Deaf Ministry Interview

I was asked to give an interview today concerning

the Deaf Ministry at our Church. 

The Interviewer is currently a Baptist seminary student doing a research project on special needs ministries.  She  came across an article about our church having a deaf ministry. This immediately grabbed her attention because she is certified in ASL and loves the deaf culture.  I asked her if the Interview could be done over email. She agreed, so now I can share with you her questions and my answers.    I trust the LORD will use this to challenge your own thinking about Deaf Ministry.

What all does your deaf ministry entail?  

 Most of our congregation would say, My involvement in deaf ministry entails teaching a Deaf Sunday school class, interpreting the entire morning service, interpreting the entire evening service and, interpreting half the session on Wednesday night and teaching Deaf Bible class the other half. 

Of course you know that each of the above requires many hours of preparation so that I am prepared in my heart to share God's Word and lead them in Praises to God. 

It also means I am a phone call away, a text away or a visit away for any of them.  I interpret outside the Church as well as inside the Church. I interpret weddings and funerals along side my husband, who is the Pastor.  That means I am available for Doctor appointments, hospitalization, job interviews, etc.   I counsel if and when necessary also.  It requires that I follow strict confidentiality outside of the church, but have taught them we are FAMILY in the Church so often talk about issues as they come up.  They practice problem solving and learn to apply Scripture to their everyday life. 

I try and teach our congregation sign language, as well as deaf culture, via a song most every month.  Our deaf congregation is very active, although none are church members....yet.  We often have deaf men take up the offering.   Deaf provide special music.  We have a Deaf person sign a Bible verse or two every Sunday that goes along with the hymn we just sang.  The deaf ministry entered a Christmas float last year, and hopes to do that again this year.  OH and the Deaf want their children to learn proper sign, so they stand by me and I call them my "junior interpreters".  They  have gotten ALOT better in their signing and confidence...and the parents BEAM with pride.

 

How did your Deaf ministry begin?

Soon after taking the Church in Sebring, I walked into a store and I saw hands flying everywhere.  I entered their conversation, introduced myself, etc.  LATER as I went thru a deaf man's line, he THANKED me for "saving him" from the Jehovah Witnesses who were trying to FORCE him to go to their special meetings.  He said when I came up, they thought I was a new possible convert and they turned their attention to me.  I asked him where he went to Church.  He said, he and his wife go once in a while to a deaf church in Orlando.   I told him that was great, but if he ever wanted to attend a local church (when did not have the gas etc) that I would be happy to interpret for he and his wife.  I explained my husband has just taken a small church and gave him the name and directions.  The conversation was short and sweet as we were at the check out counter.

FOURTEEN MONTHS later he and his wife walked into our church...they sat in the back and looked around....not seeing me.  He tapped the lady ahead of him and said  "Where is Bonnie?"   She went back to where I was teaching the children.   I have been interpreting almost every week since that time.   This particular man, and his wife, have recently moved to New York.

GOD started our Deaf Ministry.  I was simply willing and available.

 

What are some of the challenges you face in your ministry and how do you overcome those challenges? 

 

There are challenges in every ministry, for they all involve people with different personalities, expectations and a variety of spiritual understanding.  

 

 The Deaf ministry here in FL is different because not only are they deaf, but they are from various countries.  A few speak several languages! So our deaf congregational signs vary and it is fun for me to learn and remember the various signs. 

 

They also vary in educational backgrounds.  Some went to Deaf school and are fluent in ASL, some were mainstreamed or in segregated rooms for the Deaf or Hearing Challenged.  Some speak fluent ASL (a language of its own), some use a relaxed form of  signed English, and some combine the two by using classifiers but still English structure (I call that pidgin).  Some are MUTE, some speak rather clearly, some speak loud and some hard to understand.  My philosophy is: I usually sign according to who is watching me the most!  :)  I change back and forth during a sermon depending on their attention, this also helps everyone to be able to understand at their level without being overwhelmed. 

My greatest challenge is always to understand them when they sign.  Because I personally had not met another hearing signer for FIVE years after I learned to sign, I had no clue that I was suppose to voice proper English while I signed.  This is still my greatest struggle because although I understand them most of the time, it is often hard for me to find appropriate English words in real time.  But God is faithful to help me.   We have a segment in our Sunday morning Service where the people can raise their hands and give a Praise report or share a prayer request.   STILL...after all these years (learned it in middle school and am now 62) my heart still races when I see one of their hands in the air. Every Sunday a hand (or five hands)....will go up in the air!   IT has been very stretching for me and I am grateful for the exercise of my weakness.  SILLY.....because God is faithful!

One challenge we are working on:  When a deaf person rises their hand to share in the front row, the deaf person in the fourth row cannot see what they are saying because I AM VOICING, not signing.   SO the deaf suggested that when a deaf person raises their hand, another deaf person will come stand my me.  He/she will copy the deaf person's signs so that all the deaf can understand, and then I am free to VOICE for the hearing.  So far this seems to be working well.

How do you feel the church in general respond to those who are deaf? 

When the deaf ministry first started, the attendance of deaf was not every service or every week, so we took opportunities to teach the hearing people about deaf culture and language, etc.  I believe this church is AMAZING with the deaf!   I have been in MANY deaf ministries in my life, and this church FAR exceeds in their love and acceptance.  HUGS are freely given across the aisle. {The Deaf can sit anywhere they want, but they CHOOSE to sit together on the side of the Church where I stand.} Our deaf HELP out our hearing because our hearing is mostly a senior citizen congregation, and the deaf are all young families. So the Deaf do a lot of home projects for our hearing. At Potlucks (almost every Sunday) the Deaf are in the kitchen washing the silverware and pots, or sweeping the floor! I applaud the hearing congregation as often as I can for the way they love the deaf people. I applaud the deaf congregation as often as I can for the way they love the hearing people. And in all of that LOVE, God is pleased, honored and glorified!

 

What are some things that you have learned through this ministry that you would find important to someone else starting a ministry similar to yours? 
Be sure you love deaf people MORE than their language.  Be sure to LOVE the people before Church, during Church and after Church.   Find creative ways to involve the Deaf in the church, not just come, sit and exit.   Always remember you are using their language.  We are honored to be able to use their language.  When they correct your sign, THANK THEM, and try your best to adapt to their sign, even if your sign seems to make more sense.  Be sure to pray for each of them....OFTEN.  The ministry is the LORD's......it is just an honor to be called of God, equipped by God, to share God's Word with deaf people. Always be a student of the WORD OF GOD and a student of SIGN LANGUAGE. Be Real with them. Love them, and watch God work!!!

 

What is the biggest joy or blessing that you receive by working in this ministry? 

 

To watch them Grow in the Lord.  Recently while sharing how we should not be unequally yoked in marriage, a lady's eyes welled up with tears and she said "I did not know that!".  I was able to tell her that God knew she was not aware of that, and HE protected her by having her husband's heart bow to Jesus.  Now they are a beautiful Christian couple.   Then she said:  "But now that I know, I need to teach this to my children."   Now there is some spiritual growth!   There has been many similar blessings lately that keep my hands shouting AMEN, instead of feeling fatigue.

Another blessing is the JOY of standing next to my husband who is the Pastor.  I have enjoyed watching him grow in the Lord over the years, and it is a thrill to be at his side, to serve God as a Team, in ministry.

HA-HA...another JOY is that this Baptist lady can be as charismatic as she wants to be and no one criticizes her joyful movements, or thinks they are inappropriate,  because they just think it is the way all Interpreters sign! Sign language has deepened my worship and I will be forever grateful to God for teaching me this language.  Sign language is the avenue where all that is within me, can be seen on the outside!  I am ever grateful.