Let the Deaf Hear-Congo

What would your life be like if you could not communicate with others or hear them talking to you? The deaf in Congo are often isolated, unable to attend school, unable to understand church services. They are largely unreached with the Gospel. All current missionary and educational work amongst the deaf is centered in eastern Congo, which is so far removed from Kinshasa that for practical purposes it might as well be on a different continent from Kinshasa. In 1979, the deaf American missionary Andrew Foster who started all work with the deaf in eastern Congo, also organized a small group in Kinshasa. Sadly, a few years later, he was killed in a plane crash in Rwanda.

In 2022 ECM conducted a survey to find out all we could about the deaf in Kinshasa. We discovered five groups or “communities” of deaf, including the group Foster had organized, most of them totally unevangelized and all floundering spiritually. God helped us to find two faithful hearing Christians who had learned the sign language that Foster had introduced. We were happy to engage them in an effort to bring the Gospel to these beloved deaf people who have never heard. They CAN hear, with their eyes and hands! So, beginning in February 2023, we are doing all we can to bring them the Good News that Jesus loves them and wants to become their Savior and Lord. As people come to faith, we hope to organize them into a church specifically dedicated to the deaf. As ECM is a holistic ministry, we also hope to help many of them get vocational training, employment, and some kind of education. The needs are many. Your prayers and gifts can help.

A periodic newsletter for the project, LET THE DEAF HEAR, can keep you up to date on our progress and guide you in prayer. Contact Lrouster@ecmafrica.org if you would like to receive the newsletter.

                                                                                                                  

ECM now has a sponsorship program for deaf children as part of the Congo Deaf Ministry.  These children are often deaf at birth and have not been able to receive any form of education.  Our sponsorship program allows them to attend a Christian school specializing in educating the deaf.
If you are interested in sponsoring one of these children, you can do so here: General Child Summary - ECM (ecmafrica.org)

*Please Note - In the link above, you can filter by Hope Center and select "Congo Deaf Ministry" to bring up all children in this project only. *