DEAF STUDENTS RECEIVE ACCREDITED QUALIFICATIONS!

Imagine a group of 400 000 people living in a “Christian” country and only 2 000 of this group are ministered to by the church in that country. Imagine believers from this group wanting to become pastors to minister to their own people, but no institution is able to train them to fulfill their dream and calling.

The above comes from our 2006 newsletter and talks about the deaf community in South Africa. Since then the Lord has really provided in ways many thought impossible. DCMA (Deaf Christian Ministry Africa) who uses the Veritas accredited training to train deaf students for ministry, has worked hard in making the material deaf-friendly for students coming from different backgrounds and educational levels.

In 2007 the first 7 deaf students received their Certificate IV in Biblical Ministry from Veritas College International (VCI). After that it was the Diploma of Biblical Ministry and in April 2009, four of these students received their Advanced Diploma of Biblical Ministry - see photo.

The Advanced Diploma focuses on leadership development and management skills which equip and enable prospective leaders and pastors to lead a congregation or ministry successfully. The main part of the qualification is done in the form of a project which is designed to be appropriate to the particular ministry and gifting of the student.

The following projects were successfully undertaken by the students:
• Rensburg Aggenbach compiled a songbook for the deaf in sign language (yes! - a songbook - it is amazing to see the deaf praise and worship)

• Hennie Burger made a DVD in which new deaf believers are lead to grow spiritually

• Elsabé Döman made a DVD in which stories from the Bible are told in sign language to deaf children

• Anthony Salie wrote a Sunday school book for Grade 4 deaf learners.

All of these projects will and are already making a big impact in the deaf community in South Africa and further afield. The work was of such a high standard that the students only need to do one more unit to receive their Graduate Diploma qualification. After completing their “church year”, these students will be ordained in two denominations as ministers / pastors to the deaf at the end of 2009. All glory to God for whom nothing is impossible! Pray with DCMA and VCI as DCMA wants to move into the next phase of its calling - training deaf pastors and leaders outside of South Africa.