Blessing of the Foundation, Cathedral Deaf Church, March 26th

Below is a short video of the Deaf Sunday Service from March 30th at the LCCN Deaf Centre, in the LCCN Mission Quarters, Jimeta, Nigeria, The video is only bits and pieces of the service. It took two hours to upload this 5 minute video. I hope you enjoy it. 

Click to go to Go Fund Me

Bishop Amos starting the Blessing Ceremon

The above video is a four minute version of the 25 to 30 minute Blessing of the foundation for the Cathedral Deaf Church. It is as big as the blogger would allow. I will put the 8 minute version up on U-Tube when I go to the internet cafe. (I went to the internet cafe and the 8 minute video is too large for them. They have a limit of 150MB and it is over 200.)

Children in blue are students at the LCCN Deaf Centre

This was a formal ceremony officiated by Bishop Amos Yakubu of the Yola Dioceses. It was mostly in Hausa so I did not understand what was being spoken. I am told the blessing is to pray that the foundation will build a strong and fruitful church. Also that the congregation will find the funds to complete the church. Many churches take several years to build once the foundation is started. They will build until they run out of money. Then save money until they can build the next part of the church.

Pastor Ruth in trench as Bishop gives his remarks.

The ceremony opened with a prayer and a hymn. There were several readings from what I am calling the book. I believe it is a book that has the blessings and prayers to be offered on most occasions. The ceremony was started outside the foundation and after a while the Bishop got into the trench and continued reading from the book, read some scripture and prayed. Then he laid the first concrete block. Reitred Bishop William Lautai laid the second block to form the corner. Bishop Lautai was instrumental in convincing the Cathedral and the Diocese to build the church. His wife is a former Danish missionary and is helping to coordinate the funds from Denmark. Pastor Ruth then laid the third block.

Mr Yakubu Bulama givng remarks.
My house is in the back left.

After a final prayer and the Lord's Prayer. Bishop Amos gave a short informal address and asked Mr. Yakubu Bulama to also say a few words. Yakubu Bulama is the Secretary of the Cathedral Deaf Church Building Committee but he is not a member of the Cathedral Church. He is also the Water Program Coordinator for the Health Services Board, the LCCN Projects Coordinator (volunteer position), and too many other volunteer assignments to name. He spoke on how he thought the Deaf Church would help the Deaf Community of not only Jimeta and Yola but of all of Adamawa State and Northeast Nigeria. He also slipped in a pitch to the Cathedral and the Bishop that the Cathedral and the Dioceses at some point should help financially.

After Mr. Bulama spoke Bishop Lautai spoke a little more briefly and more direct to my camera. Thanking the supports in American and Denmark for their support of the Deaf in Jimeta and this project. After the informal speeches some Malta and Maltina beverages were given out and my bag of M&M with peanuts was consumed.

Retired Bishop William Lautai remarks.

By the end of the day the Engineer and Mason has laid out all of the corners. The next step in the process will be to start the support columns and continue the foundation blocks.

Currently, they have enough money to continue another week or two of construction. There is a money transfer from Denmark in the process. When it is received they will be able to continue working and complete the foundation, wall columns, bring the foundation blocks up to floor level, fill the foundation and complete the floors. Work will then stop until they receive more money to build the walls.

Pastor Ruth giving out the last of the M&M's.

There are three ways you can contribute to the building of the walls. You can mail a check to Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, 301 County Road 18, Excelsior, MN 55331. Be sure to write Deaf Church Fund in the Memo line. 

The second way is to click the link below and contribute online with Go Fund Me.

Go Fund Me, Deaf Church Walls or click on the picture below.

The third way is for those in Denmark.
Man kan støtte byggeriet gennem Mission Afrika på dette nummer: 5061 1060018 og øremærke gaven Døves Kirke konto 2114. DER ER BRUG FOR DIN HJÆLP.

Beyond contributions you can help by praying for completion of the church, sharing this posting on your Facebook page or Twitter account, of just email it to all of your friends.

Click to go to Go Fund Me

Corner Block have been laid on march 27th,