"Are you open to accepting a person with disabilities as a member of your family? Specifically, would you consider having a deaf-mute individual as a partner who would stand by your side and pray with you?"
During a recent sharing session, a deaf pastor named Tang (pseudonym) posed this question. The disabled community is a significant part of our society, facing challenges in receiving equal treatment and struggling to integrate into the mainstream world. Blind individuals navigate with canes, while those with physical disabilities rely on crutches and wheelchairs for their daily lives.
In China, the disabled population exceeds 80 million people, with the deaf community alone comprising over 20 million individuals, accounting for one-fourth of the total disabled population.
According to Tang, "The deaf community differs from other disabled groups. People with physical or intellectual disabilities can communicate with the general population to some extent. However, the deaf community remains isolated from society to such an extent that even close family members struggle to understand their thoughts."
Furthermore, not only do they face personal vulnerabilities due to their disabilities, but they also endure scrutiny and discrimination from society. These concerns deeply moved Tang to establish a deaf church that communicates through sign language.
Despite the numerous inconveniences faced by deaf believers, many of whom live tens of kilometers away from the church, they wholeheartedly attend Sunday services and willingly participate in worship.
The deaf community faces various challenges in society, including difficulties finding employment, starting businesses, accessing healthcare, and receiving education. Tang, being deaf himself and having grown up in such an environment, has firsthand experience of these struggles.
"What can be done to support these individuals?" a voice asked Tang. Consequently, in the initial stages of establishing the sign language church, he made the decision to create a ministry dedicated to serving the deaf community. This ministry focuses on understanding deaf culture, developing deaf education, and promoting self-improvement within the community.
After years of development, this ministry now provides a range of tailored services for the deaf community. These include employment and entrepreneurship assistance, healthcare and medical support, and legal aid.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
“你愿意接纳一个残障人士作为家人吗？尤其是一个聋哑人作为和你彼此警醒代祷的伙伴吗？”
一位聋人牧者阿唐（化名）在最近的一次分享中提出了这样一个引人深思的问题。
残障人群是在我们身边真实存在着的群体，他们在社会上很难得到平等的待遇，这使得他们无法与世界相融合。盲人要靠着摸索走路，肢体残疾的要靠拐杖和轮椅度日.
在中国，有超过8000万的残障人士，而这其中有聋人群体超过2000万，占据了残障人群总体的四分之一。
“聋人群体和其他残障群体有很大的区别，” 阿唐说：“像肢体障碍、智力障碍等群体都与正常人有着不可分开的关系。聋人群体却是与整个社会隔绝开的，甚至连一般的聋人的家人都无法明白聋人在想什么。”
另外，因为残障的缘故，不仅自身卑微软弱，还要承受社会异样的眼光。这些触动着阿唐的心，于是他便着手建立了一家聋人手语教会。
虽然教会的聋人信徒都有着各样的不便，而且很多人都离教会有着几十公里的距离。然而每当主日的时候，他们从来都不会缺席，都是主动来到教会参加礼拜。
聋人在社会上的生存有着种种的艰难，就业创业工作难，就医保健难，教育难……这些阿汤哥自己也都深有体会，他本身就是聋人，就是在这样的环境下成长起来的。
“应该要为这些聋人做些什么？”一个声音这样对阿唐说。因此，在手语教会建立的初期，他便决定建立一个爱聋事工，了解聋人群体的文化，发展聋人群体的教育，并促进聋人群体的自强。
事工开展多年来，已经拥有了多项针对聋人群体的服务，包括帮助聋人群体就业与创业、就医与保健、法律援助等事项。
特写 | 一位聋人传道谈为什么建立聋人教会和聋人事工？
"Are you open to accepting a person with disabilities as a member of your family? Specifically, would you consider having a deaf-mute individual as a partner who would stand by your side and pray with you?"
During a recent sharing session, a deaf pastor named Tang (pseudonym) posed this question. The disabled community is a significant part of our society, facing challenges in receiving equal treatment and struggling to integrate into the mainstream world. Blind individuals navigate with canes, while those with physical disabilities rely on crutches and wheelchairs for their daily lives.
In China, the disabled population exceeds 80 million people, with the deaf community alone comprising over 20 million individuals, accounting for one-fourth of the total disabled population.
According to Tang, "The deaf community differs from other disabled groups. People with physical or intellectual disabilities can communicate with the general population to some extent. However, the deaf community remains isolated from society to such an extent that even close family members struggle to understand their thoughts."
Furthermore, not only do they face personal vulnerabilities due to their disabilities, but they also endure scrutiny and discrimination from society. These concerns deeply moved Tang to establish a deaf church that communicates through sign language.
Despite the numerous inconveniences faced by deaf believers, many of whom live tens of kilometers away from the church, they wholeheartedly attend Sunday services and willingly participate in worship.
The deaf community faces various challenges in society, including difficulties finding employment, starting businesses, accessing healthcare, and receiving education. Tang, being deaf himself and having grown up in such an environment, has firsthand experience of these struggles.
"What can be done to support these individuals?" a voice asked Tang. Consequently, in the initial stages of establishing the sign language church, he made the decision to create a ministry dedicated to serving the deaf community. This ministry focuses on understanding deaf culture, developing deaf education, and promoting self-improvement within the community.
After years of development, this ministry now provides a range of tailored services for the deaf community. These include employment and entrepreneurship assistance, healthcare and medical support, and legal aid.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
Feature: Deaf Pastor Founds Sign Language Church
