Imagine taking part in a service at your local church: while the choir sings, you see the other participants dancing, clapping their hands, ... and when the pastor speaks, you don't understand any of it. You'd be frustrated, wouldn't you?
This is the scenario – or at least the most likely one – experienced by a dozen deaf and hard-of-hearing United Methodists from the Kindu North and South ecclesiastical districts at the Eastern Congo Annual Conference.
Kindu North and South Districts are a part of the East Congo Annual Conference.
Recently, however, the Church in Kindu took a significant step forward in its commitment to the inclusion of deaf and hard-of-hearing people.
Thanks to funding from the United Methodist Committee on Deaf and Hard of Hearing, the United Methodist Church of Eastern Congo has created a new ministry to welcome, support and share the Gospel with people who are hearing impaired. Financial support has also helped to provide scholarships for the education of fifty deaf and hard-of-hearing pupils.
The new program aims to enable the region's deaf and hard-of-hearing United Methodists to participate fully in church services and meetings. In October 2024, the church launched sign language interpretation courses for 10 clergy and 10 lay representatives who come from local churches in the Kindu districts of Maniema province - which make up the Eastern Congo Annual Conference. Kindu is also home to the Office of the United Methodist Bishop of the Eastern Congo Episcopal Region.
The training sessions enabled participants to acquire basic sign language skills, and participants expressed their gratitude for the opportunity while calling for more training and resources. The church hopes to establish dedicated services for the deaf and hard-of-hearing to ensure their full participation in the United Methodist community in Congo.
Thanks to these trained interpreters, deaf and hard-of-hearing people can now participate actively and inclusively in the various United Methodist meetings in Eastern Congo.
“This training has changed my life,” testifies Albert Diongo from Bethleem French-speaking United Methodist Church. “I can now communicate with the deaf and hard-of-hearing people in my community and enable them to live their faith to the full.”
Reverend Bernard Katako, pastor of the local Kitumaini United Methodist Church in Lokole mission and initiator of the project, said he felt frustrated to see people who were not able to fully participate in the church's activities.
Katako pointed out that thanks to this inclusiveness, deaf and hard-of-hearing people will now find their way into everything that happens in worship.
The local churches involved in the program have seen a significant increase in the participation of deaf and hard-of-hearing people.
Lohombo Kasongo—from the Tokolote Motomoto United Methodist Church in the town of Kindu—who trained in sign language, reported that deaf people now attend worship.
In addition to sign language training, funding from the United Methodist Committee on Deaf and Hard of Hearing has also supported the education of fifty deaf and hard of hearing students through scholarships.
Thanks to the scholarship, we are able to take care of 50 deaf-mute children who now attend a special school," said Reverend Bernard Katako. The scholarship covers school fees for the whole year.
At the Kitumaini United Methodist Church in Kindu's Lokolé mission, we met Elongo Wandja. Deaf since birth, Wandja is always smiling when he speaks to us in sign language. He is interpreted by François Kahenga and Furaha Julienne, with another interpreter occasionally joining in. “I finally feel included in my religious community," says a smiling Wandja. “Thanks to the sign language interpreters, I can understand the services and take part in the discussions.”
Reverend Bernard Katako indicated that the United Methodist Church of Eastern Congo plans to continue its efforts to include deaf and hard-of-hearing people by expanding the sign language training program and developing other initiatives to encourage their active participation in the life of the church.
excerpt from a story by Chadrack Tambwe Londe, coordinator French-language content in Africa
This story represents how United Methodist local churches through their Central Conference are living as Vital Congregations. A vital congregation is the body of Christ making and engaging disciples for the transformation of the world. Vital congregations are shaped by and witnessed through four focus areas: calling and shaping principled Christian leaders; creating and sustaining new places for new people; ministries with poor people and communities; and abundant health for all.
