I want to share the story of a young believer from our deaf community. Christian is 26 years old and has been deaf since early childhood due to meningitis.
After finishing primary school, life became increasingly difficult for Christian. The people around him grew hostile, and conflict became a regular part of his home life. These struggles came not only from injustice within his family, but also from the physical and emotional changes of adolescence—changes that no one ever explained to him or helped him understand.
Because of these challenges, Christian was unable to continue his secondary education. He survived by doing odd jobs, earning barely 1,000 CFA francs a day—less than $2 USD, not enough to meet even basic daily needs. Feeling isolated and unwanted at home, he eventually moved into a small room outside the family house. At that point in his life, Christian had never even heard of God, let alone known that God loved him.
In 2023, everything began to change. Boaz, a disciple who is also deaf and a Disciple Making Movement (DMM) practitioner we mentor, met Christian and shared the good news of Jesus and His work on the cross. For the first time, Christian felt truly seen and understood. He realized there was a place where he could belong—a new family rooted in love. In response, Christian chose to follow Jesus and was baptized.
Since then, Christian’s life has been marked by joy and healing. The rejection he once carried has been replaced with hope. He faithfully participates in spiritual gatherings, including Bible study groups, Sunday worship, and prayer meetings. His passion is evident, and his desire to grow in Christ continues to deepen. Christian is now a committed disciple of Jesus, with a strong longing to see other deaf individuals come to know the same love he has experienced.
Christian’s transformation has been a great encouragement—especially for Boaz, who has seen the fruit of his faithful witness. It has also inspired others in the group to share the gospel with greater confidence. What began as a small ripple has grown into a wave. When Boaz first shared the gospel with Christian in early 2023, the group had only three members. By September 2024, the group had grown to fifteen. They are now preparing to multiply into two groups, and Christian is expected to lead one of them.
Just over a year ago, Christian felt lost, rejected, misunderstood, and without purpose. Today, he is a disciple of Christ who experiences God’s love daily and shares that love throughout the deaf community. He has become a leader.
We eagerly pray for many more stories like Christian’s. Our desire is to see a movement of faith grow within the deaf community.
To God be all the glory.
