There is an increasing tension nowadays over Christians being denied a voice in society, the threat to Christian education, and even job insecurity that can come with living a Christian faith. These concerns are real and they are present. They are also relative. For some, having no voice at all in society, being excluded from any meaningful education, and given few if any job opportunities, is a daily and life-long reality. It is what Patrick calls ‘The Big Grief’.
Patrick Tuyishimire is Deaf. He was born into a large family in Rwanda. As is common in Rwanda, his father had four wives though three are now divorced, including Patrick’s mother. The ups and downs of family life can be harsh but these are not part of the narrative that forms Patrick’s grief. That began at school.
He was placed in a hearing school until grade six. He understood next to nothing and failed his final exams. He was miserable. In the hearing school, there were really only three things that Patrick learned: he learned that he had no voice in society, he learned that he had no place in school, and he learned to hate being Deaf. This was his plight. This was his Big Grief.
He has never forgotten it.
Patrick’s life dramatically changed once when he began attending a Deaf school in grade six at the age of sixteen. For the first time in his life, he found ‘voice’, he received an education that actually mattered, he found a community that he belonged to and an identity that he loved. Patrick very quickly came to love being Deaf. He also excelled in his studies and this led him to some exciting career opportunities.
Patrick has also benefited from a loving Christian mother who patiently explained, as best she could to a Deaf son, the ways of God and the teachings of the Bible. He accepted these things yet his understanding of his faith didn’t really mature until he joined DMI’s Immanuel Church of the Deaf-Rwanda. Here, finally, he found clarify in what his mother had been trying to teach him. Finally, he could come into a truly saving knowledge of Christ. He was baptised in 2020 and has never looked back.
With an education and a faith, Patrick has not only found voice, he has found three voices: Kinyarwanda, English and sign! His skill in languages and his passion for the gospel saw him land a job with the Bible Translation Project where he helped translate Scripture into Rwandan sign language. Through this work and the work of the ICDR church, hundreds of Deaf in Rwanda have now heard and responded to the gospel.
Patrick’s working relationship with DMI is a new one. In early 2021, his skill set, faith, intellect, humility and maturity were recognised by DMI and he was offered the job of Director of Deaf Action Rwanda (DMI’s name in Rwanda). For some, this baby-faced 29 year-old with the huge smile and infectious energy was a surprise choice, but Patrick has proved to be a huge boon for the organisation. His leadership and evangelical zeal are producing fruit. He has a big vision.
Huge.
He has a vision for the education and the salvation of all Rwandan Deaf people. He has developed plans for a large school for the Deaf – a million-dollar plan (literally) – a large step in seeing that every Deaf child in Rwanda receives a meaningful education. He has developed evangelical plans to see that every Deaf person in Rwanda hears the good news of the gospel. And he is working to see that every Deaf person has the opportunity to be gainfully employed.
These are not the visions of a common man. Such a big dream for a young man, such a fire in the belly; his irresistible friendliness yet serious determination, and his devotion to work and passion for ministry lead me to ask a foundational question: What drives Patrick?
The Big Grief.
It’s memories of The Big Grief that drive him. He never wants to see another Deaf child shoved into a hearing school to flounder and fail. He never wants to see another Deaf person unemployed and begging on the streets. He never, ever wants to see another Deaf citizen without a voice.
It’s not all grief and work for Patrick though. On 13 February this year, Patrick married his sweetheart Alice and they have begun a wonderful new life together.
This is the man who heads DMI in Rwanda. Watch him. With the right support and by the grace of God, great things lie ahead for the Deaf of his country.
If you would like to support Patrick, or any of our students, teachers or pastors, please click on the donate button below, or mail to info@deafmin.org
The glory be to God for this great leader in making. Such a heart with big vision and determination.