1st Term 2008
Sunday gatherings…
As most of you will be aware, the Deaf who previously met at DeafSA (Deaf Federation of South Africa) in Newlands have been gathering at St. James since six months ago. Their previous meeting place has opened up to them again, so they have decided to go back to gathering there. They will gather there twice a month, in Khayelitsha with the other Deaf gathering once a month, and then both the Deaf groups will meet together with us at St. James once a month from now on. The exact week of each month for meeting at St. James is still to be confirmed by them. They will also come to St. James for any special church events or gatherings. (I am acutely aware that the Deaf may change their minds again and have spoken to the St. James staff about this. St. James will support the Deaf no matter how their decisions may change.)
They have felt included and cared for by the people at St. James, and want to continue their relationship with the St. Jimmians. It is nothing personal that has caused them to go back to their previous meeting place. I think it is that they are used to their way of meeting together. We need to trust God in all of this too and I and all those involved in this ministry must keep loving the Deaf, faithfully teaching them and let God’s Word speak to them.
The Deaf have benefited greatly from the preaching they have been receiving. This is true of the Wednesday evening gatherings too. Richard, my friend who made us aware for the need of this ministry in the first place, has told me that before the Deaf felt like they were failing, but that now they are learning and growing. I see it in their faces… It’s true.
I have usually done the interpreting, although my friend and fellow-worker in this ministry, Lynn Robinson, has been interpreting too every now and then. I have not yet made a big enough effort to get a copy of the sermons (when possible), but we do try to at least get the Bible reading beforehand so that we have an idea of the language and concepts that may need to be conveyed to the Deaf. I will from now on try to get a copy of the sermon beforehand so as to be as prepared as possible.
Luanne, a Sign Language student who is gifted naturally with Sign Language and who is a qualified teacher, has been leading the songs at our gatherings. I am training her up to eventually become an interpreter. Other Sign Language students sit with the Deaf as they gather at St. James and some come with me to the other meetings in Khayelitsha and I’m sure they will join me at the Newlands meetings from time to time.
I hope to help the men who preach at their Deaf gatherings by equipping them, eventually, with sound Bible interpretation and preaching skills. I also want to include the women in this training as they lead other women and younger girls. This, I am aware, is a long-term goal. We need to trust God and continually remind ourselves to be faithful.
Wednesday evening gatherings…
These have been run by Denzil Abrahams, who is leading a course for new or baby Christians called Christian Foundations. I would say that the Deaf are learning mostly from this course and from Christianity Explained, because it is at these gatherings that they are active participants and thus encouraged to think more.
Both Deaf gatherings meet together on Wednesday evenings. They are very excited to meet together in the middle of the week!
The evening begins with each group (the Deaf being one) discussing the topic for the evening through answering a few questions. I’ve been getting different Deaf men (with Agnes and Richard’s help) to lead the discussion time each week. They have slowly been getting used to how to lead discussions, which is exciting, and the Deaf are becoming more confident to participate in the discussion.
This has been a very helpful method for the Deaf and I’m sure for the Hearing too, as the talk then clarifies what they thought they did or did not know concerning the topic.
The taxi-driver, who is also Deaf and a Muslim, sits in the circle with the Deaf at these meetings! (She sometimes sits in the church service with them too.) She always tells me she is Muslim, but she listens to everything in discussions and when I’m interpreting the talks… I see it in her face. She really loves all the Deaf she transports and looks after them at the meetings, making sure none of them are left out! Please remember to pray for her. Her name is Faiza. (She has heard about the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit!)
One sharp young man, named Phapang, said that he is just learning more and more at these Wednesday gatherings, in other words, that he has never learnt so much about the Bible and Christian life as he is now! I wish I could show you the Sign Language for that – It is so graphic! Perhaps he will be a preacher/ teacher one day. Please pray for him.
There are also a few young female ladies who are sharp, involved and growing rapidly. Their names are Vivian, Selina and Lusanda. Vivian is very mature for her age, considerate and responsible. She told me that she loves learning the Bible and will take up every opportunity she can to do so. She has already been gathering and leading other young people either in Christianity Explained which she learnt from Agnes and Richard, or just in general discussions about the Bible. She takes initiative. Just this past weekend, she brought along two Deaf young women who have never been to the Deaf church before! Selina loves Jesus and it is evident in her actions all the time. Lusanda is a fun-loving person and brilliant with children. Please pray for these young women, who are leaders.
Please pray as we continue with this course in the second term.
Christianity Explained…
Three years ago, Agnes, Richard and Alfred learned Christianity Explained. Agnes and Richard, eventually aided a little by Alfred from time to time, began teaching it from their home in Khayelitsha. Last year, another two elders and the one elder’s wife learnt Christianity Explained. The two elders are now taking turns in teaching Christianity Explained to about another ten Deaf Christians in their church. I prepare the material, simplifying it as much as possible in an attempt to find the clearest way for the material to be presented to the Deaf. This group have learnt the first four lessons thus far: Jesus, the Son of God; Jesus, His death on the cross; Jesus, His resurrection; and Grace, the gift of God. They must now continue with the last two lessons to complete the course: Repenting; and Believing.
These men are doing well and the one man’s wife helps out here and there as the lessons are taught. However, I believe that the one elder is not gifted with teaching. On the Deaf camp in June, we will be looking at gifts and I hope this man and others will discover what their gifts are to focus on using them effectively.
The Christian Foundation course has also covered the Christianity Explained lessons on a deeper level, which is wonderful as this has consolidated all they have been learning. Sometimes certain terms, passages and themes have come up in sermons too which the Deaf learnt in Christianity Explained, so as they re-appear I quickly remind them. It is exciting for them (and for me!) when this happens.
Other Courses…
I make sure the Deaf are informed of any courses they may attend. Two couples attended the marriage course run for seven weeks at St. James this past term. I interpreted when needed for them. They benefited greatly (so did I!).
Later in July there is a parenting course that I will invite one couple to come along to. They have a teenage boy who is now attending the St. James youth and loves it, but he is not respecting his parents at home. Imagine how much more difficult it must be for parents who are Deaf to get their children to respect them if their children are Hearing and have not been taught Sign Language properly by their parents.
Two Deaf couples have received some counselling from the FamilyWorks ministry run by Flo Visser at St. James. The one deaf man who received counselling did not need me to interpret as he can lip-read quite well, but I had to be present to interpret for another deaf man. I have to remember in these counselling situations that I am merely a tool for communication. I can’t divulge names, but please remember to pray for these two couples who have had serious marital problems.
Other Bible Studies…
Lynn and I continue to meet with Agnes, Richard and Alfred (the three we started out with) on a Friday afternoon during school terms to study the Bible together. We have completed 1 Peter and are finishing off 2 Peter, and by the second week of the second school term will be moving on to 1 John.
The Deaf who will soon be completing Christianity Explained, will, like Agnes, Richard and Alfred, then begin studying the book of 1 Peter.
Out of interest, the Bible the Deaf use is the Easy-to-Read version. It is especially made for the Deaf and for people whose first language is not English. It is mostly accurate. There has so far been only one major mistake we have discovered in it through our studies.
Hearing
Sign Language classes…
Those who have been learning Sign Language for the past two years have spent the first term revising the whole Sign Language manual with me. There are about ten of them. This coming term, we will be learning the evangelistic tool, ‘Two Ways to Live’.
The beginners class at St. James is taught by Agnes Dyabusa, my dear deaf friend and by Lyndal Alexander, a young student who is a qualified architect now studying occupational therapy. Lyndal learnt Sign through her short-term mission trips to Namibia and has helped out with the ministry to the Deaf there. She, like Luanne, is naturally gifted in the language.
The beginners class also consists of about ten people. Three moms come with their children, which is a special element. Another elderly woman who is extremely young at heart has joined Sign Language classes now. She is yet another delight! Her name is Lorna. She phones me up for me to re-explain signs to her over the phone (nog al)! She also just pops in at St. James when passing by to ask me for different signs! She is using Sign when she prays and is learning bits of Christian Sign to minister to people on the street with. She has told me how she witnesses to Muslims.
A class has now begun in the northern suburbs, at Chester House School (a Christian school where Durbanville Community Church meet) in Durbanvale. This class also consists of about ten people, one of them being a pastor, Colin Banfield… The one who gave me a ‘nudge’ in the direction of the Deaf!
I have also started teaching Sign to seven Bible college students, six from GWC and one from BI. Another pastor may join that class in the near future! One of the GWC students learning Sign is coming to Namibia this year for her ministry week experience and will be working with the team that ministers to the Deaf – very exciting!
Special events in the next term
Deaf Church Camp…
This is taking place from 6-8 June 2008, a first for this Deaf church! The camp is being held at Rocklands Centre, Simonstown. I am anticipating up to 80 people to be there, about 20 of whom who will be hearing people helping out (mostly those who have been learning Sign). Although attendance at the Deaf gatherings fluctuates, with the few faithful, there are about 50 Deaf altogether who attend the gatherings. They have been encouraged to invite their hearing family members, as this is a family camp. There will be four talks on this camp around the theme “Light in the World”, which is what the Church is to be. The different talks will be covering our: Identity, Task, Motivation and Responsibility as God’s Church. Colin Banfield has structured the talks (with my input) and he together with another pastor and two lay ministers will be delivering the four talks. I will interpret each one so that the interpreting style is consistent as the Deaf have become familiar with my style and because it does help that I have been theologically trained.
I am still determining who will teach the children present at the camp and am waiting for confirmation from friends concerning this. The children will learn what the youth and adults will be learning, but on a more simplistic level.
Please pray for all the preparation towards this camp. Please pray for the finances too. Pray that the Deaf will save responsibly to pay their way in coming and that we will trust God to provide whatever the Deaf are unable to. The Deaf are already being subsidised a little by the ministry funds and are not paying for the food on the camp. I have a plan to execute for the provision of food – Please pray it works and that ultimately, God will provide!
Churches for Namibia…
This is taking place from June 30 – July 13 2008. Agnes, Richard and Happiness will be a part of the ministry to the Deaf as they have been for the past three years. We hope to possibly have Phapang, Vivian, Lusanda and Selina be part of the team, to be mentored by Agnes and Richard. Perhaps a few of the Sign Language students who have been part of the ministry for the past few years may be able to come too. Please pray that the people God wants for this trip will come to continue the work and relationships we have with the Deaf and Eluwa Special School in Ongwediva, Northern Namibia.
Important prayer request
Protection for the Deaf…
As you know, the Deaf started coming to St. James to move away from their previous leader (pastor) who was not protecting them but rather causing confusion and division in the Church. This past Sunday he re-appeared at the combined Deaf Church gathering in Khayelitsha without taking the appropriate steps beforehand (many of the elders were not aware that he was coming to the gathering).
He apologised to everyone for what he termed as wrong behaviour (affairs and refusal to repent), without further explanation, and told us that he has repented to God. In a loving kind of way, he also asked us to pray for his wife and children. He asked us to forgive him, looking at us for an immediate answer. He looked at me as the St. James representative and I felt forced to answer him in front of everyone. He did not look remorseful to me. He looked too kind towards the people and I felt like he was trying to manipulate their hearts towards him again.
For various reasons, I have difficulty in believing him. He is an intelligent and manipulative man who knows too easily how to deceive. He put the Deaf through very difficult times and has caused great pain amongst some individuals whom he had sex with. These people have been recovering and growing from this over the past six months and now he suddenly re-appears at a time convenient for him due to his circumstances.
I have heard that this man, Ivan, is not returning to the Deaf church and that he is now at a hearing church somewhere (he is hard-of-hearing as opposed to being profoundly deaf)… Time will tell.
Please pray for me to have discernment. Please pray for the Deaf to also have discernment. Please pray that I will be able to help the Deaf take the right steps concerning handling this man. I do not trust him. Please pray that, at the end of the day, we know to trust our sovereign and powerful God.
I am thankful I have the St. James staff: that I can share with them at staff meetings, have their support and can be accountable to them.
Thank you
Thank you so much for your continued support. You will never know how much it is valued by me! I love the Deaf with all my heart and want to serve them in this way. Please pray for me to be faithful in every aspect of this ministry and to continually be humbled before our mighty God who can do immeasurably more than all we could ever ask or imagine, according to His power at work within us and in His Word. And indeed, to Him be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever! Amen.
All my love and thanks for you in Christ,
Lisa.