CEE Story From The Mission Field
The Struggle between Light and Darkness
September 18, 2006
Recently, an IMB missionary couple to the Deaf people group of Central and Eastern Europe met with one of their strongest Deaf leaders, Pavla . This courageous woman provides a place for a Deaf church to meet in her small apartment and also is gives oversight to the national sign language training for her country. Pavla also works at the Deaf school in her city and has had a lot of influence in leading a number of students to follow Christ. In addition, Pavla’s parents (hearing) are very influential in the “Church” that is most dominant in the country. She has come under immense criticism and attack from her parents, their priests, and their local congregation.
Over the past several months a number of students from the school have followed Christ and been baptized. The church that met in her home became so large that it had to split into two churches in order to accommodate the need for more space. More and more of the Deaf in her club and from the school are hearing about the life-changing power of Christ and what it means to be disciple of the Savior. The Light has continued to shine on those in the Deaf community that have been living in darkness.
A little more than a month ago the school administrator (hearing) and several teachers (also all hearing) asked Pavla to meet with them just before the school year ended. It seems that the local priest and congregation had put pressure on the school administration to stop the outreach to the students. They “informed” Pavla that they would no longer permit the students to go to Bible studies and meetings—even during their free time—when the Deaf churches met in that city. It seems that the powers of darkness were beginning to fight back against the Light again. (Note: This isn’t the first time that the priests and parents have worked against Pavla and Deaf followers of Christ there! When folks from this group see Pavla’s three Deaf children they will often approach them, make the sign of the cross on each of the foreheads of the children, and then shake their heads, and fingers, at Pavla! There are other instances of persecution, too).
As Pavla talked about the “decree” of the school she didn’t seem too alarmed. She went right into explaining her confidence in the Lord as she signed, “Do you remember telling us several years ago that when light comes into darkness that the darkness begins to be dispelled? And remember you said that those in darkness can’t stop or reverse the effects of the light? And remember you said that those in darkness are left with the only option of attacking the one(s) that have brought the light? And remember the Bible story you shared with us where Jesus said He is the Light of the world (John 8)? And remember He said those who follow Him won’t live [walk] in darkness? Well! What do you expect these people at the school to do? They are living in darkness! Why should we expect them to do anything but act like people that live in darkness! They’ve been exposed to the light and are like a bunch of bugs running for cover in the woods after a rock was turned over and exposed them to the sunlight! Well, they may be attacking me, but I’m not worried! These Deaf students at the school, those who have followed Christ, will not give up their faith. They will continue to be light in the darkness! We won’t be satisfied until every dark shadow in the school is eliminated!”
With that, Pavla turned and began conversing with one of the other Deaf believers that was meeting together with us this day. We were a bit shocked that she said all of that in such a “matter-of-fact” way! But should we be shocked? After all, she and those Deaf disciples in her city have discovered that you can trust Scripture. Her remembrance of God’s stories gave her the calm assurance that darkness may fight against the Light, but it will never overcome it. “Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world!” (1 John 4:4)
Please PRAY for Pavla and the two Deaf churches that meet in her city. PRAY for the students there that have followed Christ and who share their walk of faith with so many others in the school. PRAY that the hearts of the administrators and teachers will be pierced by God’s Spirit and that there will be no limits on students to learn about the Savior and the plans He has to use them to reach the Deaf of the Central and Eastern Europe. PRAY that each of them will have an opportunity to let the Light within them dispel the deep darkness that permeates much of this part of the world, among the Deaf and hearing alike. PRAY that Pavla’s parents and their priest(s) may come to understand why the power of the Light rests in Scripture alone! PRAY that their hearts might be illuminated with that same Light in the days ahead! PRAISE the Lord for the impact that these Deaf churches/followers of Christ are having within the Deaf communities. PRAISE the Lord for the power of the Scripture stories that have taken root in the hearts of Deaf believers like Pavla. PRAISE the Lord that those stories have empowered her, and others, to know that spiritual insights are available fully to them as God’s Spirit uses those Scripture stories to teach them the “full counsel of God!”