The DMI blog aims to let people know about the deaf kids, teachers, pastors, schools and churches that DMI supports in developing countries, and encourage support for them by telling their amazing stories. Please share this blog with your friends.
This coronavirus has brought many changes into our world. One of those changes is how we view heroes. Before the coronovirus, heroes tended to be those who could kick a ball into a net, strum a guitar on a stage or cry on cue in front of a camera. Nowadays, heroes are more rightly identified as the nurses, doctors and medical researchers who are risking their own lives to care for those in need.
It turns out life can go on quite well without the highly paid and widely worshipped athletes, musicians and actors who entertain. But life is much harder – indeed threatened – without the nominally paid, unknown medical staff who keep us alive. These people are of great value. They are true heroes.
But there are other heroes we hear nothing about at all. Their names are never in the paper. Their sacrifices are rarely acknowledged. They earn a pittance. Day after day, they quietly go about their lives serving those who would otherwise be destitute. They truly give their lives, on a daily basis, so that others might live. And no-one knows who they are.
Arnel Benitez is one of these heroes.
Arnel is the deaf pastor who leads the chapel services at DMI’s Fishermen of Christ Learning Center in Ligao (where I interviewed the students featured in blogs #10~15). In the service I attended, he oversaw Faith leading the singing in sign, Jiselle and friends dancing in worship, and other students giving Bible readings and testimonies. It was impressive to see so many students involved in running the service, engaged in exercising and sharing their faith, and setting an example for the younger students.
Arnel gave a sermon on Jacob and his cry to God: “I will not leave you until you bless me”. It was a powerful message which seemed to resonate not only with the students but with me, too. After the service, Arnel shares with me his goal to see all the kids at the school born again and carry the stubborn hope that their lives will be blessed.
I’m struck by Arnel’s heroism.
It stems from humble beginnings. He is the oldest of three brothers, the only Deaf member of the family. Yet he wasn’t born Deaf. A childhood illness left him Deaf, which his parents found devastating. They didn’t know what to do or how to care for a young Deaf boy, but his father had heard of a man called Neville who was providing wonderful support for Deaf children in Ligao. He took Arnel, aged 7, to the then-new DMI school and left him there in the care of the staff. It’s not clear who was more nervous, Arnel or his father!
The first month was hard for Arnel. Nothing really seemed to click. And with the silence each night in bed, darkness became a source of great anxiety. But once the first month had passed, everything started coming together, and Arnel found himself in a world where he could communicate, learn and grow. In fact these were the very things that thrilled him about the school and these were the very means by which he would excel and find his purpose in life.
Today he is married to Antonette and they have four children, two boys and two girls. Arnel and his wife are both Deaf. All four of their children are hearing. This surprised Arnel as he expected two deaf parents would have at least some deaf kids! But he and Antonette are grateful that their kids are all hearing, reasoning that it would be hard for two deaf parents to raise deaf children.
They have wasted no time in teaching their kids how to sign and they are all now fluent in their second language. Initially, Arnel and Antonette were worried that their kids might get bullied at school for having Deaf parents, but their friends thought it was really cool that their family has its own ‘secret language’!
Arnel’s call to ministry was an interesting one. Basically, Arnel tells me with a smile, it was Neville who called him into ministry! Once Arnel had graduated from college he began teaching at the school. At first there was no regular position for him but the Head Mistress suggested he teach the Bible at the school.
He excelled at this.
Neville then suggested he look into becoming a pastor for the church here. This was the gentle push he needed and a step to realising his life goal. He went back to his college and graduated from the Bible school there. On coming to Ligao, he completed six years of training under a local pastor, and has now been pastoring at Ligao for twelve years. Arnel has more recently been appointed director of churches in this area.
It is such a thrill for him to see so many students at the school not only excel in their personal development and their studies, but to come to Christ. But one of his greatest challenges is staying in touch with graduates who move away, usually to Manila. He encourages them to join Deaf churches in the capital but worries for them as they go off into the big city. It is his hope and prayer that DMI can establish a church for the Deaf in Manila to reach the Deaf there, and so that the graduates of the school can stay connected to each other and remain strong in their faith.
Arnel’s work is huge yet it goes largely unrecognised. It was Arnel who went with Neville to that Jollybees restaurant many years ago and rescued Little Neville from the streets. Little Neville is one of the finest examples of DMI’s far-reaching work and God’s unlimited grace. Little Neville has now become a hero to other Deaf kids who have come from rough beginnings.
This is an interesting story of heroes. Where would all the kids at DMI’s Fishermen of Christ Learning Center in Ligao be today if not for their hero Arnel? And where would Arnel be today if not for his hero Neville? It’s sobering and exciting to think what sort of hero we could all be to others, whether in person, through giving, or by prayer.
If you would like to support Arnel, or DMI’s school in Ligao click on the link here (choose the Non Tax Deductible option for Arnel, or the Tax Deductible option for the school):
If you are interested in supporting any of the DMI kids or teachers, or help meet any of DMI’s needs, please click on the donate button on the top right of the page or mail to info@deafmin.org
Very interesting stary and humbling bring out the Glory of God
A beautiful story.