​“clean slate” to better serve others. The podcast concludes with prayers for Andrew and his family, and for the church community to experience God’s joy, peace, and hope.