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Carole Cepeda was born in Durban, South Africa. She was born deaf, raised to use hearing aids, and lipreading skills. She first heard about communion service when she was a teenager at Boston Church of Christ and didn’t understand purpose of that message. The next day, Carole thought about the communion and she spoke to her Father how she felt the need to get baptized now. Her father told her that she first need to study the bible. Her parents studied the bible with her. The reason Carole made a decision to become a disciple was that she needed a relationship with God and realized that she was not a true Christian. Carole was a teenager when she was baptized at the Boston Church of Christ on August 12, 1985. Her families are disciples. She has been a disciple for over 25 years. Carole went through difficult times when she was the only deaf disciple and without interpreters at South Africa & Oakville Church of Christ. She learned to persevere and stay faithful. She learned reading English Version for the Deaf bible daily. Carole helped alot of deaf disciples, who ask her for advice to overcome their struggles. Her strong characters are soft heart and gentle personality.

Carole decided to move from South Africa to Los Angeles, USA to be partof the Deaf Ministry team in 1996 because of her spiritual needs with this ministry. She felt very excited and encouragements to be connected with the LA Deaf Ministry team. Carole felt the interpreter services at LA have helped her understand the church services very well. She lived in LA for 6 years then moved to Oakville, Canada in 2002 to live with her sister, Megan’s family for 2 ½ years.

How did Carole met Joe? She was single for 35 years. Carole first met Joe on a deaf double date on August 2002 at Los Angeles, CA when Joe took his first trip vacation to LA. Two years later in July 2004, they developed their special friendships by communicating long distance to each other by emails and MSN Messengers weekly. They had great time for praying and sang church songs during MSN Messengers. On August 2004, Carole flew to San Antonio for a week to attend TX Evengelism Seminar that had interpreter services. Carole went on 2nd date with Joe. They spend time each other daily. One month later, they flew to Los Angeles to attend Deaf Retreat and went on their 3rd date. On December 13, 2004 Joe paid half of the Carole’s ticket to visit San Antonio for a week as an early Christmas gift to Carole. That day he asked her to be his girlfriend at the airport lugguage area. Carole stated yes and excited for their dating relationship. Joe gave Carole a heart necklace and red rose. They went on their triple dates dinner at Zios Italian Restaurant. They had much in common by deafness, fluentin sign language, and Deaf Ministry experiences. They have been dating four months. Their long distance relationships was challenge because they were not able to see each other often. Carole visited San Antonio again to spend time with Joe during Spring Breaks for two weeks in March 2005. Joe flew to Oakville, Canada for three days weekends to spend time with Carole and her family. He asked Carole to be engaged on Saturday, April 16th, 2005. Carole responded yes to marry Joe and felt surprised and joy for engagement gift. They had wonderful romantic time to celebrated their engagement dinner at Rain Forest Cafe at Toronto with her sister’s family.

On June 2005, Carole moved to San Antonio, TX for wedding preparation. She felt very happy because they no longer in a long distance relationship. She married Joe Cepeda on September 17th, 2005. Their wedding ceremony has two ministers and translated by voice interpreter, Houston Carruth, and American Sign Language (ASL). The two wedding ministers are Mike Taliaferro (San Antonio) & Jermaine Cornish (Los Angeles Deaf Deacon Leader). Annie-Brigitte Taliaferro performed a song called Be My Valentine by Martina McBride while Joe performed that song by ASL. Our 1st wedding Anniversary in 2006celebrated at Los Angeles, CA to attend the Deaf Retreat. They performed their communion message on Sunday morning at the retreat. Joe gave Carole a surprised anniversary gift for 1 dozen of roses after the communion message. Her future goals are to baptize deaf women and female interpreters.

Happy 26th Spiritual Birthday, Carole!

Adam Carlson was born deaf and raised in the Twin Cities, MN, USA.  He was attending a non-denominational church during his childhood, through high school.  During this time, there was no interpreter available for him to receive much of the Sunday messages.  Adam learned ASL at a young age and had the assistance of an interpreter for his mainstream education.

Adam’s biggest challenge for being deaf is not being able to do what his heart felt compelled to do.  It was always his childhood dream to be in the Law Enforcement field, however heavy use of phone, radio, and the importance of hearing (for the sake of safety) are not things that he is able to do.  He is still on a quest, following wherever God leads him.  God has a plan for him in life, and he wish to seek it out and follow it.

Adam went to a Christian college where he met his future wife.   He married Mikenzie after she graduated college, and he finished 2 years.  Shortly after getting married, Adam got a job at a public school where he met a fellow ICOC disciple.  She introduced Adam to the Church of Christ in Minneapolis, where they made arrangements so that he could have an interpreter for his church services!  Adam became a disciple because this is what God asks of me.  He has made Jesus Lord and Savior on my life, and thus, he wished to be born again in Him. Adam try to follow His footsteps each day, and bear the cross each day as well.

After a year of attendance, and bi-weekly studies with his small groups and pastors, Adam was baptized in June of 2010.  He is still studying the bible everyday with his family, including his wife, who was baptized through another church.

Today, Adam is the only deaf disciple at Minneapolis/ St. Paul Church of Christ.  For this reason, things are a little different.  His ability to communicate with the hearing world is still okay, as he able to lipread somewhat.  Adam does get plenty of attention in church, but it is mostly from his close church family who is making sure that he is doing well 🙂 God bless his church family for going out of their way to make sure he is easily overcome any barriers that his deafness may present. Adam knows that God has a plan for me as a deaf disciple as well, and he plan to use this unique situation that he is to serve Him as best he can.

Ever since Adam was born again, God has truly blessed him.   He has been given an incredible opportunity for a new career.  Adam was given 2 brand new hearing aids by Starkey Labs.  God has also given Adam and Mikenzie a new baby!  We are due to have our first child in July, 2011.

First and foremost, Adam is going to continue to grow in Christ.  He is slowly but surely becoming a true disciple.  His first goal is to help lead by example.  He wants to serve the Lord by giving time, money, and my skills to help others.  Adam does love absolutely everyone that God introduces me to!  He does have more long term goals; however they are not fully formed yet.  His wish is to someday become more involved in the deaf community here, and reach out to some of God’s lost children.   Currently, his work that he does now allows me to meet new deaf people each week.

In March 1995, there were 15 disciples from Boston, Chicago, Orange County, Sacramento, San Francisco, and Washington DC, who went on a mission team to established a Deaf Ministry in Los Angeles, California. Some of them are deaf and others are hearing. God called them together to start a dream and a vision of a Deaf Ministry in LA. With the support from LA Church of Christ financially and spiritually, the mustard seed of faith made the vision came true. Today, the LA Deaf Ministry consist of 14 deaf disciples & 11 interpreters disciples.

They have interpreter services on Sunday and midweek services. There is a Deaf Bible Talk & Deaf Services at CSUN. Deaf Retreat meet once per year. Please contact Joe Colllins, Los Angeles Evangelist and Deaf Ministry Leader at jkcollins007@gmail.com for more info about the LA Deaf Ministry team. You can also contact Jermaine/Kathy Cornish, Deaf Ministry Deacons at Los Angeles Church of Christ for any spiritual advices about our ministry. Jermaine’s email is jgcornish@gmail.com. Kathy’s email is klcornish4@gmail.com.

Matt Simkovsky is an interpreter student for the Interpreter Program at San Antonio College. He is fluent in American Sign Language (ASL). Matt used to teach ASL classes to disciples. He encouraged them to learn how to communicate in ASL to the Deaf Community. His wife, Diana, is an ASL signer. They have four children. The Simkovsky family moved from San Diego to San Antonio in March 2010. They are constantly involved in the Deaf Ministry, supporting Joe/Carole Cepeda. Matt has over eleven and a half years of Deaf Ministry experience and has lived in Hawaii, San Diego, Singapore, and now in San Antonio.

Matt and I went to the Deaf Expo at Austin, TX from 9am-2:30pm on April 16th, 2011. It was a wonderful experience to see deaf people communicate in ASL and deaf organization booths such as Deaf Link, Sorenson Video Relay Services, Sprint Video Relay Services, Purple, ZVRS, and others. We look forward to supporting one another as our Deaf Ministry grow closer to God. Special thanks for the Simkovsky’s for their passion and support to our Deaf Ministry.

My whole life grew up going to church. Every week, sometimes two, three times a week. I was taught that God will take care of me. He provided me with physical things, such as my loving family, my health and an education. And also spiritual things such as peace, joy and kindness. But when I moved out of my home in the mountains and into the valley to California State University Northridge, I quickly learned that I was in love with the things that God provided me with, and I was not in love with my Provider. When I was approached by Zachary Lotane, deaf disciple, and he simply asked if I wanted to go to his church, I never knew that my life would pernamently be changed. I felt loved and accepted by the church and started to study the Bible. After months of walking through the “valley of the shadow of death” God revealed His glorious plans for me and I made Jesus Christ my Lord and was baptized. I died to myself and came alive in Christ on January 20, 2011. I am currently pursue to study Interpreter Program to get certified interpreter for the deaf. I am involved the Los Angeles Church of Christ Deaf Ministry.
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