There
are over 750,000 deaf people in America. They are among the most
unevangelized people groups. Fewer than 8 out of every 100 deaf
people in the US ever attend church. Fewer than 4 out of 100 claim a
personal relationship with Christ.
Ministry
to the deaf is complex. One reason is that deaf people who use
American Sign Language (ASL) form a distinct culture. The Deaf have
unique legends, social customs and experiences.
Like other
people with disabilities, the Deaf have been discriminated against in
their jobs and are often left out, ignored or mistreated. Past
experience may make them wary of your motives. They also tend to be
straight forward and blunt in their communications.
Another
complexity is that deaf ministry is a family affair. Ninety percent
of deaf children have parents with normal hearing, but only about one
out of 10 of those parents can carry on a conversation in ASL. Most
of these parents begin with little knowledge about the deaf world and
are unaware of available resources. They feel overwhelmed by the
challenges of raising a deaf child and feel alone in their struggles.
Children
who have a Deaf parent are bicultural and often find themselves torn
between two worlds. Like all bicultural children they have challenges
and issues that are difficult to understand.
Children
who have a Deaf sibling often feel they have to compete with the deaf
child for parental attention and can become resentful. They usually
learn sign language better than the parents and find themselves
serving as interpreters between the parents and their deaf siblings.
Mixed
marriages between hearing and deaf people face challenges as they try
to blend deaf and hearing cultures and lifestyles and families
together.
Baptist
Temple has been blessed with the privilege to host the San Antonio
Baptist Deaf Mission; a work started 20 years ago by the San Antonio
Baptist Association (SABA). Baptist Temple did not not invite them.
They were sent to us by God.
Several
weeks ago the Baptist General Convention of Texas (BGCT) called to
ask if we were interested in hosting this mission. We were
recommended as a church with a heart for ministry by Patty Villareal,
a professor at the Baptist University of the Americas.
The
Missions Committee enthusiastically recommended that we do this. The
church responded with a similar spirit and the vote to host the Deaf
Mission passed without opposition.
The
San Antonio Baptist Deaf Mission is an independent church sharing our
facilities. They will be part of our Sunday School and other
ministries but will hold their own worship service in FLC101 at 11
AM on Sundays.
The
mission is led by John and Mary Ann Richey (both hearing) and
currently numbers around 40 with an average attendance of around 25.
We expect the move to Baptist Temple to generate excitement and allow
us to minster to more deaf people and their families. They had their
first worship service at BT this past Sunday and had four first time
visitors.
Deaf
churches are rare. Most deaf ministries involve having a deaf
interpreter translate a service that is primarily intended for the
hearing. This is certainly polite but not empowering. A true deaf
church holds its own worship service, has its own officers and
determines its own destiny as led by the Holy Spirit.
We
are blessed to be able to partner with people who expand our ability
to spread the gospel.
