This is the story of three women from three continents who called out in a common language and were heard, without any sound. And a Creator who, even in the midst of a pandemic, responded.
Jennylene, Gabrielle, and Ornella would seem to share little in common. Jennylene is a 22-year-old single, born and raised in the Philippines. Gabrielle is married, a Californian, from Riverside. Ornella is a university graduate, a Burundian who resides in a village outside Bujumbura. What unifies these three is that they are part of a small linguistic minority: they are Deaf and share a common language - sign language - a minority language in every society.
A Silent Yearning
As a linguistic minority, Deaf individuals often feel isolated and overlooked in the larger society. Each woman was thus searching for a deeper connection to the Creator, for access to Bible teaching, and for fellowship in their native sign language. Each was yearning for a spiritual home where they could belong. Through the tumult of the pandemic, God led them through the virtual global community to one place where they found connection: the Deaf Ministries of the ICOC.
Word Goes Out
When Jennylene came to her first service at the ICOC Angeles and Philippines church, in February of 2020, she was the only Deaf person in attendance. There were no interpreters or skilled signers in the church. Two sisters, Myra Batuang and CJ Arias, were not deterred. They reached out in friendship and set up Bible studies with her. Quickly recognizing the language barrier, they faced, Myra and CJ posted an appeal on the International Churches of Christ (ICOC) Facebook Page asking for help from church members fluent in American Sign Language (ASL). Members of the Deaf Ministry from Los Angeles responded.
A Desire Fulfilled
Once a week, Jennylene studied the Word of God virtually with the sisters from the Philippines and Los Angeles, separated by a 15-hour time zone difference, but unified in language and in pursuit of Christ. On September 12, 2020, Jennylene was baptized, becoming the first Deaf convert in the Philippine Family of Churches. Her baptism was a first-of-a-kind celebration witnessed online by disciples from the ICOC Angeles, Philippines, and the Deaf Ministries in Los Angeles and Austin, Texas.
Gabrielle Signs Up
Gabrielle was simply shopping in a Walmart when she spotted a woman signing and, as a fellow signer, introduced herself. That woman, Susan Crespo, happened to be a Deaf disciple in the Riverside Church. The women began a friendship. Learning that Gabrielle was a deeply spiritual woman, Susan invited her both to church and to study the Bible. At that time, the Riverside Church had limited ASL interpreting available at their church meetings.
Then the pandemic hit. Virtual services replaced in-person services, and Gabrielle was left temporarily without any language access to the Riverside church’s online services. As God would have it, Gabrielle was referred to the online ASL services of The Valley Church in Los Angeles. She found out about the weekly ASL Bible Talk hosted by Kathy Cornish, a leader in the Deaf Ministry of The Valley Church. She connected with other Deaf disciples and formed new friendships.
Kathy and Denise Lotane joined the Bible studies between Susan and Gabrielle, and through deep trust, God did his internal work. At her baptism, Gabrielle shared that she had always believed in the power of The Word, but through studying in ASL, she finally deeply understood what it means to follow the Lord.
Ormella Seeks Inclusion
Ornella was brought to the Bujumbura church by her friend Janvier, the first Deaf disciple in Burundi, who had studied the Bible virtually with brothers from the Deaf Ministry of The Valley Church in Los Angeles.
Ornella had come from a group in which the few Deaf members felt marginalized. She was looking for a church where hearing and deaf are one family, and she could learn God’s Word and his ways in sign language. She was warmly welcomed by the Bujumbura church and able to fully participate in services thanks to sign language interpreting funded by a special contribution from the Deaf Ministry of The Valley Church.
Ornella is currently studying the Bible virtually with Diddy Akello, who leads the Bujumbura church with her husband, and sisters from the Deaf Ministries in Riverside and Los Angeles. She and Janvier regularly bring Deaf friends to church. They plan to offer a sign language class to hearing disciples in the church to bring about a greater sense of community.
Also, they have launched Bible studies for kids at the local residential Deaf school. Through them, God is opening the Kingdom doors to Burundians who up to now have had little to no access to studying the Bible and becoming a part of a spiritual community.
Our God is an inclusive God, He welcomes all into the divine family. God is forging an international partnership in the gospel and membership in a diversely abled family to which all can belong. God speaks every language, and He can be heard by all!
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