IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN A SPECIAL MINISTRY TO THE DEAF
1. PRAY that the Lord will give you a special love and concern for sharing your faith with the Deaf--and that God will empower you as you prepare for this unique ministry.
2. Be prepared to befriend deaf people you meet, and to write any conversation that you do not know how to Sign. (& it might mean a lot of writing)
3. Get T. Kay's Book: "Working Together: Deaf & Hearing", through the ABC. It is SDA and Excellent!
It is available from Advent Source:
1-800-328-0525 [or from Blake’s, address below- Canadian price is $14 postpaid in 2004]4. Buy a good book on Signing such as: "The ABC's of American Sign Language", "Signing Naturally" Level 1 & Level II. (the Vista American Sign Language Series--this also has a video with it!).
www.amazon.com lists many books. Also computer CD’s or DVD’s are helpful. Consider buying an ASL Dictionary by Dr. Sternberg on CD-ROM with 2600 signs in video, quizzes, etc. There is also a DVD Dictionary of Signs - contact us for latest prices and availability.5. Attend a live Signing Class, or even start with a book and video. Try and find a deaf friend to sign with.
6. Have a good look at the Canadian Deaf Ministry Internet Web Site: especially the Deaf Ministry Section.
The Internet address is:
www.deafhope.org Check the many links to other sites listed in "Deaf Ministry" Also: type in "deaf ministry" into your Internet search engine (www.google.com is excellent)7. If possible, Attend a Deaf Awareness Seminar. Thompson Kay of TEEMS in Lincoln, NE conducts these, as well as Blake's. TEAMS address is: TEAMS: P.O. Box 6332, Lincoln, NE 68506 Tel. (402) 483-5395
8.Go where deaf people are: visit them at home, visit some deaf churches, & perhaps have a deaf friend take you to a deaf club. (but do not force yourself or your ideas on deaf individuals--this would be a long-term hindrance to your effectiveness in the deaf world. The deaf world is small, news travels fast, and prejudice is easy to create. Deaf people do not wish to be controlled or manipulated by the hearing.)
9. Try to attend a Retreat for the Deaf. Contact Deaf Missions at:
www.deafmissions.org or the Bill Rice Ranch: http://www.billriceranch.org/ There are excellent opportunities in different retreats to become familiar with deaf people and experience ‘deaf culture’ - something very important to understand.10. Read a second book like: "Ministering to the Silent Minority" by Edgar Lawrence & published by Gospel Publishing House, Springfield, MI, or "A Guide to Deaf Ministry" by DeAnn Sampley [ ISBN 0-310-52192-2] published by Zondervan, or "Intro. to the Ministry of the Deaf" from the Baptist Bookstore.
11. You might write DEAF MISSIONS, R. R. # 2, Box 26, Council Bluffs, Iowa 51501 and ask samples of their Daily Devotional for the Deaf, and many other materials. Go to their excellent web site: www.deafmissions.com.
12. Offer a Signed Community service to the local deaf community: You may be involved in an AIDS, Heart, Health or Family type program in your church or community. See if the local deaf would like to take part in some educational program being offered, and if so, have it signed. We have a health series on video called: "Amazing Health Facts". See our web site online for details:
http://www.deafhope.org/nedvideo.htm This would be excellent to offer as a public service.13. If you find that you have a natural talent for Signing
, and you are well accepted by the deaf community, then you may wish to take a one or two year professional interpreter course. Ask for advice before considering seriously.14. Subscribe to the free online public deaf newsletter, DEAFDIGEST.
http://www.deafdigest.com/ This a web site and there is also a free weekly newsletter helps give you get a feel for what is going on in the "Deaf World"15. We have a new DVD called, "Our World-A Theater in God’s Universe" giving the complete story of the plan of salvation in Sign Language. It gives a Biblical chronological presentation of the Great Controversy between Christ and Satan. It is one for $20 in a regular color DVD case, or 5 for $25 in a plain poly snap case. Order from us below.
16. Your own denomination probably has work for deaf people somewhere - perhaps not that far from where you live. Make a serious point to get in contact with those who are already involved in Deaf Ministry in your denomination. And, you can also learn from what other denominations are doing - visit several different Deaf Ministry outreach programs.
17. Remember, if you are a ‘Hearing’ person, that the goal in Deaf Ministry is to help prepare and equip Deaf people to organize and manage their own Deaf Ministry outreach and church services. Hearing will always be needed to help in certain ways, but must learn to ultimately work in the background, with deaf working for deaf, as far as is possible!
[Sept./05 NSDA]
THIS LIST OF DEAF MINISTRY IDEAS HAS BEEN PREPARED BY:
Canadian Deaf Ministries
With Pastor & Mrs. John Blake
30 Country Ridge Close, Lacombe, AB T4L 2H1 Phone: (403) 782-4255.
Email: [email protected]
BASIC INTERNET WEB SITE: www.deafhope.org