Captivated by the language of the deaf, the Yucaipa church congregation has befriended several deaf families and both groups have been enriched as a result.
Tim Chapman, deaf ministries leader, has been signing since 1991. At a previous church where he was a member, he witnessed the baptism of a deaf family and was fascinated by the interpreting during the ceremony. The next Monday he checked out a sign language dictionary from the library.
“I thought it would be hard,” he said, “but it was the easiest thing I ever did.”
About four deaf members call the Yucaipa church home. Many hearing members and their children learn words in sign language to communicate with their deaf friends.
Gregroy and Gunita King, a deaf couple, have been married 8-l/2 years and members of Yucaipa three. Reared in Calimesa, Gregroy met Gunita as a pen pal in Latvia. Chapman signs the worship services, and now the group has its own Sabbath school.
The Kings participate in regular church activities. Gregroy helps teach the Sabbath school lessons, Gunita teaches a sign language class in the primary division, and both are members of various church committees. Children readily pick up the artistic, graceful language.
Senior Pastor Doug Elsey’s interest in signing dates back to the seminary where he took a class so he could talk with his deaf friend, Jeff Jordan, also a ministerial student—now the pastor of the Atlanta North Deaf church at Norcross in the outskirts of Atlanta, Ga.
The two pastors have kept in contact, and Elsey invited Jordan to present a weekend series of meetings for the deaf at the Yucaipa church last Nov. 12-14. Jordan’s brother interpreted for the hearing congregation.
“Although 500 packed the church for the worship service, we were a little disappointed that more deaf weren’t there,” commented Elsey. “In all, about 12-15 attended the breakout meetings Sabbath afternoon and Sunday morning, some from as far away as San Diego. Jordan related how God had blessed his life in spite of his handicap. In the breakout meetings, he reviewed the tenants of Adventist beliefs and encouraged the deaf to reach others with hearing handicaps.
Why are there so few deaf people in the Adventist Church? Elsey explains that it’s because of lack exposure to and interaction with Adventists. “That’s why our members wanted to do more for them by having the series of meetings,” he said. “There are less than 50 deaf Seventh-day Adventists in Southern California, and the number is decreasing. One of our goals is to develop a greater understanding and awareness of the hearing handicapped. We met that goal 100 percent.
“There are only about five deaf pastors in North America, and few Adventist churches have their sermons interpreted,” lamented Elsey. “Eventually, they find their way to other denominational churches or become unchurched, and we lose them. The hearing world is robbed in not really getting acquainted with the deaf.”
“I’m amazed at the people in our church who have befriended the Kings and others and learned their language,” added Elsey. “My frustration is that in this area where so many Adventists live, there is no deaf pastor—a terrible disservice to our deaf members and community because they are such sweet people. Yet it fills my heart with joy to find our own deaf members content and part of a church family.”
