This document discusses the history and strategy of deaf church planting. It notes that deaf churches began being planted in the United States, Kenya, and Romania in the 1940s-2000s. The strategy of planting indigenous deaf churches that are deaf-led and deaf-governed is emphasized, rather than ministries that are dependent on hearing leadership. The goal is to saturate the global deaf community of over 70 million with the gospel through reproducing deaf churches planted by other deaf believers. The reader is encouraged to be part of realizing this vision of a deaf church planting movement.
6. Deaf Churches being planted
✓United States
✓Kenya
✓Romania
1997-2000
J.W. Michaels
Deaf Supertindent
Arkansas School for the Deaf
catalytic missionary with the
Home Mission Board
Deaf Churches sprung up
44 Deaf Churches
4 Deaf Churches/30 cell groups
1990-1995
1940’s-50’s
7. Deaf Churches being planted
✓United States
✓Kenya
✓Romania
1997-2000
Deaf Churches sprung up
44 Deaf Churches
4 Deaf Churches/30 cell groups
1990-1995
1940’s-50’s
Boniface Muriithi
Deaf Missionary
Deaf Opportunity Out Reach
Chronological Bible Storying
7 Deaf Kenyans trained
8. Deaf Churches being planted
✓United States
✓Kenya
✓Romania
1997-2000
Deaf Churches sprung up
44 Deaf Churches
4 Deaf Churches/30 cell groups
1990-1995
1940’s-50’s
Our Experience
Deaf Opportunity Out Reach
SBC Volunteers
10. A Russian man who cannot hear?
A Deaf man who lives in Russia?
11. A Russian man who
is deaf
little “d” deaf
A Deaf man in Russia.
A Deaf Russian.
big “D” Deaf
Our perception influences strategy
12. Deaf from birth
Limited exposure to the national spoken language
Usually reads on a 4th grade level
Grew up in a residential School
Daily communication in the language of the
Sign Language among friends and immediate family
Parents are not & do not know Sign Language
Friends
Wife
Community
Leisure time spent with the
Plays soccer with the Federation Team
Fishes with the Deaf men
Deaf
Deaf
Deaf
Deaf
Deaf
Deaf
Deaf
Deaf
19. The DEAF share more than a deep
affinity for one another.
Their shared values, experiences, and
language result in a culture that crosses
geographical boundaries.
20. Are we going to the very heart of the
Deaf Community?
Language
Education
Social
Political
?
21. or through ministries to the
Deaf pulling them out?
Language
Education
Social
Political
22. Hearing
Deaf
Interpretive
Ministry
Ministry to the Deaf
Interpretive
Bible Study
Ministry to the Deaf
Separate worship
Deaf Ministry
Occasional Interpretive
Bible study/Worship
Deaf Ministry
Bible study/Worship
Deaf Mission
Ministry to the Deaf
Interpretive
Deaf Bible Study
Deaf Mission
Models of Deaf Ministry
23. Hearing
Deaf
Interpretive
Ministry
Ministry to the Deaf
Interpretive
Bible Study
Ministry to the Deaf
Separate worship
Deaf Ministry
Occasional Interpretive
Bible study/Worship
Deaf Ministry
Bible study/Worship
Deaf Mission
Ministry to the Deaf
Interpretive
Deaf Bible Study
Deaf Mission
Models of Deaf Ministry
24. Ministry to the deaf
•The Deaf are the objects of the hearing person’s ministry
•The Church life is not characteristic/reflective of the Deaf life.
•Quality of message, worship, and song rises and falls on the
sign language skill and cultural knowledge of the hearing
person, whether they be an interpreter, Bible teacher, or
minister
25. Deaf Church Planting versus a
Ministry strategy …
Roland Allen
The Spontaneous Expansion of the Church
“If the propagation of the gospel is to be
at any time a spontaneous work of native
Christians, it should be so from the very
beginning. Every moment of delay is a
moment of loss, loss for them, and loss
for their country [people group].”
26. Why Start RIGHT?
It is obvious that Paul did not go about as a
missionary to JUST CONVERT individuals to
Christianity. PAUL established churches from
which the LIGHT might radiate throughout the
whole PEOPLE GROUP.
From the beginning we must let the HOLY SPIRIT
have control and movement.
27. Why Start RIGHT?
It is the training of the FIRST converts which sets
the model for the future. If the FIRST converts
are taught to depend upon the hearing and all the
work or ministry – evangelism,, social, music,
worship, Bible Study – is in the hands of the
interpreter.
28. Why Start RIGHT?
The Deaf believer learns to depend passively upon
the one from whom they receive their first
insights. They also learn methods and structure
that usually is not that which is contextual to the
Deaf. Most Deaf within the context of a Deaf
ministry will not exercise faith and dependence
upon the Holy Spirit. They learn that nothing can
be done outside of the guidance and control of the
interpreter or/and hearing leader. The Deaf
become accustomed to waiting for the hearing to
move. They learn to be less independent and more
dependent.
29. Why Start RIGHT?
The hearing leader keeps the power in his hands
waiting for them to become leaders. Few deaf can
rise to leadership and remain inactive. The hearing
leaders are teaching them to rely on NOT the
power and authority of the Holy Spirit. Instead the
Deaf seek and rely on the competence of the
hearing leader.
30. A strategy that results in Deaf
people being objects of
ministry rather then
ministers of faith.
Individuals or People Group
Deaf Ministry?
31. …a strategy that results in
indigenous reproducible
models of ministry.
Deaf People Groups
Deaf Churches
32. Indigenous Deaf Church Model
Deaf-governing
Deaf-led
Deaf-expression
Deaf-supporting
Deaf-propagating
33. Saturating the Deaf Community
with the Gospel
Language
Education
Social
Political
36. The Deaf are approximately 72
million strong worldwide
Europe 3.5 million
North Africa and the Middle East 1.71 million
Central and Southern Asia 7.5 million
Western Pacific 1.31 million
East Asia 6.23 million
South East Asia & Oceania 2.3 million
Southern Africa 627,360
West Africa 1.22 million
Eastern Africa 726,240
North America 4.4 million
Central America 812,160
South America 908,360
Caribbean Basin 476,500
