My husband, Gregg, and I became disciples nearly 25 years ago in the Washington D.C. Church of Christ. A year after becoming disciples, our first son, Zachary was born. Soon after he was born we noticed he was not responding to sound. After many medical appointments and testing, the doctors informed us that our son was deaf. We were overwhelmed by the fact that we did not know how to communicate with our son.

​After much research we enrolled Zachary into Kendall School on Gallaudet’s campus. Zachary flourished while attending Kendall School as he was taught by deaf educators in American Sign Language. We felt convinced that God wanted us to learn our son’s language and we began taking American Sign Language classes at the school. We fell in love with both the beauty of the language and culture.

​In 1994, our son Nathan was born and Zach was thrilled to have a baby brother. From day one Zach was signing to his brother and quickly became fluent in sign. Our family felt complete. We were relieved that Zach was doing well in school and making new friends in the deaf community. However, around age four, Zach began telling us he was feeling lonely at church because he didn’t have other kids to sign with when we were together with our church family.

​Then, in 1995, the Los Angeles Church of Christ decided to set-up the Church’s first Deaf Mission Team. Deaf disciples and Sign Language interpreters from San Francisco, Washington D.C., and Orange County answered the call to move to Los Angeles. We were thrilled about the prospect of being in a Deaf Ministry, however we felt apprehensive about moving to Los Angeles. There were so many things that needed to be worked out, from jobs to housing and finding a new school for Zach. However, God had a plan and worked out every detail for us to make the move. So, in August of 1995, we packed up our family and moved to Los Angeles.

​Upon arriving in Los Angeles, we realized the privilege of joining the deaf mission team. Zach immediately felt a connection with the church and the deaf disciples. The Deaf Ministry embraced him and helped him feel a part of God’s family. This reminds me of the scripture in Psalms 68:6 that says, “God sets thelonely in families”. This love and acceptance were pivotal in helping Zach make Jesus his Lord at 16 years of age.

​Eighteen years later the Deaf Ministry is thriving. Many deaf and interpreters have been baptized into the Lord through this ministry.  Deaf disciples now lead the ministry and lead services in American Sign Language each month. There is a committed group of sign language interpreters who serve the deaf disciples for every service and event.  The disciples in the Deaf Ministry have been faithful in following our Lord Jesus and spreading the gospel. It is our vision, and we believe God’s vision, that Deaf Communities everywhere be given the opportunity to “hear” the message of Jesus in their own language.

I have been signing since my first semester in college back in 1999. I started learning sign language in order to communicate with Jorge, a deaf student that wanted to study the Bible. We studied over the course of several months with the Crespo Family until he decided to get baptized! I spent the following year signing/interpreting for Jorge at all campus events, midweeks, and Sunday services. It was incredibly challenging, but faith building and I would have done it again if given a second chance. I have been involved with the deaf community, interpreting community and the Los Angeles Church of Christ’s Deaf Ministry ever since.

It’s kind of funny actually. Originally I didn’t want to go to the San Antonio Conference. I don’t favor situations where there are large crowds. Well, God had different plans (it seems He always does). In hindsight this was a complete blessing, but going into it there was a lot I was not ready for. I consider myself a sufficient interpreter for Sunday Sermons, midweeks, and small group discussions. But this was going to be an entire stadium full of people!  My wife, the lovely and beautiful Jenn, took care of all of the coordinating. So all I had to do was show up and do my job.

It was great meeting all of the interpreters, deaf and hard of hearing, and others interested in the Deaf Ministry and/or sign language. The week was a blur really and I can’t recall anything specific that impacted me. I do remember how easy it was to work with all of the other volunteer interpreters. You are all great people and are doing a great service in God’s Kingdom. Amen!

In 1992 at around the age of 3, my sister Jennifer was diagnosed with deafness.  I was a sophomore in high school. The news came to us as a shock. We did not know of any deaf people or anything about deafness.  My family, who are immigrants from Haiti, was living in the United States for only about 6 years.  My mother and father did not know what to do or where to go, so they did nothing; a thought that raged war against my joy for a long time.  Per the school district, Jennifer went to The American School for the Deaf (ASD) for the week and came home on the weekends.  As Jennifer was learning sign language, we as a family drew farther from her.  During that time, as a senior in High School, God blessed me with a guidance counselor who knew American Sign Language (ASL).  She taught me some basic signs after I expressed my concerns to her.  My counselor and I looked at schools in Washington DC, in order to take classes at Gallaudet University in hopes of learning more signs.  God had other plans.

I did not get into my first choice school, so I accepted a school in Rhode Island that I did not consider at first. After 2 years, I took the fall semester off and I transferred to the University of Connecticut (UCONN) for the Spring of 1999. The little signs I acquired in high school, deteriorated by then.  Although I thought about my sister often, the distance and my passivity hindered our connection.

The first couple of days at UCONN, disciples invited me to church and there started to study the Bible. I also took up ASL classes, which I was so grateful for.  I was baptized into Christ four months later on May 16, 1999 and continued to learn sign language.  After graduation, I worked at ASD, where my sister attended school.  I took up classes at ASD and also at a community college for one semester.  God blessed the church with a small Deaf Ministry and I became one of the few interpreters.  Between working at ASD and interpreting for the church, I was making tremendous progress with my signing skills.

I left my job after two years and decided to go to graduate school to learn speech and language pathology in hopes of someday using those skills to help Jennifer.  By that time, I was communicating comfortably in sign language and stopped taking classes.

Jennifer graduated high school, attended a community college and transferred to the National Technical Institute of the Deaf (NTID) a part of Rochester Institute of Technology.  After being there for over a year, in the spring of 2012, I realized that I, like my family, was not doing much to connect with Jennifer spiritually or emotionally.  This realization came to me when Jennifer no longer wanted to go home for Spring Break or any other holidays.

It broke my heart to see how the isolation affected her in such a deep way.  Moreover, I was not helping with the gap between her and the rest of the family.  I decided to spend my summer and actively reach out to her.  I challenged the entire family to learn sign language, since that was Jennifer’s only way of communicating.  God helped me to forgive myself for not doing anything sooner and my family for their behavior of indifference, with the exception of Marie, our other sibling who took the time to learn sign language.  It continues to be a battle getting the rest of the family on board, so please keep us in your prayers.

Jennifer and I attended the World Discipleship Summit in July 2012 and she visited the Rochester Church of Christ while in NTID the fall of 2012. Unfortunately, Jennifer is hoping to transfer to Gallaudet next fall. I am praying and hoping that God continues to help me as I help her to have a relationship with Him.

Currently, I am part of a sign language club in the church.  We come together to learn and practice ASL.  Our hope and prayer is to revitalize the Deaf Ministry and bring the Gospel to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community.

Rose Beaujour (Greater Hartford Church of Christ)

My name is Megan and I want to share my testimony.  While in Maryland, my studies focused on becoming an interpreter for the Deaf. With only 8 classes left of the Interpreter Preparation Course, my Air Force husband got orders to move to Japan. I was excited for the adventure, but disappointed that my ASL/Deaf Studies would have to stop. I prayed that God would open up opportunities in Japan for my studies to continue to practice my ASL skills and serve the Deaf community. He has truly blessed me in this way.

Within a few months of arriving in Japan and moving into their house on Yokota Air Base, my husband met an American deaf man who worked at the base High School. Although he was mostly hearing, he was fluent in ASL and had recently made contact with a Japanese Deaf woman who was fluent in ASL and JSL (Japanese Sign Language). What an amazing connection! Soon after, we were invited to attend combined JSL/ASL events with local, Japanese Deaf and JSL interpreters who were learning ASL. Cherry, the teacher, organizes monthly events between the Americans and Japanese. Anyone who signs, is interested in ASL, or just wants to know more about the Deaf community are invited. These events have been a joy and blessing. I met so many hearing and Deaf Japanese who are passionate about their JSL as well as learning ASL.

At the beginning of this year, I began teaching ASL on base, and had an overwhelming number of ADULTS who want to learn!! I was shocked that she had only a few children interested in classes. Currently I have 10 beginner ASL students and 6 intermediate students (four of which are Japanese). I also been invited as a guest teacher to many of Cherry’s classes. She have also met several military spouses on base that have a variety of ASL experience. The amount of ASL knowledge here is amazing! She became known in this small community as the “ASL lady” and am always happy to answer any questions about ASL or Deaf Culture. Also, as I finish up my degree online, she made it a point to focus as many papers or conference responses on what she was learning relates to ASL or Deaf studies. Many students and professors have commented that they enjoyed as to how she have done that and that it has been interesting and useful information.

I have found that Japanese Deaf Culture is very similar to that of American Deaf Culture, although I have noticed that there is a huge push for the Japanese to be oral. I visited the local Deaf School (Tachikawa School for the Deaf) and every class was both spoken and signed (SimCom). Classes were designed like many Deaf Schools in America: Smaller class sizes, desks arranged in a horseshoe shape to ensure visibility, etc. One class that I watched, the teacher was doing a Halloween lesson in ASL. The students were enthusiastic about learning ASL and a few stopped me in the hallway after, to practice saying “hello” and introductions. The visit to this school was a wonderful experience and it gave me a greater understanding and desire to work with the Deaf.

I thank God that He has given me a heart for the Deaf and the opportunity to have a Global perspective of this culture.

In Him,

Megan Luke

My name is Rebekah Wilson and I am a member of the Dallas/Fort Worth Church of Christ in Texas. I am a Kingdom Kid, so I grew up as a member of the ICOC alongside my three sisters and brother. Being a Kingdom Kid, I always knew what “studying the Bible” meant. However, I did not fully understand the implications of being a disciple. When I entered the teen ministry, I attended a Teen Camp session that caused me to realize that I was going to hell because, although I grew up in the church, I was not a baptized disciple. This realization led to my nine-month journey of studying the Bible and becoming a disciple on April 8th, 2007; I was 14 and in my Freshman year of high school.

When asked how long I have been a disciple, most times, I will say that I was baptized in the teens, but did not truly begin living as a disciple until the campus ministry. Although I was considered a disciple, I was living this life very subtly. When I entered the Campus, I learned how important bearing fruit is, and how I was not doing this in any way. I learned a lot about my character within the first year. I was harboring bitter feelings toward my father for many reasons. I felt that he did not deserve my forgiveness any longer. Luckily, a wonderful sister asked me, “You sin against God every day; what if He decided you did not deserve His forgiveness anymore?” I was cut to the heart. I made the decision to forgive my father, even if I needed to do this on a daily basis. In addition to this, I learned that I have a difficult time trusting God with my life. As I became independent, God allowed me to endure hardship in my second year of school. I dealt with sisters with medical and psychological issues, which turned my world upside-down. Not only so, but I, myself, was being tested for numerous psychological disorders. Ultimately, I was diagnosed with various disorders which largely impact my everyday life, causing many aspects of being a disciple especially challenging for me. I began feeling like I was loosing control of my life and hit rock-bottom in my walk with God. I realized, after many talks with sisters, an impactful lesson, and reading through the books of Proverbs and Psalm that I needed to trust God with controlling my life and that He will always forgive me when I ask for it. My favorite scripture stemmed from this experience: “He..who keeps his oath, even when it hurts..will never be shaken.” – Taken from Psalm 15. This scripture helps me to persevere in my walk with God, even when it is so hard that it physically or emotionally hurts me. With this, I was able to see how wonderfully God can work in my life with all the talents He has given me. One of these talents is my gift to find things I love, learn everything about them, and master the skills that go along with them. In 2011, I observed at a preschool for Deaf children and fell in love with them. Because of this, I wanted to learn everything about Deafness, its culture, the community, etc. The skill with this, obviously, is ASL. I began taking ASL classes and joined the small Deaf Ministry in my region. I changed my major to Deaf Education, in hope to teach English at a school for the Deaf. My ultimate goal, though, is to one day lead a Deaf Ministry somewhere in America.

I started learning very quickly and noticed how God was using my skill to evangelize. Ever since, ASL and the Deaf Ministry has been a major part of my life. Because of this, I focused mainly on the Deaf Ministry at the World Discipleship Summit. Meeting the Deaf disciples at the Summit is absolutely my best memory while being a disciple, as I was so encouraged by their faith! I was extremely inspired after learning about what it takes to evangelize the Deaf. After hearing the Parable of the Lost Coin and how it relates to the Deaf Ministry and how God can use me regardless of how limited my ASL skills are, I started to form an awesome vision for the Deaf Ministry. I feel that God has given me many strengths, but the greatest would have to be my immense capacity to have incredible dreams for my future and the future of God’s Kingdom. I hope, that by the 2020 WDS, there is a Deaf Ministry planted in every state that has an ICOC church. This means we have a lot of work to do!

“35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

-Matthew 9:35-38

In the photo shown below, from left: sister Hannah, sister Leah, Dad, Rebekah (center), Mom, sister Sarah, brother Justin.

1.  How long have you been a disciple? Who reached out to you? He was baptized on July 11, 2001, so he’s been a disciple for 11 years. Jeff Emmell and Daniel Silvers who reach out to him.

2. What’s the reason you become a disciple? The reason he became a disciple is because he learned the true depth of the Bible.

3. Your best memory as a disciple? His best memory as disciple is when the deaf ministry fellowshipped by playing racquetball together.

6. Have you baptize any deaf disciples or your family? He baptized Hugo Loera who is deaf and has Usher Syndrome. Hugo currently lives with his family in Mexico.

7. What inspires you about Los Angeles Deaf Ministry team? His inspiration from the Los Angeles Deaf Ministry team is fellowshiping together.

8. What is your vision for the Deaf Ministry? His vision for the Deaf Ministry is for them to support each other, to be united and to welcome any person who is looking for God.

9. Share your experiences about Wizard World. Why do you enjoy it? I enjoy touring at Wizard World because I enjoy greeting the movie celebrities and cartoon artists.

10. Share one bible verse to encourage our Deaf Ministry family. Mikey would like to encourage the Deaf Ministry ICOC family to understand about God and Jesus.

1 Peter 1:8 NLT

“You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy.”

In Christ,

Miguel Rodriguez

Los Angeles Deaf Ministry

My discipleship journey covers 27 years- nine of them as a sign language interpreter. I have had many ups and downs, victories and discouragements ; through it all God has been more patient and faithful with me than I deserve! He is my bedrock.

When I was a freshman at the University of Colorado my best friend, Julie Payne Miller, reached out to me. But I was too prideful, did not believe in the Bible and had no interest in church. But by my junior year I had emptiness inside that grades, sports, pseudo friends, alcohol and Eastern religion could not fill. Julie and Lori Bishop showed me the Truth and I was baptized in the spring of 1986, graduated a year later, and joined the Denver Church of Christ in 1988, where I learned the true meaning of repentance. The first verse I ever memorized was Psalm 121:1-2, “I lift up my eyes to the hills- where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” I needed God’s help, and it was easy to be reminded of His strength when I looked at the Rockies!

After a few years in Denver I went on the Lincoln, Nebraska church planting. I was in my late 20s and starting to feel anxious about being single. But God had the perfect man waiting for me in the plains! Dave Casey was in graduate school and waiting to be met. (He’s also six years younger, so I guess I was waiting for him to graduate from high school!) My best memory of the Kingdom is how everyone came together to make our wedding heaven on earth, and how thankful I was for the marriage advice and purity in our dating!

After we were married we went into the ministry. I am so thankful for that opportunity; I have strengths that fit the ministry well- I am a good teacher and speaker, can be organized and very encouraging. But it was not a good fit for my prideful and insecure nature! After serving in Nebraska, Denver and Sioux Falls, S.D. it was decided that it would be better for us to leave the ministry and for Dave to finish his graduate program. I was a few months pregnant with our second child and this quickly tailspinned into my most spiritually challenging time. We moved to Ames, Iowa where I felt isolated, alone and purposeless. My children were young and we lived in a college town, I had a hard time connecting with Iowans, money was tight, the church was an hour away, I gained weight and Dave was dealing with the pressure of getting his PhD. But God always came through and in my “valley time” He taught me about humility, security, and openness.

Still, I was very happy to leave Iowa and move near Nashville, TN! When my youngest entered kindergarten I went back to school and got a two year degree in the Interpreter Training Program. (No, I don’t have my NIC yet- please pray that I will have the courage to try again!) Both of my grandparents were born deaf. Grandpa, who was part of the Deaf community, was outgoing, fun, smart and a huge positive influence in my life. I still miss him dearly, 25 years after his passing. Grandma was forced to be part of the hearing world, and as such never felt comfortable in either world. I became an interpreter because I felt her frustration and wanted to be a bridge between the two worlds.

How do you bridge three worlds- Deaf, hearing and spiritual? The Deaf conference at San Antonio gave me a glimpse of what is possible. The Spirit can do it! I was deeply impacted by those who have stayed faithful through the years despite being the only, or one of very few, deaf disciples. Their faith, courage and perseverance convicts me, for I know how it feels to be cut off from people. I would love to have a Deaf Ministry here in Nashville, but I know that it won’t be easy. We had a Deaf foreign exchange student live with us for a year and although my husband and two sons were very good at signing, few in the church could manage more than a few signs. I worry about the lack of fellowship they would have and honestly, it’s hard to be the only interpreter for a two hour service. But I look at you and realize a spiritual person can be faithful and patient until others are converted. And Joe tells me to pray to convert interpreters, which is an excellent idea! All of your examples have inspired me to believe that people can be faithful and to have hope that more and more in the Deaf community will be converted!

My theme verse is 2 Corinthians 12:10 “…I delight in weakness…for when I am weak, then I am strong.” I HATE to be weak and by my nature I am very self reliant. But I’m really not very strong and I cling to this verse when I’m training for marathons, when I’m intimidated by an interpreting situation, and when I don’t know what to do with my kids. Its okay, He’s got me. And He’s got you too.

I can’t wait to hear the exciting stories that will come from the Deaf Ministry!!!

In the photo shown below, and from the left, Heidi, and her husband, Dave.

1. When and why did you become a disciple?

I became a disciple in November 2009 because I wanted to become closer to God and trust in him more. I realized that I needed God after the death of my beloved Grandma Jean Sorrell.

2. Who reached out to you?

My Family and friends such as Eddie Field reached out to me and helped me understand the Bible more. Eddie also helped with providing visual aids to help me follow along with the songs and scriptures. Ms. Acree, my longtime interpreter at Triangle Church in Raleigh, NC, is a great example of helping others because for many years she has interpreted Sunday services for me.  In doing so she allowed me to have access to God’s Word through sign language.

3. What’s your best memory as a disciple?

My best memory as a disciple was being baptized into Jesus Christ. It felt so good to know that God loved me and forgave my sins through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross.

4. What is your biggest challenge of being a deaf disciple?

My biggest challenge of being a Deaf disciple is communication problems.  I am currently the only Deaf disciple in the Triangle Church in Raleigh, NC and my College Church Piedmont Triad Church in Greensboro.  Another big challenge is feeling like an outcast. I am faced with attitude problems because I prefer to sign; however, because of the Hearing majority of the church, I use my second language of spoken English to communicate. Most people are not skilled in the use of sign language and I teach them signs from time to time but it is their own personal choice if they want to learn sign language.

5. What’s your favorite bible verse and why?

My favorite Bible verse is Philippians 4:13, “I can do anything through him who gives me strength.” (NIV) It reminds me that I can do anything through God who gives me the strength. I always have that verse to remind me that anything is possible with God. The world says you can’t do this because you are Deaf and have Cerebral Palsy. That verse reminds me that with God giving me strength I can run a 5k and play sports with other Hearing people.

6. What is your vision for the Deaf Ministry?

That the Deaf Ministry will continue to grow Worldwide and that more Deaf people will become disciples of Jesus Christ.  Also, that the Deaf Ministry will be an shining example to the World of serving others with love and compassion by helping other people whether blind, Deaf, crippled, hearing, or in prison.

7. What is your career goal?

My Career goals are to be a College coach, and to be an advocate for others with special needs to keep physically fit.

8. What is your strength as a disciple?

My strength as a disciple is encouraging other people.

9. Please share one bible verse that you would like to encourage to the Deaf Ministry ICOC family with.

Exodus 4:11 The LORD said to him, “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? (NIV)  We are all special people to God and God made us Deaf for a reason.

10. What is your physical and spiritual goals for 2012?

My physical goal is to stay fit and my spiritual goal is to draw closer to God and to see the Deaf Ministry grow Worldwide.

In the photo shown below, and from the left, Nathan’s sister, Cassie, Nathan, and Tracy, Nathan’s Father.