Founded in last July, the deaf fellowship of Hefei Shuangqi Church celebrates its first anniversary of founding, with more than 70 people in attendance, on July 16 and 17, 2016.
The participants included deaf believers from other areas like Ma'anshan, Wuhu, Liuan, Nanjing and Henan Province.
On the first day, Teacher Xie Yan'an from Ma'anshan preaches the message of Jesus' sacred love accomplished on the cross in the sermon named "The Lost Lamb in the Church". During the evening festivities, the deaf believers enjoyed the dinner arranged by the wife of the senior church's pastor.
In the second day, Teacher Tang Ying, from a domestic sign language study center, offered the sign language interpreting for the Sunday sermon delivered by Rev. Zhang Yong, the senior pastor of Shuangqi Church. Later, Tang introduces the culture and ministry for the deaf.
The choir, including the deaf in Hefei, presented the chorus "The Voice of the Deaf" and the deaf believers from Ma'anshan and Dangtu sang the hymns in sign language respectively.
Then, the special gathering for the deaf began after the Sunday service. The deaf Christians from other places continue to praise God through gestures. Afterwards, a deaf preacher who graduated from Heilongjiang Theological Seminary preaches the sermon "The Parable of the Sower" through sign language.
The thanksgiving gathering was prepared for over a month prior when the co-worker staff of the deaf fellowship and Rev. Zhang made special arrangements.
Besides these activities, the deaf members joined in the layout effort for the gathering room for the deaf. They painted drawings, made paper cuttings, as well as decorated the walls with various ornaments. The next large gathering for these deaf fellowships will be held at the fifth anniversary of the deaf fellowship in Hefei.
