Ministry Profile - New Life Deaf Ministry

As we have mentioned many times, many in our congregation are involved in various types of ministries here in Honduras. It is truly a blessing to be associated with so many quality people and ministries. To give you a feel for the congregation and to introduce you to ways that you can pray for Honduras or perhaps even minister here, we will be profiling the ministries represented in our congregation from time to time.

New Life Deaf Ministry

On Saturday we had the privilege of attending the first sixth grade graduation of Manos Felices (Happy Hands) a school for deaf children. The school is part of a larger ministry called New Life Deaf Ministry or Ministerio de Sordos Nueva Vida, a ministry that includes a church and community outreach in addition to the deaf school. This year's graduation was of particular importance as it represented the culmination of many years of growth. The school has added a grade level every year and these students were in the inaugural class. In the coming year they will be continuing the program by beginning high school classes for the first time.

The needs of the deaf are left virtually untouched here in Honduras. This school and church are among the only ones of their kind. Many families with deaf children are dismissive of their children's prospects and must be convinced that education is worth it. Many deaf are unable to find work and are thus heavily dependent upon family or other limited resources. Accordingly the work of NLDM is extremely important. The school is slowly changing cultural perceptions about the value of deaf persons in human and Honduran society. Among the school's faculty is a woman who was the first deaf Honduran to graduate from the education program at a Honduran university. 

Union Christian Church was privileged to host the graduation ceremonies and further blessed to have the ministry's director, Christy, among our members, as well as one of the pre-school teachers, Beverly. We are personally blessed to count these women as our friends and New Life Deaf Ministry as partners in the cause of the gospel. (And Ellyn has been building a friendship with Carolina, the hearing child of a deaf couple that works with the school. Carolina attends Union frequently.)

We invite you to visit NLDM's website (yes, it's in English) to learn more about this vibrant and important ministry.