Miss-Delectable
New Member
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2004
- Messages
- 17,158
- Reaction score
- 7
Southern New Jersey churches minister to the hearing-impaired with sign language - pressofAtlanticCity.com
On Sunday at Praise Tabernacle on Ocean Heights Avenue in Egg Harbor Township, the morning’s song leader, Jack Ryan, was leading the congregation in a modern hymn, “Dance With Me.” He swayed, playing his guitar, while behind him a full band played electric guitar and bass, keyboards, flute, drums and percussion.
The sound drowned out any nearby conversation. Almost.
For those who couldn’t hear the words of praise, a sign-language interpreter weaved back and forth, almost seeming to dance, in time with the music.
A number of local churches are reaching out to the deaf and hearing-impaired in an effort to include more people.
Click here for the photo gallery.
Praise Tabernacle has offered services for about two decades to its deaf and hearing-impaired members, said Celeste Herse, who oversees the ministry. What started as two deaf students in a Sunday school class has grown to more than a dozen, occasionally augmented by speech pathology or audiology students from The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey.
“Its good for the deaf to go to these classes,” Kathy Reese signed, as Herse translated. Reese travels from the Marmora section of Upper Township, Cape May County, on Sundays to attend services at Praise Tabernacle, because they are more engaging than most churches.
“Compared to many other churches that go on, it’s very interesting,” Reese signed. Elsewhere, she said, she has a hard time following the liturgy, and drops out. She said, “I just pray to God on my own.”
At Emmanuel Church in Egg Harbor City, Pastor John Sahl said a person came to the church seeking to develop a ministry to the deaf and hearing-impaired.
“We see that as just another aspect of the great commission where we are called to preach the gospel to all the creatures, and enable them to study the word of God,” he said.
The church welcomed interpreter Jane Layton, who drives from Tuckerton, Ocean County, on Sundays for services, and Wednesdays for ASL classes. She became interested when, as a high school student, she learned to translate services for a young boy who lost his hearing to an illness.
“There’s a reason the lord gave me this talent and the desire to do this,” she said.
The Lighthouse Church in Cape May Court House also recently began translating Sunday services, church said.
Steve Rahter, the senior pastor at Praise Tabernacle, said he has taken some sign-language classes and can communicate with the church’s deaf members. He felt it was important for the pastor to interact with the entire community.
The church involves its deaf members in many of its programs, including the Christmas music services and annual Easter play.
“I think that our desire is to make deaf people feel welcome as part of our church family,” he said. “Beside the professional interpreters, many individuals have taken sign-language courses and we offer it every year on site.”
At about 11:15 a.m. on this past Mother’s Day Sunday at Praise Tabernacle, about 15 people walked into a side room through the door labeled “Deaf Church.” Ann Maselli started a prayer, speaking and signing. As people followed her words, Maselli’s were the only eyes closed.
For the next hour, she led the class through a discussion of biblical mothers. A large mirror on the side wall made her easily visible from the back of the room.
She got involved with the deaf in college, attending a church for the deaf in San Jose, Calif., while going to bible college in Santa Cruz, Calif.
She joked that as someone with Italian heritage, she would be speaking with her hands anyway — this was just a way to put it to good use. She has since taught lessons at Praise Tabernacle for more than 20 years.
“I like to come here because she teaches in sign-language and helps people understand,” Angelo Concepcion signed, and which Maselli interpreted, as the lesson ended. “I know more and more.”
During the lesson he sat with his wife, Patty Concepcion, who is also deaf. Their son, Angelo Concepcion, III, who can hear, attended services elsewhere in the church. The son rejoined the father as services ended.
As other people began to leave the church, Angelo Concepcion said, “I feel like to went to a church where I can participate.”
On Sunday at Praise Tabernacle on Ocean Heights Avenue in Egg Harbor Township, the morning’s song leader, Jack Ryan, was leading the congregation in a modern hymn, “Dance With Me.” He swayed, playing his guitar, while behind him a full band played electric guitar and bass, keyboards, flute, drums and percussion.
The sound drowned out any nearby conversation. Almost.
For those who couldn’t hear the words of praise, a sign-language interpreter weaved back and forth, almost seeming to dance, in time with the music.
A number of local churches are reaching out to the deaf and hearing-impaired in an effort to include more people.
Click here for the photo gallery.
Praise Tabernacle has offered services for about two decades to its deaf and hearing-impaired members, said Celeste Herse, who oversees the ministry. What started as two deaf students in a Sunday school class has grown to more than a dozen, occasionally augmented by speech pathology or audiology students from The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey.
“Its good for the deaf to go to these classes,” Kathy Reese signed, as Herse translated. Reese travels from the Marmora section of Upper Township, Cape May County, on Sundays to attend services at Praise Tabernacle, because they are more engaging than most churches.
“Compared to many other churches that go on, it’s very interesting,” Reese signed. Elsewhere, she said, she has a hard time following the liturgy, and drops out. She said, “I just pray to God on my own.”
At Emmanuel Church in Egg Harbor City, Pastor John Sahl said a person came to the church seeking to develop a ministry to the deaf and hearing-impaired.
“We see that as just another aspect of the great commission where we are called to preach the gospel to all the creatures, and enable them to study the word of God,” he said.
The church welcomed interpreter Jane Layton, who drives from Tuckerton, Ocean County, on Sundays for services, and Wednesdays for ASL classes. She became interested when, as a high school student, she learned to translate services for a young boy who lost his hearing to an illness.
“There’s a reason the lord gave me this talent and the desire to do this,” she said.
The Lighthouse Church in Cape May Court House also recently began translating Sunday services, church said.
Steve Rahter, the senior pastor at Praise Tabernacle, said he has taken some sign-language classes and can communicate with the church’s deaf members. He felt it was important for the pastor to interact with the entire community.
The church involves its deaf members in many of its programs, including the Christmas music services and annual Easter play.
“I think that our desire is to make deaf people feel welcome as part of our church family,” he said. “Beside the professional interpreters, many individuals have taken sign-language courses and we offer it every year on site.”
At about 11:15 a.m. on this past Mother’s Day Sunday at Praise Tabernacle, about 15 people walked into a side room through the door labeled “Deaf Church.” Ann Maselli started a prayer, speaking and signing. As people followed her words, Maselli’s were the only eyes closed.
For the next hour, she led the class through a discussion of biblical mothers. A large mirror on the side wall made her easily visible from the back of the room.
She got involved with the deaf in college, attending a church for the deaf in San Jose, Calif., while going to bible college in Santa Cruz, Calif.
She joked that as someone with Italian heritage, she would be speaking with her hands anyway — this was just a way to put it to good use. She has since taught lessons at Praise Tabernacle for more than 20 years.
“I like to come here because she teaches in sign-language and helps people understand,” Angelo Concepcion signed, and which Maselli interpreted, as the lesson ended. “I know more and more.”
During the lesson he sat with his wife, Patty Concepcion, who is also deaf. Their son, Angelo Concepcion, III, who can hear, attended services elsewhere in the church. The son rejoined the father as services ended.
As other people began to leave the church, Angelo Concepcion said, “I feel like to went to a church where I can participate.”