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The News Leader - www.newsleader.com - Staunton, Va.
Avis Wright grew up knowing two languages — English and American Sign Language. The daughter of deaf parents, Wright learned how to communicate with her fingers, eventually teaching at Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind.
Now retired, Wright brings her gift of teaching and sharing to her church, First Baptist Church of Staunton. She signs many Sunday morning services, some prayer sessions and at choir. She accompanies the minister and serves as a translator for some in the congregation.
"Deaf people are very patient," Wright said, as she taught a beginning signing class at First Baptist. "Use expressions, ask them to go slow and they will. Smile."
Because demand for the class was so great, Wright asked another teacher to join her. One class contains several church members, along with the new minister of First Baptist, the Rev. Steve Traylor, his wife, Pam, and children Sara, 10, and Andrew, 12. The other class consists of staff from an area nursing home. One of the facility's residents is a deaf member of First Baptist.
"We wanted to learn so we could communicate more at work," said Sheila Myers. "We're hoping that with us learning sign language, we'll get more hearing-impaired residents."
Folks at First Baptist hope that more in the deaf community will join in.
"We're overcoming barriers," Traylor said. "You learn to communicate, and that's the essence of Christianity."
Retired teachers Wayne and Alice Frick, who are deaf and members of First Baptist, are happy that their minister is learning to sign.
"He will be able to communicate with the deaf directly," said Alice Frick, through an interpreter.
Traylor, who had the whole congregation sign a hymn with the help of Wright, hopes to communicate the Gospel as best he can through any means he can.
Edith Paxton, a member for more than 60 years, finds the deaf ministry essential. She remembers when it was larger, when students at VSDB would come on Sundays. She understands how essential a welcoming glance can be, a well-meaning nod and a quick handshake.
"You can tell what a person is thinking by a person's eyes," she said.
Along with the camaraderie for deaf members, there is a sense of welcome, and because of interpreters, the ability to listen to the sermon.
"It helps the deaf to understand the Bible better and be better Christians," said Wayne Frick, through an interpreter. "It's all in sign language so the deaf get the benefit of Sunday school and church. We also have a video every Wednesday night during the prayer service. It parallels the Sunday school class lessons. The video is presented in sign language."
Avis Wright grew up knowing two languages — English and American Sign Language. The daughter of deaf parents, Wright learned how to communicate with her fingers, eventually teaching at Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind.
Now retired, Wright brings her gift of teaching and sharing to her church, First Baptist Church of Staunton. She signs many Sunday morning services, some prayer sessions and at choir. She accompanies the minister and serves as a translator for some in the congregation.
"Deaf people are very patient," Wright said, as she taught a beginning signing class at First Baptist. "Use expressions, ask them to go slow and they will. Smile."
Because demand for the class was so great, Wright asked another teacher to join her. One class contains several church members, along with the new minister of First Baptist, the Rev. Steve Traylor, his wife, Pam, and children Sara, 10, and Andrew, 12. The other class consists of staff from an area nursing home. One of the facility's residents is a deaf member of First Baptist.
"We wanted to learn so we could communicate more at work," said Sheila Myers. "We're hoping that with us learning sign language, we'll get more hearing-impaired residents."
Folks at First Baptist hope that more in the deaf community will join in.
"We're overcoming barriers," Traylor said. "You learn to communicate, and that's the essence of Christianity."
Retired teachers Wayne and Alice Frick, who are deaf and members of First Baptist, are happy that their minister is learning to sign.
"He will be able to communicate with the deaf directly," said Alice Frick, through an interpreter.
Traylor, who had the whole congregation sign a hymn with the help of Wright, hopes to communicate the Gospel as best he can through any means he can.
Edith Paxton, a member for more than 60 years, finds the deaf ministry essential. She remembers when it was larger, when students at VSDB would come on Sundays. She understands how essential a welcoming glance can be, a well-meaning nod and a quick handshake.
"You can tell what a person is thinking by a person's eyes," she said.
Along with the camaraderie for deaf members, there is a sense of welcome, and because of interpreters, the ability to listen to the sermon.
"It helps the deaf to understand the Bible better and be better Christians," said Wayne Frick, through an interpreter. "It's all in sign language so the deaf get the benefit of Sunday school and church. We also have a video every Wednesday night during the prayer service. It parallels the Sunday school class lessons. The video is presented in sign language."