Deaf missionary welcomes, inspires community

Key points:

• Collins Kwasi Prempeh, the first Deaf United Methodist Global Missionary, is focused on inclusion in worship and ministries.
• He also aims to empower the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community through advocacy and vocational skills.
• Based in Zimbabwe, “Pastor Collins” also will work in Tanzania, Burundi, Zambia, Congo and other parts of East Africa for the next three years.

Jubilation permeated the Deaf and hard-of-hearing communities in Zimbabwe’s Hilltop Circuit as “Pastor Collins” Kwasi Prempeh, the first Deaf United Methodist Global Missionary, was introduced.

Based in Zimbabwe, Prempeh also will work with communities in Tanzania, Burundi, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and other parts of East Africa for the next three years as a missionary for the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries.

The 40-year-old Ghanaian is a graduate of United Methodist-related Africa University. He worked with sheet metal before pursuing his theology degree. He is married to Victoria Quao, and the couple has three children.

“I appreciate the warm welcome I received from Zimbabwe’s community of Deaf and hard of hearing,” he said. “My main objective is focusing on building inclusive ministries through evangelism and discipleship among Deaf and hard-of-hearing communities.”

Prempeh also will provide leadership training for Deaf laity. He said his primary objective is inclusive worship development, where sign language is used and celebrated in children’s ministry. He hopes to ensure that Deaf children are spiritually nurtured in a language they understand, to empower the community through advocacy, and to develop their entrepreneurial and vocational skills.

“His coming has created employment for me among many interpreters in Zimbabwe,” said Spiwe Mhere, a sign-language interpreter. She said Deaf and hard-of-hearing members of the church’s Mutare urban circuits were ecstatic to receive a pastor who also is part of the community, and as word has spread, more people are joining the church.

The number of hard-of-hearing people who are coming to the circuit has increased from 24 to 60, “and the figure is still swelling,” she said.

Mhere said in Mutare, the plan is for Prempeh to work with five circuits: Hilltop, King Solomon, St. Johns, Streamview East and St. James Dangamvura, with the goal of extending the work to mission schools and rural circuits.

“There is a lot of work to be done,” Mhere said, “and many Deaf and hard-of-hearing people are coming to share the abuse they have had to suffer in silence.”

Women and girls with disabilities are increasingly becoming easy targets for sexual gender-based violence as they struggle to report the abuse due to lack of disability friendly referral pathways. Others work without being paid. Counseling sessions are increasing daily, Mhere said.

The Rev. Edicance Marange, pastor-in-charge for Hilltop Circuit, said Deaf and hard-of-hearing people in the community need to be included and protected from abuse.

“Like anyone else, they want to be recognized, respected, loved and included in day-to-day activities of the church and society,” he said. “At Hilltop, we have a class that participates strongly in worship services. They also want to use their time to be preached at and to preach to themselves. The coming of Pastor Collins has been a blessing to the church.”  

Linda Matsvuka is the secretary at the Zimbabwe East Conference head office. Her firstborn son, Ishe, is part of the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community. She said hosting Prempeh during his stay has been a blessing to her family.

“He has become a father figure to Ishe,” she said. “When Pastor Collins is doing his routine worship services or Bible studies, he is normally with Ishe, and this has helped his spiritual growth. Ishe is no longer as lonely as before.”

She said Prempeh even helps Ishe with his schoolwork. “They have become very close friends and are always together. I thank God for that.”

Stationed at the church head office, Prempeh’s presence is encouraging people to try to converse in sign language. Ishe now uses sign language when he visits his mother at work, and many can now communicate with him.

The Rev. Munyaradzi Timire, acting Zimbabwe East Conference Connectional Ministries director, said the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community used to suffer in silence.

“They used to be abused, neglected, looked down upon and failed to go to school, and their potential was going to waste. Critically and painfully, they were being abused by family members. This was brewing a potential of substance and drug abuse and other mischievous behavior,” Timire said.  

He said things have changed for the better with Prempeh’s presence and evangelism. 

“There is a strong relationship between the church and the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community. They feel loved and listened to. They have a confidant to share their inner issues, and phone calls are coming even out of Mutare inviting Pastor Collins to address the issues. They have also established section prayer meetings every Thursday at Hilltop Circuit.

“Since his coming,” Timire said, “he has been preaching the word of God to them, identifying the Deaf in Zimbabwe, doing home visits, equipping them with skills and establishing income-generating activities for them. Let us understand that disability is not inability and never to look down on those with disabilities because it was not their choice, but God’s choice. They will always be within our society. Let us encompass them by learning sign language.”

In May, Prempeh participated in the United Methodist Young Fellowship conference at Clare Mission.

“I experienced different cultures among the hearing; for example, their choirs, joyful dancing and the powerful sound of drums,” he said. “It was different from what we do in Ghana, and it was exciting to learn and take it all in.

“There were also powerful prayers, preaching and deep expressions of joy in worship. The atmosphere was filled with energy, and I felt encouraged and spiritually uplifted. My faith grew stronger through what I saw and heard.”

One highlight, Prempeh said, was meeting new Bishop Gift K. Machinga and his wife.

“I felt truly welcomed and loved,” Prempeh said. “My wish is for one day to have such an event for the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community.”

Pastor Gilbert Matowe, pastor-in-charge at the King Solomon circuit, complimented the active participation of hard-of-hearing communities in the church.

“Today, 44 members came to church, and Pastor Collins shared a teaching and preached to the church,” Matowe said. “Their active involvement in church activities helps to motivate and encourage parents not to feel embarrassed of their children in that category.

“My wish is for the Zimbabwe Episcopal Area to organize a revival for all of them.”

Hard-of-hearing choir director Gedion Maoneke, 37, is married with two children. He finds it difficult to support his family without income-generating projects.

“My wish is for the church to help us with projects so that we can have a better living standard. We are hoping that the coming of Pastor Collins will address that area,” he said.

Prempeh also is serving a role model for others in the church, including Emma Katema, an evangelist and interpreter at church.

“Sometimes I am overwhelmed with work as I try to balance the interpretation role and other church activities,” she said. “Today, Pastor Collins took us through a teaching about wisdom and preached to us, and we blended his message well with praise and worship songs. His presence has motivated me and my wish is to be a pastor and help my community.”

Prempeh said teaching the Deaf congregation at King Solomon was a joyful and meaningful experience.

“The Deaf members expressed how much they appreciated the message because they could fully understand it, coming from a Deaf pastor using their own language, sign language,” he said.

“They shared that it was often difficult to understand sermons when hearing pastors preach, due to the cultural and communication differences between the Deaf and hearing communities. They emphasized how important it was for Deaf people to have Deaf pastors, as it allowed for easier communication, better understanding and deeper respect.”

Later, Prempeh preached to both Deaf and hearing congregations together.

“It was my first time preaching to the hearing congregation at King Solomon,” he said, “and I was humbled and surprised by how they responded to the message.

“This experience helped raise awareness among hearing members that Deaf people are capable, gifted and fully able to preach and serve in ministry. We give all the glory to God for what he is doing through this mission. We are excited to see God’s work unfolding in the Deaf community and beyond.”

Chingwe is a communicator for the Zimbabwe East Conference.

News media contact: Julie Dwyer at [email protected]. To read more United Methodist news, subscribe to the free UM News Digest