Mamelodi-based church Evangelical Ministry in Extension 6 Mamelodi East, accommodates deaf people and regards them as part and parcel of the broader church
On Saturday the church embarked on a deaf awareness campaign to teach the community in general the basics of sign language, which is a language that is used by deaf people.
The need to teach the community sign language arises from the fact that the church has members of the congregation who are deaf and there is a sign language interpreter at the church who interprets for the deaf congregants during Sunday services.
Speaking to Tshwane Talks on Saturday during the deaf awareness campaign at the church in Extension 6, Pastor Irene Mokgonyana said the following:
“We hosted the deaf awareness campaign because among the congregants there are adults and kids who can’t hear and we want them to feel that they are part of our congregation, so we decided to accommodate them by also using sign language in our church services,” she said.
“Deaf people are part of what God is doing and today we are celebrating dead awareness and the enjoy being part of the church community,” said Mokgonyana.
Several members from the deaf community in and around the church, including those who came all the way from Tembisa, were invited to the event.
“We have been running the church for 4 years now after establishing it in 2020,” she said.
“We saw it fit to start a church after realising that our community needs God due to a lot of things that are happening here which need God’s intervention,” enthused Mokgonyana.
“For instance, we have many kids in our area who have dropped out of school, and it is not like they wanted to drop out, we realised that this is not their fault but that there is a spiritual territory in our community,” she explained.
“We saw it fit to be part of the broader community so that we can assist in making sure that God sets our kids free, especially those who are affected by drugs,” she said.
Mokgonyana said the church works with deliverance and that after establishing the Restoration Evangelical Ministry in the area, they realised that the bad things are not just happening but are influenced by spiritual forces.
“Since establishing the Ministry, we have helped many kids in various ways and were also able to send some of them to rehab,” she said.
She said the church’s mission is to accommodate different kinds of people, including drug addicted kids, deaf kids and people who are suffering spiritually and physically.
“Deaf kids love the church but don’t hear what we preach, so we have a full-time interpreter for them and many of us in the church have also learned sign language,” she said.
Representing Ward 40 on behalf of the absent Councillor Makola, community leader George Dikotope said it was the first time that he had seen sign language being used in a church and recommended that other churches must also use sign language interpretation in their churches.
“It is good for all of us as members of the community to know and understand sign language and I am therefore pleading with those living with deaf people not to lock them away but bring them to Restoration Evangelical Ministry church where they will be welcomed with open arms, “said Dikotope.
Community member Amos Masilela said in many cases people who speak in sign language in the streets are not taken seriously and commended the church for its initiative regarding sign language, adding that sign language must also be used at community meetings.
“When people come across deaf people they must not undermine or disrespect them, but must look after them, love them and treat them with respect the way they treat any other person,” said Maisela.
“I have learned many sign language words today and when I meet a person using sign language, I will be able to communicate with them,” said resident John Ratloga.