The statistics are sobering:
- Nearly 95% of all deaf children have hearing parents and only about 10% of those parents ever learn enough sign language to hold a conversation with their children.
- Less than 5% of all churches in the United States offer any outreach to Deaf people at all, and it is extremely rare to find a church that offers age appropriate Christian teaching to Deaf kids.
- Only about 2% of Deaf people have accepted Christ as Lord. (By the way, the upper case “D” means deaf people who use American Sign Language and see themselves as members of the Deaf culture.)
- Deaf people who use American Sign Language (ASL) as their primary language are the largest unreached linguistic-cultural people group in North America.
Here is the truth, as hard as it is for us to admit: The places most people turn to for Christian teaching and spiritual guidance are simply inaccessible to Deaf people.
Parents, Sunday school teachers, youth leaders, camp counselors, pastors — and sometimes even “sign language interpreters” — lack the skills to make God’s truths clear and understandable to Deaf children and adults. When there is no clear communication, there is no true access!
But changing this situation is very complicated. Making a hearing church truly accessible to Deaf people requires serious commitment from staff, interpreters, and congregants individually, as well as a corporate commitment from the congregation as a whole. Often, a greater commitment than initially expected.
It’s not easy. No wonder most Deaf ministries don’t last more than a few years – if that long. Other are stillborn.
Let’s explore these over the next few weeks. I welcome your comments and feedback and your stories.
I currently am involved with the worship team at “Hope Community Christian Church “in Marlette ,MI.interpreting the music. I have a strong growing desire to build on this limited ministry . Our church congregation is growing rapidly. So much that we have out grown building that we have only been in for 2 years. We desire to reach all people in the community including the Deaf/deaf . Jesus sacrifices were for everyone he created . Who are we to decided who get to go to heaven and who dosent. How can they choose if they don’t know. Please help me build this ministry
hello i have a calling to the deaf ministery im hearing impaired but want to help the deaf know Jesus as their savior pls tell me how to start and what i have to do to get started
Stephanie, I am Deaf and I have worked with another missionary board to set up new Deaf Ministries. I have worked with them for 4 years on missions to Central America.
You said you need to know how or ask for help. I will be willing to help you with that and please feel free to ask questions. I will be happy to work with you.
For now, what I can say is you need to do in your church to talk with the pastor about your calling and get some people from your church who are willing to work with the Deaf and go see the Deaf like.. go to Deaf Coffee House if you have any in town and invite them to church. You need an interpreter. Ask your pastor if he knows someone in church that does sign. If not, why not be patient and start up a sign language class and teach signs and keep doing that for few years and by the end result in 3 to 5 years, you will have interpreters in your church! For now, find someone who can take notes or ask the Pastor for his notes so you can review his messages at the same time or after church. I highly recommend you get a book by DeAnn Samply called, “A Guide to Deaf Ministry.” It was co-authored with Joni Tada (well known person with Disability). That book will help you understand and to share with your pastor and church members. Hope that helps!
I have recently started one. I would love any information you have. We have licensed interpreters.
Mark,
Our family has a growing interest in deaf ministry and would love to do a mission/vision trip to Central America and work with the deaf community. Do you have any recommendations for us?
Thank you for your help.
Lisa
Mark,
Hello there! My name is Clifford and I started learning sign language in 2008.
I recently interpreted a song in church (which I haven’t used my signing abilities for a long time) But it was recently confirmed that I need to start a deaf ministry. Everyone was amazed because it’s needed in this day in age. I have been motivated to go back to school to receive my credentials in ASL. I came across the help you suggested to a young lady. I’ll be looking to get licensed in the state of TX. Thank you so much! My gift and love for sign has increased in just a matter of a few days.
Hello Clifford, that’s good news. Best wishes in your studies, and be sure to hang out in the Deaf/signing community – no better way to hone your skills and identify ministry opportunities.
“What ever it takes” is my motto that I now live by as I strive to serve my Lord and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. He did it for us .He set the example.We must serve with the same fortitude.
I am involved in Lutheran deaf ministry (ELCA), and we wrestle with this issue all the time. Over the years we’ve come to realize that the future of deaf ministry is ecumenism – working together across denominations. Of course, not all denominations can work together (which is sad), but there are enough of us with enough similarities in our theology that we should be able to find ministry partners. We are all struggling with the same barriers: a tremendous need, with limited resources (in terms of money and leadership). If we share and work together, we should be able to reach out more and share the Good News of God’s love.
Working together across denominational lines is something we have been advocating, and doing, for many years. But it may be easier for para-church organizations like Silent Blessing to do this than it is for denominations. We are currently working on a new VBS curriculum based on our Dr. Wonder’s Workshop TV series. Our goal is to create a curriculum that will enable hearing churches to create a VBS experience that can be truly ASL/English bi-lingual thus making it possible to really engage Deaf kids, too.
Our longer term dream is to develop a comprehensive web based, self-directed, interactive Christian Ed curriculum core, also ASL/English bi-lingual and bi-cultural, complete with lesson plans and classroom materials that will enable Sunday School or small group leaders to use the curriculum in the church. The core curriculum would teach only those doctrines most commonly held by most denominations as being at the essentials of the Christian experience. But this core curriculum would be made available to various denominations who may wish to augment it with doctrinal distinctives for use in their own churches. It would be a way to work together and create materials that can help expand the capacity of more congregations to minister in meaningful ways to Deaf children, even if there are not many strong signers within those congregations.
I’ve been thinking about a Deaf AWANA club and if possible modifying the curriculum so it will be easier to understand. I may try to reach AWANA to see if I can get permission to modify their curriculum or partner with them to modify it not only for Deaf children but also for those who struggle with the written language (such as down syndrome and developmentally delayed).
It would be great to also develop the lessons in ASL video format.
I was an AWANA leader for 30 years. I am also a certified sign language interpreter. I only had one deaf child for one year. I did modify some of the material at that time for the child. I am not sure of the child’s age but she was in Sparks (grade K-2). AWANA is very open to translating their curriculum to meet the cultural and linguistic needs for people in other countries. I would contact AWANA to see if something has already been set up by other churches. I am wondering if they have a program in Lynchburg, VA. Our church in San Antonio (Community Bible Church) is looking to expand the Deaf ministry.
Marshall, As a Children’s Pastor with a Hard of Hearing (HH) daughter, I would utilize a curriculum in my ministry that you are describing. I would enjoy making my ministry completely ASL bi-lingual, and it would be so much easier if the materials were easily accessible. If you ever need to test run your curriculum, please let me know. We have a ministry which reaches over 600 kids every weekend, and perhaps we could help you in your development stages.
Where did these statistics come from?
If general deaf population is unreached, what about deaf refugees?
Carolyn, I am aware this is 2 or 3 years old message you posted. My pastor did this the same and he did extensive researched. It is called 576. He got it from 2 major sources. You will be happy to give you link. I am not sure if this site allows it.
http://www.deafinc.com/576page.html
Enjoy.
It is a blessing to me to “come across” your website and ministry. My brother actually had recorded a Dr. Wonder’s Workshop show for me to watch. He knows I am attending school now (my first year) to learn ASL and I pray one day to be an interpreter. I totally believe it is a calling on my life from God. And even though I am studying hard and trying to practice as much as possible, I will ONLY be equipped because God enables. The enormity of reaching a people group with only a handful of volunteers is weighty but isn’t that what missionary work is like? And isn’t our God bigger than the task? I look forward to learning from your posts, etc. Shalom
Silent Ministries and Dr. Wonder’s Workshop has been a blessing to my children and family. I am a HOH/Deaf Mom who has 2 HOH children. I have seen the lack of Deaf Ministry everywhere I go. My husband is hearing and has been a Pastor in the past. We stepped away from the Pastorate so he may finish his time in the Army. He has 1 more year. I am finding is so hard to start a Deaf Ministry. I am leading the music in ASL and teaching another lady ASL. I meet Deaf People all the time who have not been in church in years. They have been invited to my church. The Deaf World is my Mission Field. Its where I am being used to reach the 98% in my community.
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Thank you for sharing your very good website.
I am a special needs teacher at my church a Mother who daughter is deaf wanted to know if their was a way to teach her daughter biblical signs in ASL. She told me of a place to go to learn ASL which I did. My teacher who is a Christian told me he did not know of any place that taught biblical sign but he would help me. Which he has. I was surprised that there was not more out there. I have been working on a memory verse book in Exact English ASL which has been very helpful with children who have learning disabilities to learn scripture verses and their meaning. The Mother and daughter are both happy that I am willing to help them learn biblical sign. I am hoping and praying that more parents who want to teach their children will be able to find more recourses available to them. I was happy to come across Dr. Wonder’s Workshop hope to be able to purchase DVD’s to share with my students.
Check Deaf Missions. They also are producing videos for Deaf children. Also there is a Religious Sign Language Book also found on Deaf Missions website store. http://www.deafmissions.com/
I am a mother who has been praying for the deaf nation consistently for well over 10 years for their complete development and success.
To me, their success is seeing that Jesus gets His full reward: everything He died to give us!
Having said that, I believe with all of my heart that the strategy of reaching them is : crossing denominational lines and becoming ONE.
I believe that the more we create: a banqueting table for them to come, and a variety of ways to feed them that all will be satisfied.
Its just like feeding our children.
Finding out their likes and dislikes.
Their learning style and then taking them with us.
To me, I see a whole new way of doing it.
Not just an interpreter in front of the church like the way ‘we have always done it’, but creating opportunity to show them how to minister, how to take art they create and give it away as a tool to evangelize and encourage another.
When the church prays,when they go lay hands on people, instead of having the interpreter stay up front, take the deaf with you and do it. Let them observe and learn and then let them do it too.
Class room time is the most vital in their growth, not the main church.
They must have specific classes that are detailing and focusing on the needs depending upon their level of understanding.
and that means us finding out what ‘level’ they are at so we can put them in the right classes for learning.
Tools that seem most vital are skits, acting out scripture and making the bible stories come alive.
Without it, the color is taken out and it isnt as vibrant for sight learners.
lastly, I do understand that AS: is vital in our reaching them.
But there are ‘terms’ that are left out in ASL that we need as well in our aility to teach them.
This way we can cross language barriers of signing dialect as well as denominational barriers with one swoop and bring these lovely children into the family.
Our home welcoming them to come sup with us.
I hope some or any of this helps!
In deep graditude for all He is doing for them!
Deborah
I am blessed to say that we have a healthy Deaf ministry in our church, but it has taken many (18 to be exact) years of dedication, sacrifice, prayers and open communication with the pastors and the congregation. Our hearing church consists of about 2,000 “members” (we don’t actually have a membership, but regular tithers are considered “members”)and we have about 20 faithful Deaf that come to our Sunday morning services.
We have a Deaf Pastor who teaches a Bible study every Friday night and ironically about 7-10 Deaf regularly show up for that study. Our Deaf Pastor is unable to attend on Sundays because he has a prior commitment to teach at another congregation, but it is our prayer that the Lord will raise up another leader for the other congregation and then our Deaf pastor will come on staff and be able to fellowship with the Deaf at all available services.
We currently have interpreting available for second service in the morning on Sundays and we have interpreting available for all age groups. We also have intrepreters who are willing and available to serve at any and all services that we offer for the hearing congregation. We currently have 3 Deaf women who come to our women’s Thursday morning study.
We reach out to the community with our annual Thanksgiving, Christmas and Summer Dinners where all the Deaf and their families are invited to join us for food, fun, fellowship and a teaching from God’s word from our Deaf pastor.
We hold an 8 week basic sign language class twice a year open to the church and others in the community who are interested in fellowshiping with the Deaf…the class is taught by the interpreters, but many of our Deaf volunteer to assist in the class and they give great insight and share their own stories with the class. This has really helped to give the people in the church a heart for the Deaf and an understanding of how important it is for us to be sharing the gospel with this mission field right in our own backyard! Praying for you in your efforts to reach the Deaf with the Good news of Salvation through Jesus Christ! Blessings, Donna
I thank God for the resources that are available my church is starting a deaf ministry for the deaf who are going to be coming to our church
I am deaf, as well as my boyfriend, our youngest daughter, and 3 of my children’s 4 half-siblings. Finding a church that offers ASL for us has proven impossible. We are to the point we no longer attend church because there is no one to sign for us. My boyfriend and I are planning to get married (no date has been set), and my constant concern has been “Who is going to marry us that can sign to us, or at least interpret our vows to our hearing family members and friends?”
Sorry for just responding now…I just saw this on the website. One question…where are you and your boyfriend located?
I am in Cleveland area.
Thank you so much for sharing these staggering statistics. I was almost brought to tears by reading this information. I have a bachelor’s degree in Children’s Ministry and am 2 classes away from my master’s degree in Children and Family Ministries. As well as, I am the hearing mother of a deaf daughter. The ministry is my passion. I have always had a heart for the “special needs” children. Little did I know that God would give me my beautiful deaf little girl and combine my two passions, loves, and bring me on the journey of being to help even more children. My little girl is only a year old so we are very new to the journey. She can hear with hearing aids, but we are all learning ASL where as when I become a children’s pastor I can make sure children like her (and those who are Deaf) can make sure that they are included and know the love of Christ like the hearing people do!
I was very angry at God as a child, (maybe 11 years old.) when I heard He can make the deaf hear. I went looking for him all alone, walking to many churches during my search. Wondering what I did wrong, why do I have to go through this?? My family would not send me deaf school because I would have to stay there and maybe only come home on weekends so I went to public school, no sign Language for me, I had to learn how to fit in and survive without it, and I did for the most part. It is a very lonely journey to say the least. After a couple of years of searching, I realized that God wanted me to be like him, or Jesus for that matter, He wanted me to know the hurt and pain I received from others when all I did was love them. Jesus is my Savior for sure!! I wish everybody could understand and see what I have. My richness awaits me in heaven! I can’t wait!!! 🙂
It is not easy to make any hearing friend who knows nothing about the Deaf Community with Deaf culture at church. I am so tired of constant “HI and “BYE’ all the times with no conversation. Some always say excuse me. Hard of hearing and deaf with good speech attract hearing people so easy. Some always say , why can not have speech. Who made us mute, deaf, and etc. Open the Bible to find Exodus 4:11. Some treat me like a ghost to them in the crowd , never say HI , how are you doing and etc. Some say we will pray for you to “become hearing”. Remember Paul said his grace is sufficient in his weakness. 2 Corin. 12:9. Sign language is the Deaf Community’s God gifts. Our grace from God is sufficient, too.
The Deaf’s Spiritual needs can not be ignored. Read Lev. 19:14 when some of us asked for an interpreter. The Pastor tends to tell us to be patient and pray for you. The faith is dead according James 2:14-26. They tend to deny the Deaf people can serve God. It is worst for a woman and deaf.
Cross denomination ministry is indeed vital. A new ministry is just starting in teh Charlotte, NC, area that is multi-church. Currently, there are Baptists, Presbyterian, and Methodist churches involved. We are seeking to reach the Deaf who do not come to church and do not know about the Gospel. We are also hoping to help churches see the need to go beyond just interpreting the sermons, and reaching out to really ministry to the Deaf and the needs.
Hello,
I am in need of prayer and assistance.. My daughter is autistic, 70 percent deaf and vision impaired.
Her dad my husband is also fully born deaf.. We sign exact english and have taught our daughter signing exact english as well . >We do not use ASL with her ..
Can you please be of assistance we want her to know about Gods love..
She is currently 6 and half yrs old almost 7 but is only mentally about 4 plus yrs in her cognitive.. She was born hard of hearing
moderately and few yrs ago lost more hearing.. Please help. :We live in Cedar Rapids iowa and have not been able to find any one to accommodate her .. She needs Jesus too..
thank you
P.S. she cant read yet … but she does watch signing time videos
Hi,
I just read your comment. I am from NJ but I have friends in Cedar rapids with an awesome deaf ministry. If you google cedar rapids upc it will come up. The church has several certified interpreters. The woman’s name is Sue Tyrell. Praying for you and your family.
Best,
Josh
part 2
Sorry I got cut off.. Any ideas or suggestions to help ?
Mandi uses sign lanuage .. she signs exact english only and she
does see with glasses..
We do also use signing time videos with her at home and her public school also as of now uses them as well. she does good with signing time
Hi, I am from NJ but I have a friend in Cedar rapids and there is a wonderful church there with professional interpreters. If you google, cedar rapids upc it will appear. Her name is Sue Tyrell. Praying for you and your family!
-Josh
Patricia,
I know your message is more than a year old and you may have already found a place that meets your needs. Word of God Lutheran Church for the Deaf is in Cedar Rapids, 1515 – 29th St. NE, and we would love to meet you and your family. I’m the pastor at the church and you can contact me at iowaeastdeaf at yahoo.com and find us on the web at http://www.iowaeastdeaf.org.
I would consider using pictures, as they are worth many words and can inspire thought-provoking dialogue and offer concrete anchors to conceptualize abstract ideas like forgiveness, sacrifice, an invisible God, and Jesus being alive and Who He is. You are going to be her best model for God’s love as someone that understands and has the patience to work with her to explain things that someone with autism may not naturally acquire.
Consider your goals for using SEE, as ASL is proven to be easier to grasp as a conversational language for deaf children, but not as easily translated to a stronger grasp on English literacy.
Lastly, trust the Lord to show Himself and prove His faithfulness to your daughter, for God’s Holy Spirit works and manifests in and through even the worst of sinners and He is fully in control regardless of how much we think is getting through. Model faithfulness and He will honor that in your life and your daughter’s.
I’m proud of Leyel and others like her who work hard to change these grim statistics!
Many of you and the article made many good points. It IS difficult. Much difficult because of several factors from my understanding being in both worlds-Hearing (born Hard of Hearing) and in Deaf world (lost more hearing in 2004 due to Meneire including Tinnitus and Veritgo). So I am blessed to see both side from the Pulpit and from the pews with open mind as from Hearing World as if I was a Hearing Pastor and from the pews as a Deaf person.
I understood why: Deaf people tend to have harder time understanding the Gospel and the Word of God in the Bible because their reception of words are through their hands and eyes, not ears. Hearing people do understand the process of hearing into their brain and grasp the meaning such as Jesus’ Parbles, idioms pastor uses, big words, so the likehood will bring boredom to Deaf people.
Second of all, like in schools when you have a class of six to eight students depends on where, the students would chat in class like Hearing but the difference is that the attention span is extremely short. Say the teacher from her left gets first student’s attention, great, go on next and next but by the time the last student on her right pays attention, the first one is chatting again.
This means with 40 minutes or depends on how long sermons are, Deaf people find it is tiresome. Not all of course not. But when you add music, Deaf people may not understand the meaning of the music. Sure some do worship but with my Tinnitus, I do not understand music at all. I lost all that feeling or touch. So I understands it. I am blessed to be both Hearing and Deaf.
The other problem is that Deaf people depends on eyes and it gets tiresome as well watching interpreter especially not very movable. Just being wooden like a C or D movie actor would do.
Pastors do not understand the constructionsim of communicating with Deaf people. Deaf needs a pastor with understanding and at their level. Deaf people tend to be third grade level English skills so bibles like KJV is quite advanced even for many Americans who are not Deaf.
The population, today the Baby Boombers of Deaf population is now over 50 and they are tending to stay home more than when they were younger. Family, working.. many Deaf do not have a M-F white collar jobs like college educated people do. Many work on weekends and stores and restaurants forced Deaf people (and Hearing too) to work on weekends and evenings.
Another thing, economy. Deaf community economy has always been in Depression compared to the American economy. Over 90 percent of Deaf people are not employed and have no way to reach church because of limited budget such as living on SSI/SSDI. They do not listen to radio so how the Deaf know about church and not even know about God! That is what happens with the 576 meaning 576 Deaf people die daily but 570 Deaf people heard NOTHING about Jesus Christ. Only 6 are saved and gone to Heaven to be with the Lord. How sad!
I could write more but I will leave to this part enough to understand.
With me, I have worked with the Deaf ministry in CNY from 95 to 2002 and was on missionary board for the same timespan. It was frustrated with the Deaf talking in church, Sunday School, etc. Then it was tough to organize events.. I left to move to Florida to be with my then girlfriend as we were going to get married. I worked in her church and grew in size from 12 to 19 Deaf average per week. I worked hard. I left because of miscommunication with my ex and for other reasons not to say here.. so I left for good reason and came back. Then back home, same church before 2002, they changed attitude so I went on to work with Singles instead for a couple of years instead and sat back instead and now I am in another church to work with art department since it is way difficult to get interpreters in another church as I tried to set up Deaf ministry there. Now I am in a church where I can have peace and quiet. Just myself with a note taker. I tell you its way tough.
I used to be a social soul; trying to build bridges among all the church members. Tbat was when I had good hearing.
Things have changed since I have lost much of my hearing.
The few churches near me (Michigan) believe in segregation. The pastors tend to not want to shate the stage eith an interpreter. They say it is a “distraction” from their sermon and for the majority [i.e., hearing folks]. So, I guess I’m a distraction, not a full-member?!
They have the interpreter stand in a specific small section in the pews, and expect all the deaf and hard-of-hearing folks to sit there. Hence, we are effectively segregated, even in ourchurches.
It is a weariness to continually confront this issue. I hate being seen as a “trouble maker”. Unfortunately, I end up staying home and isolating, or getting angry; both reactions serm to reinforce the division.
Dear Marshall Lawrence
Thank you for an explant article. As a hearing person I feel lost in how to interact with the Deaf people in our congregation. As you made clear there is a high percentage of the Deaf out there who would participate with us if only we can make them feel welcome and we do have a certified interpreter for the deaf congregants.
I provide the weekly bulletin each week. I have come up with an idea to reach out to the Deaf community. Other than perhaps face to face contact I would like to build a card of some sort to give to the Deaf. Thank way very little communication is needed if the giver is not sighing literate.
My question is this. Do you have any ideas as to what to print on the card, other building location, contact number and a brief note telling that we do have a certified translator member? I was thinking that maybe a picture of the sign to invite or something appropriate.
Thank you
William Brainard
304-295-5364
804 37th St
Vienna, WV 26105
dear writer, and all participants, i would like to tthank you for your love for the work of God and for your commitment towards building the body of Christ through evangelising the deaf a.d hard of hearing people of God. indeed we are all one in the body of Christ and are all entitled to knowing the word of God. i believe I was called to encourage deaf people. Am aa Christian encourager, its a gift from God. To all of you please, help me know where to start from. Its been 5years now since the Lord called me to serve Him, but i was treating a broken leg. until this year when I comfirmed that indeed God’s ways are amazing. I need your help please advise immaculate Uganda Africa, +256 777 521 1667 Entebbe
am currently learning signlanguage, learnt some in 2013, learning biblical signlaguange but i dont seem to find some signs like for some names in the bible. please help me know how to go about this.
Lovers Lane United Methodist Church in Dallas, Texas started to have deaf ministry in 2001 with HOH pastor, Rev. TOM HUDSPETH. Interpreter was provided every Sunday. It has grown from 1 to over 60 in 15 years, maybe more as I lost count. The average attendance in deaf fellowship Sunday school class is BTW 15 to 25. We have large attendance on Easter and Christmas. It’s much more than just have an interpreter every Sunday. For more info how to establish deaf ministry….please contact Rev. TOM HUDSPETH at thudspeth @ llumc.org. I can tell you it’s NOT easy. Just don’t give up.
I am not interested in discussion about this but at this time am concerned with finding Sunday School lessons for prek-5th grade to open their eyes to dealing with differences. Do you know where I can find any information on lessons not just info on what people want to see.
I have a hearing impaired student in my SS class and we are going to do a book and an activity so the other students can experience not hearing well. I would like to find a verse or a lesson that could be used with this. Any help????
Hello Karen,
The first Bible story that comes to mind when considering differences is that of Ehud in the book of Judges. He was the lefty that God used to free Israel from subjection to King Eglon. His advantage came from being different than “the norm.” Then there’s Moses’ encounter with God at the burning bush. Genesis 4:11 is where God says, “Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the Lord?” Finally, there’s the blind man that Jesus and His disciples saw in John 9. Jesus told the disciples that his blindness was not for sin, but to display the works of God. All of these together tell us that God chooses and uses our differences for His purposes.
Please let us know how things go with your class – I’m sure it will be interesting and fun!
Hi My name is Brenda Chase, live in Dover De for about 30 years learned English sign language at my hearing church, i’m not certified but really enjoy signing! I now go to another church to improve on my ASL! We had a ministry but they all left ! & I’m the only hearing interpret! signing to our hearing only! congregation !
I need to know how to reach out & bring hard of hearing to our church.I teach 2 students signing & have reached out to our church for many years to no avail! my husband loves his church so he won’t go to a church that is different from our’s & many times I become frustrated because we have no deaf in our church I’m 77 & would love to have deaf in our church! I feel limited to find deaf & bring them into our church I’m lost as where to find them & encourage them to come to our church! I need help God has sent me a student that has found a church to visit last year & we enjoyed that But how do i bring them to our church????????
Hello Brenda, thanks for writing!
My first suggestion is to follow up with the deaf people who were attending and learn why they left. If they found a congregation where scripture is being taught accurately in ASL and where they have community, then give thanks for their growth. If there is another reason, like being too busy or preferring a different worship style, then perhaps you can work with them to learn what can be done at your church to bring them back. They will be your best resources for learning how to improve or rebuild the deaf ministry at your church, and they will know where to find other deaf members of the community. Remember, your real goal is that people meet Jesus and grow in their relationship, faith, and service to Him. Check with local deaf resources or sign classes to learn where people in the signing community are gathering to make new friends, and join them there. Jesus will bring to completion the good work He started in you, and in them. Let us know how it goes!
Hello my name is Raef Wheaton (hearing) and im 17 and a 3rd year student in ASL I have an incredible love for the language and the art of theater. my career path is to build a theater for the deaf that engages them in the performance not by watching interpreters or staring at an Ipad to follow along but by watching the actors them selves sign each characher. and to engage them in the setting the seats themselves would heat up, cool down, vibrate, and emit smell to touch on all the deaf’s heightend senses. I call it the deaf interactive chair. and in my theatre space i would hold church every sunday of course but instead of having one pasture preach in voice and sign. the message would be performed in ASL stories like A-Z stories, and asl poetry to show the message rather than just tell it.
now id like to hear the feedback of an actual deaf church. this is my passion and i believe i can make this happen with my knowlege, skill, and the popper schooling i think this could be truly a one of a kind place.
please email me back with a response thank you so much.
Hello Raef, thanks for writing!
Your idea sounds intriguing and ambitious – a cross between Disney’s 4D theater and the National Theatre of the Deaf. The economics and logistics would ensure it remains unique. Be sure to look into the variety of deaf theatre troupes and venues already in existence, starting with Gallaudet, RathSkellar, Deaf West, and some of those listed in this American Theatre article. (Remember that we’re not making an endorsement or promotion from a faith/doctrine standpoint, but it is a good article on deaf folks in theatre.)
Silent Blessings isn’t a church, we develop video resources to reach deaf children and their families with scriptural truths in engaging ways. From a faith standpoint, though, you raise an interesting idea about incorporating more cultural poetic forms in weekly worship. Deaf churches (as distinct from hearing churches with interpreted services) tend to follow the familiar structure of prayer-song-offering-sermon while using the mode of sign language and incorporating visual resources and deaf cultural references.
I’m not sure how much temperature and aroma might obscure the simple truth of the gospel…that would be a worthy consideration. Meanwhile, do pursue your studies and your dream – it is an intriguing one.
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Hey nice post! I hope it’s alright that I
shared this on my Twitter, if not, no issues just let me know and I’ll delete it.
Regardless keep up the great work.
You’re certainly welcome to share any of our articles, as long as it’s by link back to our website. Thanks for helping us spread the word on deaf ministry!
Hello, my name is James I am a student in a beginning ASL community college class. I am working on an assignment that requires me to research a subject related to deaf culture and then write an informative essay about my findings.
A couple weeks ago I noticed an interpreter signing to a small section of deaf or hard of hearing people at my church. As I listened to the pastor preach, I noticed out of the corner of my eye a man signing. It was the first time I had noticed that my church offers interpreted services. I was overcome with joy that the church included services for people who were either deaf or hard of hearing. Right then I decided to do my research on ASL interpreters at church. I am writing this post in hopes that I can network and find some relevant information regarding interpreted services and how one becomes a ASL interpreter at church. I would greatly appreciate any pointers our leads to information I could use for sources and evidence. Thank you for time.
James Lane
Hello James, thanks for writing!
Your church is one of only 5% of churches that have some ministry for deaf congregants. Kudos! You may want to look at http://www.DeafChurchWhere.com for more information on churches with deaf ministries and what degree of services they provide. Some offer an interpreter, but the sense of community is lost when the interpreter is not engaged. Others have a small deaf congregation meeting in a separate room.
As for becoming an interpreter at church, the best thing is to learn ASL and dive into the deaf community with both hands. It is a full and nuanced language, best learned in the company of those who use it for everyday communication.
The next step is to learn interpreting – it is another complete layer of skill as you receive information, process it, then present it in the target language with continuity and clarity while receiving the next unit of information. There are aspects like waiting for a complete unit of thought so that you use the correct conceptual sign for the terms expressed — for example, how many conceptual meanings does the word “light” have? Each is communicated by a different sign.
Unfortunately, many compassionate people have studied ASL dictionaries in books and confidently mangled the intended message because they didn’t know better and had no access to professional interpreting resources. This ends up doing more harm than good.
Contact the deaf people in your congregation, ask for their stories and opportunities to network with their friends. Other resources you can look into are DOOR International, Deaf Missions, Deaf Bible Society, Deaf Harbor, and Deaf Teen Quest.
Best wishes on your research, your paper, and your future in deaf ministry. Keep us posted!
Because i beleive that Deaf people need delivarance and healing. Jesus said that those who beleive in me will place their hands on the sick and the sick shall be healed.
Jesus always healed the deaf and the blind.
and he still does….
Melanie, thanks for writing!
You’ll find our perspective differs from yours a bit. The physical conditions of this life are not as high a priority as the spiritual conditions that determine our future. http://www.silentblessings.org/deliverance-and-healing-for-all/
Hi my name is Inez Hamilton and I am working on my Masters Degree in Theology. The reason I am write to you is because I need help with my Thesis paper. You see I would like to prove that and I do not know if I am asking the right question or not but here it is. That ministering to the deaf-Blind,and the Blind, and hard of hearing is also a ministry that should be in place in a lot more churches. The reason is because just like churches will do their very best to get ready for other people that have some kind of other disability what reason should they not have this ministry in place?
Hello Inez, thanks for writing.
Yes, it should be a common thing among churches to make the gospel available to everyone who is, or may be, among their congregation. Jesus made it clear that He regarded everyone, whether blind, crippled, leper, or deaf, as a person equal to others and in need of saving grace, as we all are. The trouble comes in with our comfort levels and our perspectives on stewardship. Some find a live interpreter or open captions distracting. We tend to overlook special needs that may exist, whether for wheelchairs or alternate lighting. We find it inconvenient to make unique accommodations for those few who need the message delivered differently.
Meanwhile, finding quality interpreters with accurate doctrinal understanding is not as simple as widening a sanctuary door or designating a pew area for wheelchairs and walkers. Imagine a skilled interpreter with a Hindu perspective translating the phrase “you must be born again.” Hindus and Baptists understand those words quite differently. Then there’s the matter of community — if the only person deaf people interact with is the interpreter, while hearing congregants discuss the sermon, next Bible study, or lunch plans, the community and fellowship vital to growth is unavailable to them.
Should congregations make efforts to reach their neighbors? Absolutely, always. Is there more to it than a little reconstruction or the hiring of language resources? Yes, very much so. It takes a long-term dedicated commitment, and the willingness to keep going without an obvious or quick return on investment. It takes involvement by more than just the pastor and board – a healthy portion of the congregation would have to prepare themselves to welcome and befriend someone who perceives the world and processes thoughts differently, either because they depend completely upon their ears or completely upon their eyes without the multi-channel input the majority takes for granted.
Check out our resources page. In particular, Shattering the Silence and Building Deaf Ministries that Work.
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