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Church takes deaf outreach to next level | Coshocton Tribune | coshoctontribune.com
earing impaired and deaf residents will have their own place of worship beginning Sunday.
David and Victoria Carpenter have taken on the ministry of the Rolling Hills Chapel for the Deaf at Grace United Methodist Church.
Fewer than 4 percent of American churches attempt any outreach to the deaf, and only about 2 percent to 4 percent of the deaf population participates in any type of worship, David said.
"The message of God is so important that we need to learn it in our own language," said the Rev. Jan Coffman from the pulpit Sunday. "This is the opportunity for deaf people to come and in their own language learn about Jesus."
The church hosted the Rev. Marshall Lawrence this weekend. Lawrence is the executive director of Silent Blessings, which is a sponsor of "Dr. Wonder's Workshop," a television program for deaf children.
Lawrence also spoke during the service, explaining how the birth of his second daughter changed his life. He knew nothing about the world of the deaf or sign language before then.
"The lives of deaf people are the same as ours, but very different," Lawrence said. "Most deaf children, if they go to church at all, is because their hearing moms and dads take them, and it can be boring ... the birth of this new church is a new opportunity for deaf people to get to know and love the Lord."
He told the story of a young girl who watched the "Dr. Wonder's Workshop" program, then excitedly ran into the next room to tell her mother "Mommy, Jesus knows sign language."
Wendy Fluharty said the church's mission is a godsend but wishes it would have taken place in time to reach her deaf brother, who used to attend Grace UMC.
"He's in a dark place now, and what the church has been doing for several years will perhaps give other hearing impaired a sound faith to avoid the darkness where my brother is now."
Fred Near, longtime member of Grace, said it's a much needed service in the community.
"If he's (David) to take this on, I wish him the best. We need it in this county," Near said.
American Sign Language was David's first language. His hearing difficulty is hereditary, and both his parents are deaf. David and Victoria each use a hearing aid, but for Victoria the sound is much more clear.
Grace Church has offered a sign interpreter for several years. The Carpenters started attending after they heard about the sign interpreter.
Although a hearing individual, Carol Pierce learned sign language, and it's become a passion.
The Carpenters, along with about 12 to 15 other hearing impaired residents, participate weekly in a special group of the church's Cross Training Bible study, facilitated in sign language by Pierce. She initiated Hearing Impaired Ministries or Hand in Motion with just a few students and has helped it grow.
Victoria is excited they'll be able to offer this opportunity to hundreds of others like them in central Ohio.
"There's not a church for the deaf and hard of hearing in this community or the surrounding area," she said.
David said the services are open to anyone though, hearing or non-hearing.
"That's what was so important about Marshall's visit," David said. "It's to open our eyes, ears and heart to show we're the same, yet different."
earing impaired and deaf residents will have their own place of worship beginning Sunday.
David and Victoria Carpenter have taken on the ministry of the Rolling Hills Chapel for the Deaf at Grace United Methodist Church.
Fewer than 4 percent of American churches attempt any outreach to the deaf, and only about 2 percent to 4 percent of the deaf population participates in any type of worship, David said.
"The message of God is so important that we need to learn it in our own language," said the Rev. Jan Coffman from the pulpit Sunday. "This is the opportunity for deaf people to come and in their own language learn about Jesus."
The church hosted the Rev. Marshall Lawrence this weekend. Lawrence is the executive director of Silent Blessings, which is a sponsor of "Dr. Wonder's Workshop," a television program for deaf children.
Lawrence also spoke during the service, explaining how the birth of his second daughter changed his life. He knew nothing about the world of the deaf or sign language before then.
"The lives of deaf people are the same as ours, but very different," Lawrence said. "Most deaf children, if they go to church at all, is because their hearing moms and dads take them, and it can be boring ... the birth of this new church is a new opportunity for deaf people to get to know and love the Lord."
He told the story of a young girl who watched the "Dr. Wonder's Workshop" program, then excitedly ran into the next room to tell her mother "Mommy, Jesus knows sign language."
Wendy Fluharty said the church's mission is a godsend but wishes it would have taken place in time to reach her deaf brother, who used to attend Grace UMC.
"He's in a dark place now, and what the church has been doing for several years will perhaps give other hearing impaired a sound faith to avoid the darkness where my brother is now."
Fred Near, longtime member of Grace, said it's a much needed service in the community.
"If he's (David) to take this on, I wish him the best. We need it in this county," Near said.
American Sign Language was David's first language. His hearing difficulty is hereditary, and both his parents are deaf. David and Victoria each use a hearing aid, but for Victoria the sound is much more clear.
Grace Church has offered a sign interpreter for several years. The Carpenters started attending after they heard about the sign interpreter.
Although a hearing individual, Carol Pierce learned sign language, and it's become a passion.
The Carpenters, along with about 12 to 15 other hearing impaired residents, participate weekly in a special group of the church's Cross Training Bible study, facilitated in sign language by Pierce. She initiated Hearing Impaired Ministries or Hand in Motion with just a few students and has helped it grow.
Victoria is excited they'll be able to offer this opportunity to hundreds of others like them in central Ohio.
"There's not a church for the deaf and hard of hearing in this community or the surrounding area," she said.
David said the services are open to anyone though, hearing or non-hearing.
"That's what was so important about Marshall's visit," David said. "It's to open our eyes, ears and heart to show we're the same, yet different."