Deaf Ministries of the Spanish Union of Seventh-day Adventist Churches has a great task and challenge ahead in raising awareness about mission outreach for hearing impaired persons. This time, the task has to be developed in Colombia, South America, particularly in two main cities: Bogota, from July 28th to 31st, and Medellin, from August 3rd to 7th, at the Congress “I will go, too 2.0”.
Taida Lucía Rivero, director of Deaf Ministries in Spain, says: “First of all, I would like to thank God and the Adventist University of Colombia (UNAC) in Medellin for the invitation.”
It was an invitation from Fabián Valencia, Ph.D., in accordance with the local church of Palermo, Bogotá, to Taida Rivero.
“Thanks to them, I could visit them with the purpose of creating a space for reflection, training, exchange of ideas, witnessing and fraternization,” said Rivero. All the activities were related to the active participation of over 1,500 people, among whom were Adventists, sign language interpreters, future interpreters, persons from the academic area, and other professionals related to missionary services both in the global and local context.
“The communication barriers with these persons are replaced with new bridges, raised by the example of our church leaders and lay members who are concerned and willing to change the old careless paradigm towards the hearing impaired persons,” added Rivero.
After the visit of Taida Rivero, the local church leaders and members learned that in Colombia, 1,02% of the general population is deaf or hearing impaired; this represents 455.718 souls to be reached with the Adventist message. The most shocking is not the figures, but the concern shown and the manner in which other denominations are outreaching this social group while there is an absence of a clear project by the Seventh-day Adventist Church in this direction.
One clear example stands out: 200.000 persons, out of the total mentioned above, are already Jehovah's Witnesses. “Eight congregations of the Jehovah's Witnesses were founded just for deaf or hearing impaired persons. About 50% of this social group belongs to that denomination!” commented Rivero, comparing these figures to the only 0,01% of that collective attending any Adventist congregation. “Why?” she added, “Because we are not trained; we are neither aware nor sensitized to welcome persons in that condition.”
The Ministry for people with special needs has to be a stronghold within the Adventist Church.
There are 2,624,898 people with different special needs in Colombia. This means that 5,89% out of the population has a special need or disability. “It might seem a small number, even irrelevant, but Jesus died for them as well,” said Rivero, earnestly.
“We cannot focus only on preaching the gospel to just those who we think are 'perfect persons'. Who would do it to the rest of the world population?” Rivero expresses, concerned. “We cannot turn our sight in another direction, because the day will arrive when God will say: ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me’(Mt. 25:40).”
Taida Rivero is working with all her strength and passion, envisioning a barrier-free church. “Above all, I wish to see true Love manifested among all of us, being the light that shines and enlightens this cold and dark world, and thanks to this demonstration of love, we may be contagious with others who are earnestly seeking God's love,” appealed Rivero.
“We shouldn't expect others to finish this task. God is calling us to serve all kinds of people, and to prepare them to meet their God and Savior Jesus Christ; 'every nation, language and people' (Rev. 14:6),” concluded Rivero.
Sign Language is another language to preach with. In God's hands, any effort will be multiplied.
