Christian Mission for the Deaf

Approximately 1 out of every 1,000 persons is deaf or hearing impaired.

Meeting the human needs of the deaf requires special skills and services. It is the goal of CMD to reach the educational and spiritual needs of those who face these challenges.

Who is CMD?

Christian Mission for the Deaf is a non-profit organization that focuses on the Spiritual needs of deaf Africans. With a home office in Detroit, MI., CMD utilizes a variety of resources to reach the deaf.

Deaf people face many barriers to "hearing" the Word of God. Illiteracy, isolation and geographical distance pose communication problems. The very nature of deafness itself complicates the problem since it is not an externally visible trait. Special methods are required to overcome these setbacks.

What is our purpose?

Since its founding in 1956, CMD's objectives have been to organize, operate, promote and encourage Gospel and education work among the deaf of Africa. Training local African Christian workers and leaders has been an instrumental method of our outreach.

What are our methods?

Language is the method by which any two people must communicate. Without language, there can be no communication. When Andrew Foster first arrived in Africa in 1957, there were no schools for the deaf in all of Africa, except for a few in South Africa and Egypt. Consequently, much of CMD's work in the first 30 years focused on opening schools for the deaf. Once the basics of communication and education are in place, CMD focuses on the spiritual aspects of the deaf. Training teachers and leaders, evangelism, Bible meetings, camps and youth centers are all part of the techniques used to reach the deaf. All efforts are especially geared to meeting the Spiritual, mental, emotional and social needs of the deaf. Most of our programs and sessions are conducted by Deaf nationals.

Communication of every form is used. This includes natural gestures, formal sign language, finger-spelling, writing, reading, speech, lip-reading and hearing aids. This "total communication" approach helps the hearing impaired to rapidly develop a greater language competency and lays the foundation to understanding the abstracts of Biblical truth. Our goal is to be "all things to all men, that we might by all means save some." I Cor 9:19-22

CMD's history

Accra, Ghana. 1957 Andrew Foster (tallest on left) pictured with children of the first school for the deaf in all of West Africa

Despite being totally deaf himself, Andrew Foster heeded God's call to reach the deaf in Africa. Finding no mission that would support his call, he set out on his own and founded Christian Mission for the Deaf in 1956. CMD opened a total of 31 schools starting first in Ghana then Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Togo, Chad, Senegal, Benin, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo), Burkina Faso, Burundi and Gabon. About the same number of Sunday Schools and churches were established in those countries as well as Kenya, Sierra Leone, Congo and Guinea. A number of Africans from various countries were trained by CMD to lead the work on a local level. Some of these schools were taken over by their governments or other groups. CMD is looking forward to establishing more schools and churches in other un-reached areas as the Lord leads and provides the means and the workers.

After 30 years of service in Africa, Andrew went to be with the Lord through an airplane accident in Rwanda, East Africa on December 3, 1987.

On October 22, 2004, Gallaudet University dedicated an auditorium in Andrew Foster's name, calling him the "Father of Deaf Education in Africa"

How you can get involved

CMD is supported by prayer and faith. While some schools for the deaf receive public assistance, the remainder of the schools, as well as all Gospel work, are supported by the Lord's people.

Accra, Ghana. 1957 Andrew Foster (second from right) with Bible students of the first Sunday School. The school opened shortly after the children's school

There are a number of ways to get involved. In dependence upon God, the Lord has burdened a good number of Christian individuals, assemblies, churches, Sunday Schools and others to share by prayer, love gifts and service. Those with spiritual maturity, personal ability and a willingness to learn make excellent candidates for personal service on the field. Biblical education and training or experience in the field of deafness is also preferred. Special courses, such as language, may be required. Each worker must have a heart for evangelizing lost souls and a desire to build up deaf believers in the Lord.

Here are some other ways you can get involved:

• Become a prayer partner: Pray for us (II Thess 3:1). Our news letter, Deaf Witness, is sent to active supporters, and discusses many concerns in need of prayer.
• Practical support: Since CMD is a non-profit organization, all gifts, bequests, memorials, grants and donations to CMD are tax deductible.
• Donation of materials: Tools like Bibles, literature, films, visual aids and equipment are desperately needed.
• Keep us in your thoughts: Include us in your prayers, mission projects, church, Sunday Schools, prayer meetings, etc.

Remember, Jesus said "In as much as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me" Matt 25:40. We welcome your praying, sharing and fellowshipping.

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