It was all fun at the All Nations Christian Assembly (ANCA), Nasarawa, Kaduna, on June 30, 2024, as worshippers were thrilled to an amazing “Morning of Hymns” by the deaf and dumb sub- group of the church’s choir.
All eyes and ears were on them that Sunday morning when they convincingly showcased their talents and affirmed that disability was never a hindrance to serving God.
Leading the 10-member deaf and dumb choir was the choir master, Ibrahim Garba, who sang through sign language, complemented by drums beaten by the physically unchallenged members of the choir.
Some worshippers were near to tears as they watched their brethren, who could not talk nor hear, sing like normal persons and delight their listeners.
As Garba controlled and directed his members on both low and fast tune of the hymns, he clapped, danced and raised his hands to high heavens, obviously giving praises and thanks to God. He told Daily Sun: “I was born dumb and deaf. I am married and I have three children. My wife is also dumb and deaf. I have been a choir master for the past 15 years based on appointment by the church.
“I am always a happy person. One of the things that always makes me happy is by singing unto the Lord. But I feel sad when I see people having problems or looking sad due to one problem or the other.
“If I was not born dumb and deaf, I would have been singing more than this. Despite my challenges, I can still sing and praise God. My parents are no more. They died some years ago. I am from Plateau State. My favourite hymn is, ‘Glory be to God for the great things He has done’. Anyday that I cannot make it to church, one of my colleagues, brother Mathias takes over from me.
“I want government to empower me so that I can be on my own. I am a good singer especially Christian songs. I want a good job so that I will be able to take care of my family. It is unfortunate that most people and the government don’t care about us that have disabilities. Many of us are talented and we are ready to work and earn a living.”
Music director of the church, Mercy Oibe, said: appreciated his vast talent, saying that there was nothing he could have done better than singing and praising if he was not born deaf and dumb.
“This deaf and dumb choir master has the passion to do the work. One exceptional thing about him is that he puts the whole music in his brain. He can sing without looking at the book. He knows all the stanzas.
“He hardly makes mistakes as he conducts the choir. He sings as if he has internal hymns inside him. He knows which hymn is slow and which one is fast without anybody telling him. He is an exceptional man.
“I have never seen someone who is dumb and deaf that is so interested in singing and conducting a choir like him. We are encouraging him to groom another person in his category so that we will not miss him one day.”
Church minister, Elder Sunday Oibe, spoke on the message of the day, Victory Through Sufficient Grace, taking from 2 Corinthians 3:5, 12:9: “As Christians, we must not deceive ourselves that we cannot be afflicted with sickness and disease. We must not be fanatical by refusing to see a doctor whenever we fall sick.
“As Christians, we live by the grace of God in the midst of difficulties and so we need to give thanks to God all the time because His grace is sufficient for us.”
Referring the congregation to 2 Samuel 19: 15, Elder Oibe advised: “As Christians, when you are under pressure to take a decision on a certain issue, praise God to enable you make a good decision. May God correct errors of wrong decision because it is not every opportunity that is an opportunity.
“May God never allow us to take the wrong decisions whenever we are passing through difficult times. If you are suffering you should begin to praise God.
“As Christians, we must not pass through every door because it is not every door that leads to prosperity. Some doors lead to destruction. So we must praise God to be victorious in life. Time is very challenging, we must praise God for His grace over us.
“We must encourage People with Disabilities (PWDs) to showcase their talents, and not go begging. Some people are deaf and dumb like our choir members here but they prefer to go begging. It shall be well with you, songs and praises shall not depart from your mouths.”
Secretary of the church, Dominic Chukwu, said: “Being physically handicapped is not an excuse not to make heaven. Members of our deaf special choir are people of good characters. Many of them work in reputable organisations in Kaduna.
“One of them, for instance, is a caterer with a government establishment. From time to time, the deaf choir members get invited to render special songs in the church. Just like today which is the morning of hymns programme.”
General ChoirMaster, ANCA, Sabo Tasha branch, Kaduna, Manasseh Oyigoga, said: “We thank God for the life of the deaf choir master for having the vision to serve God through singing in his own special way. He has been very energetic, he has been charismatic in leading the deaf ministry choir.
“It is our prayer that God should take them to greater heights. They have been an encouragement not just to the church alone. When we invited them the other day to our Sabo branch of the church, people who saw them singing started crying because they are seeing for the first time people who are deaf and dumb singing in the church.
“They praise God in their own unique way with their sign language. And it is very wonderful. So we thank God for their lives. The other day when I was travelling to Kano, I saw some of the deaf and dumb on the road, begging. I now wrote a message to them, telling them that they should engage themselves in small business.
“This is not what only the deaf choir ministry does. They learn how to make soap and they are engaging in it. Some of them can repair shoes. Some of them are artisans. With their hands they can work. So instead of begging, they can align with the fellowship. These are special special people with special abilities.
“If the government could create vocational skills centers and support them with start- up packs so that they can go and learn and stand on their own business, it will be great. I know some of them that started with shoe making ventures. Some of them are doing great now. So if the government can support them, I think they will be self- reliant and not go begging on the streets in order to reduce the rate of begging in our society.”
To associate with deaf and dumb in the church, most members of the congregation adopted the sign language as a second language within the church to enable them exchange greetings and other felicitations with the PWDs.
