Deaf ness is a serious disability and exacts a heavy toll on individuals, families, communities, and countries. Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa and is roughly divided in half between Christians who live in the South and Central parts and Muslims who occupy the North. There are about one million Deaf people living throughout the country.
There are several Deaf schools in Nigeria. These schools are usually boarding schools and are frequently supported by the government. However, because parents see their Deaf children as a shame on the family, they are often prevented from attending. Deaf children are often seen as cursed or demon-possessed. Less than 40% of Nigeria's Deaf children are enrolled in primary school, and even fewer are allowed to continue to secondary school.
Deafness is not limited by faith, but it can limit knowledgeable faith. Nigerians are either Muslim or Christian, but in both cases, the Deaf have a limited understanding of their faith.
Most teachers in the schools for the Deaf in Nigeria do not know or understand Nigerian Sign Language. The schools follow the 'oral method' of attempting to teach Deaf children to speak and lip-read the spoken language – English. Consequently, the Deaf in Nigeria rarely develop good reading skills and are unable to access the truths of God's word adequately.
There are many hearing churches that have reached out to the Deaf community by using interpreters in their worship services. However, the interpreters are usually untrained and unskilled in the interpreting process, and the Deaf are left on the outside, only able to watch the worship take place, but unable to join in or fully understand what is being done and said around them. In the South and Central states, there are about 30 Deaf led churches.
Pray for the Lord to prepare and send out Deaf workers to the Deaf in Nigeria.
Ask God to provide worship services in sign language in Nigeria.
Pray for interpreters who love and relate to the Deaf.
Pray for the Deaf in Nigeria to hunger for spiritual truth and find it in Jesus.
Scripture Prayers for the Deaf in Nigeria.
Anonymous
| Profile Source: Joshua Project |
