Spiritual nurture for the hearing impaired :implication for Christian education in the church

Abstract

The purpose of this grounded theory study was to develop theory about meeting spiritual nurture needs of the hearing impaired. Two congregations of the hearing impaired in Nairobi were used. The study incorporated interviews with ten members of the two congregations under study as well as several site observations. Three video documentaries were also used. A three-element phenomenon was ascertained. The first was studying the culture of the Deaf Community to be familiar with it, accept the deaf in their culture and be sensitive to it as one endeavors to nurture the deaf spiritually. The second element was communication issues. The deaf only communicate effectively in their local sign language. Sign language could also be supplemented with interpretation, lip reading, and the written page. The communication of the Christian message in the deaf language led to spiritual growth. The third element was deaf fellowships which participants included deaf churches, children and youth fellowships, school ministry and other deaf forums in which the deaf met for spiritual nurture. The deaf fellowships required deaf leadership in form of deaf pastors, evangelists and other deaf church workers. This ensured conducting of spiritual nurture programs in the deaf language and culture. A visual model of the entire process of meeting spiritual nurture needs was advanced. Suggestions were made to facilitate meeting of spiritual nurture needs of the hearing impaired.