There are more than 68 OOO deaf people in the Eastern Cape. Less than 0.5% of them enjoy the privilege of being ministered to in a way that they can actually understand. “It leaves us with an urgent and clear call to respond to the situation and to answer responsibly to God in this regard, ” says Deaf Friendly CEO Pastor Dirk Venter.
Venter believes that Port Elizabeth is the gateway for ministry to the deaf in the Eastern Cape and invites deaf leaders, ministry leaders, and business leaders to attend a special breakfast briefing at the Cattle Baron, Sunridge Village Shopping Centre at 8.30am on Wednesday February 9. Anybody interested in attending can contact him at 082 880 2060 or e-mail him at dirk@deaffriendly.co.za.
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Venter, a child of deaf parents, pioneered the formation of Deaf Friendly as a non-profit organization. The Deaf Friendly team operates nationally and has developed a strategy to discover deaf individuals or groups and to minister to them in a sustainable manner.
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Deaf Freindl chooses to co-operate in partnership with all Christian faith communities and congregations for the Deaf, as well as with normal hearing congregations of all denominations, says Venter. He says: “Our main focus is to: Let the Deaf see the Gospel!”
He adds: “During my recent visit to Port Elizabeth I have received not one, but four, clear confirmations that Port Elizabeth is the next focal point for ministry to the Deaf. We believe that Port Elizabeth will be the gateway to reaching the Deaf in the Eastern Cape. We have already liaised with certain ministry leaders and 2012 will be the year in which we will strengthen our relationships with local role players. We intend to have a fulltime qualified deaf minister deployed to Port Elizabeth by the end of 2012.”
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