ECM Congo includes deaf children in new initiatives
Overview
ECM conducts a focused initiative to reach deaf children in Kinshasa and Brazzaville, employing locally trained educators and ASL-based communication methods. The program aims to provide accessible Bible teaching, literacy development, and sustained spiritual formation within a culturally responsive framework.
Core Goals
- Establish welcoming, deaf-friendly communities where children can hear the Good News.
- Develop sustainable education pathways in collaboration with specialized institutions for the Deaf.
- Create leadership pipelines by identifying and mentoring capable deaf believers to lead local ministries.
- Expand outreach to other deaf communities across the region through partnerships and training.
Educational Approach
- Delivery of Bible instruction primarily in sign language, supplemented by visual aids and written materials in French.
- Collaboration with established schools and centers for the Deaf to ensure high-quality, consistent education.
- Integration of daily prayers, Bible stories, memory verses, and age-appropriate activities within an ASL-focused classroom setting.
Sponsorship Program
- Sponsorship supports tuition, school supplies, and specialized services for selected students at ISMK (Institut pour Sourds Muets de Kinshasa) and other partnering institutions.
- Each sponsorship enables a child to access formal schooling, learn sign language, and engage in structured spiritual formation.
- The program seeks two sponsors per child, reflecting the specialized needs of Deaf education.
Current Initiatives
- Kinshasa: First Deaf Sunday School continues to grow, providing weekly instruction entirely in ASL with aims to reach every Deaf child in the city and, eventually, the nation.
- Brazzaville expansion: Collaboration with local Deaf communities to establish a presence, foster friendly contact, and plant sustainable ministries.
- Vocational and social development: Beyond academic instruction, programs emphasize social inclusion, Bible literacy, and a pathway to leadership within the Deaf communities.
Prayer and Partnership
- The ministry invites continued prayer for open doors, cultural sensitivity, and effective outreach.
- Partners are sought to sustain ongoing work, enable broader access to education, and support the development of Deaf church leadership.
How to Get Involved
- Consider sponsorship as a practical avenue to transform a child’s life through education and faith formation.
- Volunteer or partner with ECM to assist in outreach, translation, and deaf-led ministry initiatives. ASL required.
- Share information within support networks to broaden awareness and deepen impact.
Contact
For sponsorship details or further information on ECM’s Deaf Ministry program in Congo, please email missionary Lorella Rouster, Project Advocate at lrouster@ecmafrica.org.
Exciting new initiative for unreached deaf in Brazzaville
Are there any evangelical (Bible-believing) Christians amongst the deaf of Brazzaville Congo? Well, we hope so, but so far our investigations have turned up none. The deaf of “Brazza”, as it is popularly called, are listed as unreached on the Joshua Project website. We know of no churches that have their services translated into sign language for the deaf. We know of no other missions who are targeting them. That’s why the initiative “Let the Deaf of Brazza Hear” is so important. It’s a collaborative effort between Every Child Ministries and the deaf church “Communauté des Sourds-Muets de Kinshasa”. During the month of July, 2026, a three-person evangelistic team will cross the Congo River by ferry with the goal of starting a permanent deaf ministry in Brazzaville. They have four goals: 1) to make friendly contact with the deaf in the city, 2) to share the Good News with them and invite them to salvation in Christ, 3) to start one or more cell groups of the converts and to identify strong, faithful leaders for each, and 4) to recommend a future course of action to develop a ministry amongst the deaf there. Prayers are much needed, as well as partners to help support the ongoing work there.
Your opportunity to sponsor a deaf child
Only $42 a month can change the whole direction of a child’s life
Click here for further information.
You can make a whole new life possible through sponsorship.
Sponsors now have an opportunity to make it possible for deaf children to go to school. ECM’s ministry to the deaf is targeting children who have never been able to go to school because of their inability to hear or communicate. As we receive sponsorships, we will send the children to the “Institut pour Sourds Muets de Kinshasa” (ISMK). Teachers at ISMK are skilled in teaching deaf children. Some of them have been helping the deaf learn for over twenty years. Using pictures, hand signs, and written French words, they are teaching the children to communicate.
Even though most have no idea what a sound is, amazingly, they are able learn to read in French. Eventually, they also learn in their native Lingala. This is the only way these children will ever be able to learn of the saving Gospel of Jesus. If you would like to receive details about sponsorship, contact Lorella at Lrouster@ecmafrica.org. The rewards are great!
Here are two who need sponsors before school starts in September:
Update–Sponsored! Thank you.
Yes, despite the difference in ages, both these girls hope to enter preschool in September. Preschool is essential since they have never been to school before, and they need to learn sign language to provide a vehicle of communication. Then they will learn to read, write, and do math. They will also attend a weekly chapel and a Sunday school where they will learn that they are valuable, made in God’s image, and deeply loved by Him. They will learn how Jesus can restore their friendship with God and give them eternal life in Him. Would you pray about possibly sponsoring one of these girls for only $42 a month? (Note–Because deaf children need a specialized school, ECM needs two sponsors for each child.) If this opportunity is not right for you at this time, would you pray with us that they both get sponsorship before September? THANK YOU!
Ministry to the Deaf–Kinshasa’s First Deaf Sunday School
The sprawling city of Kinshasa gained its first-ever deaf Sunday school in January 2023. This followed months of surveying the needs of the deaf in the city. ECM workers began this ministry to the deaf in collaboration with the “Communauté Chrétienne de Sourds-Muets de Kinshasa” (CCSMK). About fifty children and youth currently attend the Sunday school. Our teachers conduct the school entirely in ASL (American Sign Language). This includes prayers, songs, memory verse, Bible story and other activities–all in ASL. ECM has set a goal that every deaf child in Kinshasa and eventually in all of Congo hear the Word of God in a Sunday school geared to their needs.
We invite you to join us in prayer that the other groups of deaf throughout the city may also be reached with the saving message of Jesus Christ.
Children eagerly say “yes” to Jesus
Missionary Lorella Rouster says she found it heartwarming to see the eager response of the deaf children to the Gospel. When asked if anyone would like to say “yes” to Jesus, many responded, “I would! I would! Me! Me!” (Of course, they “said” this by signing. None of them can speak.) Even when the teacher explained that this meant they were choosing to turn away from a life of sin, the answer was still yes. Even when they were told that this meant they were choosing to follow Jesus and obey Him all their lives, the answer was still yes. Enthusiastically, yes. Who would not be glad to teach such children?
Do you do ASL?
ECM welcomes those who do ASL to consider a short-term mission trip to help organize a day camp or other special activity for our deaf children. Contact Lorella if you are interested in exploring possibilities. Lrouster@ecmafrica.org.