The Church For the Deaf, Jimeta, Nigeria Dedication and Consecration Service, November 13, 2016

View of The Church For The Deaf at the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria (LCCN) Jimeta Mission Compound the evening before the Dedication and Consecration Service. The old round hut that blocked the view of the church was removed because it was falling down and no longer used.

Altar prepared for the service. The chairs were borrowed from the Jimeta Cathedral offices adjacent to the compound.

 Rt. Rev. Amos Yakubu, Bishop of Yola Diocese, Pastor Ruth Ulea pastor to The Church For The Deaf and only ordained Deaf pastor in the LCCN.

Bishop Amos Yakubu blessing the entrance.

 Cutting the Ribbon

Filling the Church. Many of the local Deaf Community and many friends and family member. The total attendance is estimated at 200 with 135 inside and about 70 outside.

 Bishop Opening the service.

I did not get the names of all the front row guests. Joshua Abu is seated by the window, Bodil Trop wife of Retired Bishop William Lautai (with green wrapper skirt) and Rikka Vestergaard is on this end of the far pew. Mrs. Bongi is on the end of the near pew with the Andrew Jackson Foster wrapper.

 Blessing and Consecration of the Baptismal.

 Blessing and Consecration of the Baptismal.

Blessing and Consecration of the Pulpit by Rev. Theophelus Shadarch former Vicar of the Jimeta Cathedral and Chairman of the Construction Committee.

Blessing and Consecration of the Altar

Pray of Thanks for the Church

 Bishop declaring the Church has been Consecrated and Dedicated. He names the church The Church For The Deaf. We will no longer call it the Deaf Church.

 Three rings of the Bell to start the service in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. The bell is a gift from the Danish Lutheran Deaf Church of Copenhagen and is a replica of the bell they use to start their service each Sunday.

 The service was started with several songs and special presentations. I took video of the Deaf Choir song and the Women's Fellowship song and other performances. I have not had time to process the videos.

 One of the presentations was a dance by these two deaf men and their camera man.

Yakubu Bulama read a speech written by Pastor Ruth. Copies were handed out to the front row. She did not mix her words when she expressed her disappointment with the Jimeta Cathedral for not participating more in the construction.

Lily Krarup who was the primary fundraiser in Denmark, former missionary to Nigeria, sign language interrupter with several languages gave a few words. 

Kaja Nemuel wife of Most Rev. Nemuel Babba, Archbishop of the LCCN, gave a few words for her husband who was in officiating at another service in the south part of the Adamawa State.

The two men on the right are pastors from other denominations for Lagos, Nigeria. They took public transportation for two days to come for the service.  The man in the suit is also with the Christian Mission for the Deaf Nigeria. 

 ECWA Pastor from Lagos give short speech in ASL.

Bishop Amos Yakubu gave the sermon. The just of the sermon is that it is the people of the church that are to be dedicated. The building is just blocks and materials. The people must be dedicated to Jesus.